D School
Collaborating in diverse, multidisciplinary teams is a characteristic of Design Thinking in action:
Three months ago 6 of our staff members embarked on a journey to study Design Thinking at the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking at The University of Cape Town. (HPI d-school UCT)
What is Design Thinking?
It is an approach to understanding and solving complex problems that are rooted in people, place and process that unlocks the insights and creative collaboration needed to generate innovation.
In the words of an African Proverb: If you want to go fast “Go Alone” & If you want to go far “Go Together”, These 6 young pioneers all residing in Mitchell’s Plain did not only just break boundaries, they embraced diversity while working alongside students from different disciplines (Fields of Study).
Thinking Human-Centric:
At the core of design, thinking is recognizing that people – their needs, the contextual constraints they experience, their aspirations and preferences – determine the suitability of any solution.
Mitchell’s Plain being ranked as the 2nd highest suburb in the Western Cape for reported crimes in 2018, these young pioneers went against what is portrayed in the media and they surely did not let the circumstances of their community determine how they will turn out. They went against the odds and decided to do something that not a lot of young people from this community would do and they surely did not allow finance hold them back from studying Design Thinking and attending a Higher Learning Institution.
Embracing Diversity:
The philosophy underpinning design thinking is that of diversity in every spectrum – from race, culture, world views and perspectives, to skills, experiences and insights – these are vital for addressing complex challenges faced by contemporary societies.
Mitchell’s Plain also being one of South Africa’s largest suburbs with a total population of 300,000+ people. It comprises of a number of subsections which reflect the diverse class backgrounds of the population.
These young pioneers acquired the ability to deeply connect with local realities and appreciate local knowledge and systems as it is necessary for developing solutions that are appropriate and effective.
We’d like to congratulate Althea De Wet, Calvin Mayanta, Cindy-Lee Stander, Charlton Noble, Dailen Jacobs & Desme Jacobs for completing the 12 Week Foundation Programme, As you cherish the fruits of your hard work, we wish that success keeps following you in everything that you do. Today and always.
