This Is AuburnElectronic Theses and Dissertations

Business for Design Thinkers

Date

2014-05-01

Author

Freed, Gena B.

Type of Degree

thesis

Department

Industrial Design

Abstract

This research assessed the use and success of design thinking in business. The goal was to emphasize the importance of incorporating business education into an existing product design course. With exploration of the design process and approach to problems in comparison to the conventional business approach to problems, there was discovery of many similarities as well as significant differences that drastically change the approached outcome. Examining the leading education programs in design and business, a need for integration was found in the education of Industrial Designers. The area for change was discovered to be very efficient in creating expansion of education and increase in knowledge of the students who would take the proposed course, without overextending the requirement of the course or adding additional courses in the existing curriculum.