Conceptualization

Design Research

Iteration

Prototyping

Storytelling

Creative Mindset

These competencies align with the Creative Design Process. These are the skills required to see and critically evaluate the student’s world, and use creativity, rigor and the iterative design process to create change.

Conceptualization

The ability and process of a student to formulate and construct an idea. In the design process, the concept evolves and becomes the project. A well-formulated concept can be understood from the inception of the brainstorming process and followed through to the final product with a clear progression.

Design Research

The process a student uses to better understand the underlying and sometimes hidden desires, needs, and challenges of their project concepts. This includes but is not limited to precedent research, client interviews, etc.

Creative Mindset

Iteration

A design methodology based on a cyclic process of prototyping, testing, analyzing, and refining a product or process. Based on the results of testing the most recent iteration of a design, a student is to make changes and refinements. This process is intended to ultimately improve the quality and functionality of a design. The comprehension and synthesis of the design feedback in a cohesive and well-thought way.

Prototyping

The ability of a student to move from an abstracted idea to a realized physical or digital artifact. Depending on studio parameters, prototypes may necessarily be built at different scales and levels of fidelity, and students may need to experiment with various materials and mechanisms to refine their designs and problem-solving skills.

Creative Mindset

Storytelling

The communication of a design concept and the design process from inception to the latest iteration of prototype. Importantly, the student empathizes with the audience and explains the design process clearly. Documentation of the stages of the design journey are critical to successful storytelling.

Creative Mindset

Engagement

Resilience

Initiative

Collaboration

Project Management

Personal Growth and Initiative

A growth mindset competency which measures a students ability to work independently, articulate needs and ask questions, and be proactive and resourceful. Students exhibit emotional regulation, resilience, and confidence to achieve goals for the future.

Personal Growth and Initiative

Engagement

The degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that a student shows when they are learning, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their design projects and education.

Resilience

The capacity of the student to convert curiosity into focused action, even in the face of challenges. Moreover, the ability of the student to consider a constellation of possible ways to move forward when confronted with new information.

Personal Growth and Initiative

؜Initiative

The motivation and ambition of a student to ask questions, seek answers, assess problems, and actively work within their project, group settings, and in-class discussions.

Collaboration

The ability to be open to new perspectives and ideas, to recognize and uplift personal and group strengths, and to participate fully in achieving personal and group goals

Personal Growth and Initiative

؜Project Management

The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements; Evidenced by the participation in the design process, and ability to apply it to their own project in a timely manner.