Page 4 - First Year Handbook

Welcome to your journey through foundational design principles tailored for
Product Design Principles
first-year students. We begin with Design Thinking, a five-stage methodology
designed to address complex challenges by deeply understanding user needs.
Next, we delve into User-Centred Design, which prioritises user feedback to
create intuitive and successful products.

We’ll also explore the critical role of empathy in design, enabling you to create
solutions that genuinely resonate. Additionally, cultivating a creative mindset
and fostering curiosity are essential for generating innovative designs.

These concepts are your toolkit for transforming ideas into impactful real-world
applications which you will develop over time at SETU Design.

Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that
emphasises understanding user needs through five
Design stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.
Thinking This methodology encourages creativity and innovation,
guiding you to develop user-centric and practical
solutions. Perfect for tackling complex design challenges
effectively.

User-centred design (UCD) focuses on creating products
User to meet user needs and preferences. By emphasising
Centred research and continual user feedback, UCD ensures
Design that designs are intuitive and effective. This approach
enhances user satisfaction and boosts the product’s
market success.
Empathy is crucial in design as it allows you to understand
and share the feelings and experiences of users. You can
Empathetic create solutions that truly resonate and meet users’
Approch needs by genuinely empathising with them. This deep
understanding is the foundation for designing products
that improve lives and solve real problems.

Creativity is not an innate gift but a skill that you will
cultivate. You’ll learn various tools and methods to adopt
this creative mindset, enabling you to think expansively
Creative and generate innovative solutions. It’s vital to allow yourself
Mindset the necessary space and time to create an environment
where creativity can truly flourish.

Curiosity is crucial in design because it encourages you
to keep asking questions and exploring new ideas. This
mindset helps you understand different perspectives and
Stay needs, leading to innovative and effective designs that
Curious solve real-world problems. It’s all about staying open and
eager to learn.