Design Thinking, Innovation, and Human-Centered AI is an immersive, experiential course that introduces students to empathy-driven problem solving, interdisciplinary innovation, and the ethical application of artificial intelligence. Through hands-on workshops, team-based design challenges, and makerspace prototyping, students learn how to identify real-world problems, conduct user research, generate creative solutions, and iteratively test prototypes.
Artificial intelligence is introduced as a creative and analytical collaborator, with a strong emphasis on ethics, inclusivity, accessibility, usability, and trust. Students explore how AI can augment, rather than replace, human creativity and decision-making while applying responsible design principles.
The course culminates in a team-based project showcase in which students present portfolio-ready solutions grounded in human-centered research and innovation practice.
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
• Develop empathy-driven approaches to problem-solving
• Apply design thinking principles to complex, interdisciplinary challenges
• Conduct user research, synthesize insights, and reframe problems
• Generate and evaluate ideas through creative ideation techniques
• Build, test, and refine low- and mid-fidelity prototypes
• Strengthen creative confidence, communication, and teamwork skills
• Understand the fundamental principles of Human-Centered AI (HCAI)
• Apply ethical, inclusive, and usability-focused frameworks when designing AI-
enabled experiences
Technical Skills
- Design Thinking & Innovation Methods
- Rapid Prototyping & Modeling
- 3D Modeling Software
- User Research & Insight Synthesis
- Problem-Framing & Ideation Techniques
- Usability, Accessibility, & Testing Frameworks
- Human-Centered AI Application & Evaluation
Transferable Skills
- Communication/Storytelling
- Collaboration/Teamwork
- Presentations
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
- Creativity & Innovation Mindset
- Ethical/Responsible Decision Making
Experiential Learning
- Guest lectures
- Makerspace prototyping