Problem Solving Through Design

Design Thinking and Empathy in Problem Solving Through Design

Innovation, empathy, and creativity come together in powerful ways in the Upper School, where students are challenged to think beyond themselves and design with purpose. Courses like Problem Solving Through Design encourage students to engage deeply with real-world challenges, applying critical thinking and collaboration to create meaningful solutions. By centering the needs of others, students not only build practical skills but also develop a mindset rooted in compassion and impact.

I had the opportunity to sit in on the Upper School course Problem Solving Through Design. In this class, students are tasked with developing novel ideas to address real-world questions to help others. In past years, projects from this course have led to impressive outcomes, including an updated design for a traditional walker that ultimately received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. According to Ms. Lee, “this year’s final project, Designing for Others, focused on the importance of empathy in good design. For this project, students identified a client with a specific need and then developed an original solution to solve their problem.

Each project culminated with an in-depth presentation which included functioning prototypes, results of interviews conducted with their client, photographs and videos of their product in action, and even AI-generated commercials.” The projects included: Flownote, a reusable drawing tablet built into the back of a phone case; Cup Caddy, a nightstand cupholder and book organizer; and Cuplink, a drink holder for the tables in the library.