Innovation Fellowship FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cost to participate?
The program is currently free!
Who are the instructors/teachers/facilitators/geniuses who will be sharing their hard-won innovation-related wisdom with the next group of IFs?
The Design Thinking Project Studio will be facilitated by Mira Azarm and Christina Hnatov, and Becoming a Design Thinker will be facilitated by Erica Estrada-Liou and Brooke Smith. You can find their bios here.
Do I need to know much about innovation or consider myself "creative" to participate? Do I need prior experience with design thinking?
The answer to the first question is no! Many of us lose confidence in our creative abilities as we get older. You are creative. Trust us. Our goal is to bring it back into your life in a relevant and meaningful way.
For the second: Becoming a Design Thinker does not have a design thinking requirement. That doesn't mean you have to be a complete beginner: We've been told it's enjoyable to students at multiple levels of understanding and experience.
On the other hand, to join the Design Thinking Project Studio, you need a basic awareness and understanding of design thinking, human-centered design, and/or UX/UI concepts. We're not particular about where it comes from: this could be the equivalent of having read a book, going to a hands-on "bootcamp" or training, or being a past participant in other IF offerings (e.g. Becoming a Design Thinker) — to name a few. If you're not sure about this, we can work with with you to determine if you have enough experience to feel comfortable jumping in.
Which session should I join (i.e. Fall vs. Spring, BADT vs. DTPS)?
You can ultimately do both! If you have to choose, it's most important to consider your time commitments, learning goals, and how you want to feel during your experience.
- Becoming a Design Thinker (BADT) is currently only offered in the Spring. This is a space for you to nurture and cultivate your design thinking and collaboration skills and mindsets. Each week, you'll work with your team to apply a specific mindset, behavior, tool, or method to a design problem. The goal isn’t finding the “right” solution, it’s to leverage everyone’s perspectives to explore a problem from a human-centered perspective. The biggest takeaway from this experience is what you learn, not the outcome of the design project. There will be about 1 hour of outside work between the in-person sessions, which everyone is expected to complete prior to each session. . Past IFs have described the experience as stress-relieving, invigorating, and fun.
- The Design Thinking Project Studio (DTPS) is offered in the Fall and Spring. You can use the studio to dig deeper into a specific project that you're curious about exploring using the tools, methods, etc. You decide how much time you'll spend outside of the learning community sessions and 1:1s on fieldwork, knowing that you're ultimately responsible for meeting your own project milestones and deliverables. The learning community is supportive and provides a scaffold of accountability to help you move your work in productive — and intriguing — directions.
Whichever one(s) you join, you will need to attend all in-person and virtual meetings as specified in the curriculum.
What kind of project should I/can I work on in the Design Thinking Project Studio?
It's a real-world project (i.e. work-related or school-related) that you're curious about exploring further. It can be something you've already started or is brand-new; something you feel stuck on; or something you're simply looking to find dedicated time, space, and additional perspectives for.
A high-pressure project with a tight turnaround, picky client, and/or a solution already in mind is not an ideal one in this setting.
In the first couple weeks of the studio, we'll help you begin framing your design problem; we can also help you brainstorm project ideas before the program starts if you'd find that helpful.
How do I sign up and/or get more info?
Email mazarm@umd.edu with questions you have and/or to set up a time to discuss your goals, interests, and participation in upcoming IF offerings.
Can I earn credit for this? (And how would that work?)
If you're a graduate student, you may be able to enroll in IDEA698: Independent Study in Design Thinking. The course is repeatable and can be taken for 3 credits. Depending on your program, this might qualify in place of an elective or even a requirement for your degree. You should contact your advisor to find out if you can take this without incurring additional costs, and/or work with them to get approval if needed. You will also need to get permission from AIE to enroll (contact Mira Azarm at mazarm@umd.edu). Once granted, you can register for the class in Testudo.
What graduate programs have been represented in the IF so far?
Master's, PhD.s, and even Post-docs who have been studying Applied Economics, Agriculture, Astronomy, Business, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Community Planning, Dance, Education, Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Management, Information Systems, Linguistics, Mechanical Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Psychology, Public Policy, Studio Art, Systems Engineering (+ more!). If it's not represented here, we'd love to add your program to our list, too!
Does participating in the Innovation Fellowship count as "work"?
This program offers valuable tools, methods, and mindsets that can be related directly to the workplace environment. This can be a valuable professional development opportunity for anyone who's been wondering how to incorporate innovation tools (and design thinking concepts) into their day-to-day work life. Depending on your unit or department's policies, you may need to ask your supervisor(s) for permission to use work hours to participate in the Innovation Fellowship.
Do I have to use a work project in the Design Thinking Project Studio?
We think the studio is a great place to move a real-world project along, so we encourage you to choose a project that's directly relevant to your day-to-day. If you need to get approval from your unit to participate during work hours, we recommend discussing your project idea(s) with your supervisor(s) to make sure expectations are aligned ahead of time.