DESIGN THINKING AND PROTOTYPE PRINTING IN 3D is an experimental process where participants will implement and test their ideas in tangible form. Prototyping and testing helps better understand how an idea works in a real environment and whether it appeals to the prospective user. The course applies #designthinking, a method to create innovative products that the user needs. Participants will analyse user problems, prototype solutions to these problems, apply parametric modelling, use a 3D printer to give tangible form to their ideas, and validate solution suitability for users. Design thinking is a sustainable process because the focus on the prototyping and user validation phases ensures that the resulting products will be appealing on the market. The 3D prototype printing will ensure that the idea is quickly visualised and given tangible form.

Topics covered in the course

• #designthinking as a method and its 5 stages. 
• Empathize: user identification.
• Define: identifying and understanding the real problem. 
• Ideate: assumptions and new ideas. 
• Prototype: developing solutions. 
• Onshape working environment and user skills. 
• Basics of 3D model creation I. Sketch and basic tools. 
• Basics of 3D model creation II. Working with surfaces and transferring designs to a CAD environment. 
• Creating and managing parametric models. 
• Test: testing solutions in a real environment. 
• Discussion and evaluations.

Who is this course for? Students from different study programmes who have ideas, developers, entrepreneurs, designers, freelancers, career changers, future startups.