Nine months of human-centred design.

1. Oct Global Kick-Off – To synchronise energies and gain momentum for the students and their corporate partner there is the Global Kick-Off held at one of our partner universities at the beginning of the 9-months journey. This is at the end of October.
2. Dec Fall presentations – Additional, each university organizes milestone presentations (fall & winter) to provide opportunities for feedback and discussions.
3. Mar Winter presentations – Every 3 months after the Global Kick-Off locally, the SUGAR universities invite their current corporate partner to join the presentation of their teams.
4. Jun SUGAR Expo – While in June, which is the end of the SUGAR year, all the project teams come back together for a global showcase of the finalised prototypes or proof of concepts.

1. 00Interview SessionPaper bike · warm-up
2. 01Introduction to Design ThinkingPaper bike · warm-up
3. 02Kick-Off Paper BikePaper bike · warm-up
4. 03Paperbike LaunchPaper bike · warm-up
5. 04First Review of PaperbikePaper bike · warm-up
6. 05Final Paperbike AND Challenge LaunchPaper bike · warm-up
7. 06Needfinding: Design Space ExplorationDesign space exploration
8. 07Deep dive Interview + SynthesisDesign space exploration
9. 08Ideation + Silicon Valley ExperienceDesign space exploration
10. 09Design Space Exploration Presentation + Personal InputDesign space exploration
11. 10Critical Function and Critical Experience PrototypingCritical function & experience
12. 11Rehearsals for Fall PresentationsCritical function & experience
13. 12Testing Input and Research PlanCritical function & experience
14. 13Dark Horse Kick OffDark horse
15. 14Dark Horse Week 1Dark horse
16. 15Dark Horse Week 2Dark horse
17. 16Funky Prototype LaunchFunky prototype
18. 17Funky Week 2Funky prototype
19. 18Funky Prototype PresentationFunky prototype
20. 19Functional Prototype Kick OffFunctional prototype
21. 20Functional Week 2 + Technical Implementation InputFunctional prototype
22. 21Rehearsal Winter presentationFunctional prototype
23. 22Part-X Prototype Kick OffPart-X · hunting plan
24. 23Hunting PlanPart-X · hunting plan
25. 24Video making and UX / UI designPart-X · hunting plan
26. 25Shark tankPart-X · hunting plan
27. 26Final prototype Kick OffFinal prototype

1. 01 (Re)define the challenge – Turn a wicked problem into one clear, open question with the partner. Good ideas come from good questions! Design thinking methodology applies for wicked problems, where neither the solution nor the path to get there are clear or visible. By defining a clear challenge we enable students and partners to work on real life problems and tackle their most wicked problems.
2. 02 Needfinding – Interview and observe users in the field to find direct and indirect needs. In the needfinding phase we focus on early identification of direct and indirect customer needs. Design Thinking applies interviewing, observation and engaging techniques to explore the customer and stakeholder space. Insights and concrete observations from fieldwork are the results and therefore the requirements for a proper ideation phase.
3. 03 Synthesis – Structure interviews and observations, then use frameworks to spot patterns and insights. The objectives of the synthesis phase are manifold: first, structuring interviews and observation. Second, analyzing the content and results. Third, applying frameworks in order to identify patterns and new insights. This phases’ output are condensed and compressed results and insights. Both give directions for the ideation and brainstorming phase.
4. 04 Ideation – Go wide: generate many diverse ideas and build on each other's thinking. The ideation phase represents the process of “going wide” which enables to explore a broad solution space. Brainstorming and other creativity methods are used to generate a large quantity of diverse ideas. A strong focus lies on listening and building on each other’s ideas to leverage collective thinking.
5. 05 Prototyping – Build hands-on prototypes so users can test ideas as early as possible. Prototyping is hands-on and therefore make ideas real and tangible. The goal is to make ideas and concepts as soon as possible testable for customers and other stakeholders. Furthermore, it helps to communicate ideas in the team and the company.
6. 06 Testing – Test with users and stakeholders again and again, so failures show early. Permanent testing of ideas and prototypes with customers, users and other stakeholders. Testing helps to fail in early project stages and to involve the customer in your own ideation process. This phase is known for its steep learning curve for successful elements and early identification of failures.

Why design thinking?

It puts desirability next to feasibility and viability, so customers and users really want what gets built.