FACILITATING CREATIVE THINKING: A CASE STUDY AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF TEACHING FACILITATING CREATIVE THINKING WITHIN DESIGN MANAGEMENT MASTERS PROGRAMMES

Successful design managers need to be able to create the conditions for creative thinking and innovation within organizations that are composed of a wide variety of professionals, most of whom may not be familiar with design thinking, a method widely used with the creative industries. This paper is a case study, detailing one of many student projects focusing on facilitating creative thinking which is undertaken with participants who do not describe themselves as creative and work within organizations' participating in this initiative. The case goes on to discuss the impact this project has had on the students search for employment after graduation and the potential impact their learning from the project has had on their employability. The student project aims to prepare students to lead teams in the envisioning of new ideas and solutions by developing skills in framing, imaging and group iteration as they apply the process of design conceptualization outside the familiar domain of studio skills. The students acquire experience in idea facilitation through working successfully with non- design people in a creative mode.