INV -Innovation

Expose students to the mindset, skillset, and toolset associated with design, creativity, and innovation. Students engage in guided applications to framing and solving problems in design, business, and engineering.

Explore new ideas and culture of innovation in a wide range of situations. Encounter values and benefits of cross-disciplinary discussion, team methods of problem-solving, taking ideas to market, and integrating social mission. Gain understanding of metrics and processes associated with incremental vs. transformative innovation. Consider roles of design, viability, and functionality in creating innovation, and innovative products, services and models. (Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher)

Students gain experience with models that improve their empathy and design for human interaction. Students will use a variety of techniques derived from a broad variety of disciplines to develop approaches to solving contemporary social problems. Reading and theory are integrated with observational fieldwork.

Introduction to the basics of concept visualization through iteration and physical prototyping. The class covers the design process, problem solving, interdisciplinary team work, current industrial practice, manufacturing process capabilities using accessible materials, and simple drawing techniques to build models that are tangible representations of concepts for new designs. Fee: $50

This practicum allows students in the Innovation Minor to direct the innovation processes to solve big problems in a human-centered way for real-world partners in the Portland community and beyond. Students must demonstrate an awareness of prominent issues in their chosen fields and develop a rigorous design process that identifies opportunities for creative intervention and innovative problem solving.