The OPIM Innovation Space is an area dedicated to hands on discovery. It is meant to be the entry point for our initiative and serves as the point in which you begin to interact with our student Lab Specialists. In this space students and faculty are able to use the principles of design thinking to help develop new projects. They can also choose to learn more about a particular technology by working through three different levels of tutorials Tech Kits across our five different technology paths or participate in a hands on Tech Demo led by one of the Lab Specialists.
Design Thinking Approach
Our Innovation Space has been set up to align with the phases of design thinking. One of the most common approaches to Design Thinking is a 5 phase approach. Define. Empathize. Ideate. Prototype. Test. The first four phases can be accomplished in our Innovation Space and when the project is ready for the Test phase then more time and equipment can be reserved by our Lab Specialist in the Research Lab. Each phase in our Innovation Space is also accompanied by a Blueprint (worksheet) that assists the user or team in working through their ideas in that phase. Helpful tips and guiding questions are used to encourage quick development of ideas and prototypes. The end goal is to have a portfolio and set of notes around the project going into the Test phase.
Define
Empathize
Ideate
Prototype
