About Wicked Problems: Problems Worth Solving
About This Book
This book was started with the intent of changing design and social entrepreneurship education. As these disciplines converge, it becomes evident that existing pedagogy doesn't support either students or practicioners attempting to design for impact. This text is a reaction to that convergence, and will ideally be used by various students, educators, and practicioners:
One audience is professors and educators of design, who are challenged with reinventing their educational curriculum in the face of a changing world. For them, this book should act as both a starting point for curriculum development and a justification for why this development is necessary—it should answer the question "what should design and social entrepreneurship education look like?"
Another audience is made up of fresh-out-of-school designers, who are bored and uninspired by their jobs. For them, this book should answer the question "how can I redirect my design efforts to something meaningful?"
Finally, a last audience is made up of practicing designers and entrepreneurs, who are looking to achieve social impact in their work. For them, the book should answer the question "what tools and techniques can I use in my work to drive impact through design?"
Austin Center for Design exists to transform society through design and design education. This transformation occurs through the development of design knowledge directed towards all forms of social and humanitarian problems.
AC4D offers a one year program—held on site (on nights and weekends) in Austin, Texas—emphasizing creative problem solving related to human behavior, through the use of advanced technology and novel approaches to business strategy.
The program is ideal for designers, artists, business professionals and technologists with 2-5 years experience doing professional work, or for more seasoned professionals looking to change the trajectory of their careers.
Our curriculum includes instruction in ethnography, prototyping, service design, theory, usability testing, and financial company structures.
