Augmenting the design thinking studio

Mobile social media can be used to augment physical learning spaces and bridge formal and informal learning contexts. This paper presents the ongoing implementation and impact of a mobile social media project, which aims to augment and enhance a Product Design programme underpinned by a Design Thinking methodology. The goal of the project is to enhance student-learning experiences, positively impact their Design Thinking expertise development, and to explore the future of Design Thinking education enhanced by mobile social media. In addition it provides an opportunity for a small university department to engage with implementing and sustaining pedagogical change enabled by technology through the establishment of communities of practice. The paper describes the underlying Design Thinking and learning and teaching frameworks, the establishment of the community of practice, comments from lecturers, and the first pilot project with students.