This module will transform how you approach and solve complex problems. You’ll begin by practising some fundamental creative skills before exploring design thinking – a dynamic, user-centred methodology you can apply to challenges across the creative industries and beyond. Through our online design studio, a vibrant creative hub, you’ll collaborate with tutors and peers, experimenting, sharing ideas, and gaining inspiration as you develop your design skills. While focusing on creativity, you’ll complete a range of practical projects, translating theory into practice and building a professional portfolio that demonstrates your expertise.
The module is presented online in four blocks. Each block corresponds to different levels at which design thinking can impact our lives: the individual, group, social, and global levels. You’ll have practical activities, skills development, and academic coursework to do each week, and you'll have the freedom to manage your own learning.
Central to the module is an online virtual design studio, OpenDesignStudio, where you’ll upload your work – using images you’ve created – to discuss with other students and your tutor. Learning to use the expertise of others is a vital part of design thinking and is encouraged in the design studio environment. Throughout the module, you’ll be prompted to engage with the world around you; formulate and solve design problems relevant to your own life; and participate in the U101 community of design thinkers.
Block 1: Design and the individual
The first part of the module introduces some basic skills to begin your creative work: taking and uploading digital photographs, composition, basic drawing and observation. It will introduce you to Compendium, a software tool with which you can record and link together different types of information in a digital map. It will also introduce you to the OpenDesignStudio environment, where you’ll upload your work and be able to see the work of others as you work through the course. Along with your skill development, there is academic study: introducing you to the world of design and design thinking through text, audio, video and multimedia. You’ll see interviews with design practitioners and case studies of their work. As you work through the block, you’ll carry out a sequence of activities leading up to your first assessed design project: a T-shirt design.
Block 2: Designing for others and with others
In the second block, the focus shifts to designing for other people. You’ll investigate what types of design make other people happy and try ways to feel and simulate what it’s like to experience what other people do. You’ll practise making and presenting prototypes – crucial in design thinking – and learn how to ‘frame’ a problem and recognise a good solution. This block is not only about designing for others but also about designing with others. Knowing how and when to use the knowledge of others is extremely useful in designing. As part of your assessed design project for this block, you’ll use other people to help you explore a problem and generate creative ideas in response. For your project in this block, you’ll propose a modified or new product and communicate your idea through a prototype.
Block 3: Design in society
Block 3 looks at how design can impact society through services and systems such as housing, planning, health, transport and recycling. You’ll gain an understanding of the factors influencing change in a society and of how they apply to your local context. And you’ll learn how to search for information, observe, map, and analyse complex environments. In your online study, you’ll see several case studies where design has made a significant impact at the societal level. For your design project, you’ll design, produce, and test a game based on a service you’ve studied.
Block 4: The global impact of design
When the full context of design is considered, we must consider how design thinking can have a global impact. This final part of the module combines all the skills you’ve learned in previous blocks to teach you how to integrate them all, balancing people, processes and materials, through the design process. You’ll look at the global context of design and consider the ethical implications of what design thinking can achieve. In the final design project assessment, you’ll pursue your design thinking inquiry around a specific global theme, leading to you designing a way to communicate the results of your investigation.
There are no formal entry requirements to study this module.
However, it would be useful to have some experience of using the internet and a creative attitude.
When you register, you’ll receive a U101 Creative Welcome Pack with design thinking challenges to use during the module.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
Each assignment is a design project communicated using concept-mapping software.
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
Additionally, the website includes:
We also provide physical:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying U101 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101) starts twice a year – in October and January/February.
It will next start in October 2026 and January 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in February 2030.
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