Stanford Design Thinking Workshop
Non-Profit Design Thinking Workshop
Stanford
2020
Summary
Role: Workshop Co-Lead
Scope: Curriculum design, facilitation, prototyping exercises
Timeline: 8 weeks planning, 1 day delivery
Team: Stanford Product Design students, Class of 2022
Context
As part of Stanford’s Product Design program, our cohort partnered with a local nonprofit to run a one-day design thinking workshop for underprivileged high school students. The goal was to introduce Design Thinking methodology as a tool for creative problem-solving in an accessible, hands-on way.
The Challenge
How might we introduce design thinking to students with no prior exposure and inspire them to apply it in their daily lives?
My Reponsibilities
Co-designed the workshop agenda, balancing theory with active making
Created visual aids and portable prototyping kits
Facilitated empathy interviews, ideation, and prototyping sessions
Process & Activities
Warm-up & Icebreakers to build comfort and openness
Empathy Interviews in pairs to uncover real-world pain points
Rapid Ideation & Paper Prototyping to turn insights into tangible ideas
Share-out & Reflection so participants left with actionable takeaways
Outcome & Impact
20 students participated, each leaving with a personal prototype
Post-event survey: 90% reported greater confidence in solving problems creatively
Nonprofit partner requested the workshop kit for repeat use with future cohorts
Feedback from Students
"I learned a lot and it really surprised me to know that I have the capacity to be this creative and solving problems. I loved listening and watching my partners prototype of how well they solve problems that was my favorite part. I feel like this will definitely help me in my life from now on to solve any kind of problem and know how to come up with solutions I am very grateful that I got to live this amazing experience, it would have much more fun in person but given to the consequences it was't possible."
"I learned that deep inside me I have a part of creativity. What surprised me was that I was able to come up with a solution to my partners feedback and what my partner wanted to see in the backpack. My favorite part was laughing with everyone during the process and also meeting new people."
"I learned that you have to look at how others feel about a situation; you can’t just take your own perspective and run along with it. How much goes into the process surprised me. There was so much more to it than I ever thought of. My favorite part was coming up with ideas, drawing it/creating it, and presenting it for feedback and improvement (I also enjoyed everybody being just nice & cool people, coaches & classmates alike). If I had the chance to do another workshop like this or building upon this one, I would be more than happy to do it."
Future Mobility Research
Research Funded by Hyundai Motors
Stanford
2022
Summary
Role: Research Lead
Scope: Concept ideation, user research, prototype storytelling
Timeline: 8 weeks
Team: 5 Stanford students, 2 Hyundai design mentors
Context
In a sponsored studio collaboration, Hyundai Motors challenged our team to envision mobility solutions for the year 2035 - tackling urban congestion, sustainability, and the role of autonomous technology in shaping the future of transportation.
The Challenge
How might we design a mobility experience that creates value for individuals, communities, and infrastructure in a highly urbanized, autonomous future?
My Reponsibilities
Led and executed research, synthesis, and opportunity framing
Designed the interaction flow for the core mobility concept
Created a visual narrative for Hyundai’s final design review
Process & Activities
Trend Mapping across sustainability, shared economy, and autonomous fleet adoption
Persona Development based on speculative 2035 urban scenarios
Experience Storyboarding to visualize daily journeys and interactions with the concept
Outcome & Impact
Micro-Hubs: modular autonomous pods that can dynamically link together en route, enabling flexible spaces for business, community interaction, or quiet personal travel.
Final concept presented to Hyundai Motors’ design leadership
Recognized for balancing visionary thinking with grounded interaction design
