Now that we are near the end of the d.studio course it is interesting to look back and reflect on the process of my thoughts. How do I think now versus at the beginning of the course? Have I learnt anything new about the process of thinking? These are the questions I think are useful to ask after taking this course, or for that matter any subject/course. For me, I know that I have definitely changed the way that I think because it doesn’t take much for that to happen to me. I enjoy listening and learning a lot from people around me. I almost just sometimes wish I could record people because I really want to remember what they say. So most interactions affect the way I think. But what about those fundamentally big changes that have a much deeper impact. Although there were many experiences throughout this course that challenged me, I would say working with my group mates on the last project had the biggest influence. Working in groups, I had to not only think about how I think, but also think about how others think so we would be able to all understand each others ideas. I was often called the “translator” or “mediator” because I could usually re-explain ideas to members of the group who had troubles understanding.
I would say that in my thought process hasn’t changed too much since the beginning of the course, but almost helped to “fine-tune” it in some way. Previously I wrote that my thinking process works primarily through listening. Listening is key to understanding and then determining the different ways at looking at the problem. I find that separating between facts and insights super helpful at this stage. This then allows for you to take different perspectives without your own judgment. Taking the “design thinker” workshop really showed me how unconsciously common it is to place judgment when you make observations.
Separating facts from insights allowed me to take on that “translator” role because I could objectively view the “problem” or “idea” and then re-assemble into a way that others could understand. I think that is really important when working in teams and even communicating your idea as an entrepreneur or business. The underlying reason that I am studying business is actually so I develop an understanding of business in the world. Sauder taught me a lot about what the norms are in “mainstream” or conventional business. The d.studio taught me more about the alternative perspectives that are also valuable but not as obvious in business. Unintentionally I believe design thinking has always been around, however the label is just surfacing, especially within higher education and in business schools. The importance of design thinking is crucial at delivering, communication, researching and approaching problems, solutions and ideas.
A photo from our workshop at ClimateSmart
Overall this course broadened my perspective on business from the narrow focus that dominants the business school. I hope that the d.studio becomes a course that all first years take and become a core part of the business program here at Sauder.