Each fall, Graphic Design students enrolled in Senior Design Seminar complete work for a start-up company or non-profit client. This year one of our clients includes One Oak Systems, a start-up company developing smart HVAC technology to increase HVAC efficiency as well as occupant comfort. One Oak is one of eight new companies hosted by the hardware and robotics startup accelerator, AlphaLab Gear.
The collaboration kicked off in October with a hands-on session of information gathering and discovery facilitated by the design students. The student groups led inquiry activities from brainstorming, clustering and prioritizing guiding principles, to developing an audience empathy map. The intent of the session was to more deeply understand the company and their product, as well as to help this start-up hone in on a mission, core values, positioning and audience understanding.
The outcome of the collaboration with this client will provide a strong base from which the students will define and develop design solutions. The experience will also give students a better understanding of the value of developing a relationship and working with a client.
In addition to facilitating the discovery session, students began the morning by giving a presentation to all of the AlphaLab Gear companies on the value of design, and the process designers undertake to solve complex design problems.
