Detroit Country Day School Faculty to Embrace Innovative "Design Thinking" Processes in New School Year

Faculty at Detroit Country Day Middle School (DCDS) are not just thinking “outside the box,” they are thinking by design. As part of its investment in progressive educational opportunities, the school will be introducing Design Thinking (DT) concepts into their curriculum to engage the community – from elementary students to executive leaders – with challenging new processes in the coming school year.

A process focused on fostering innovation, original thought and creativity, Design Thinking aims to tackle an issue and attack it with vigorous creativity and empathy, according to Julie Bianchi, DCDS Middle School Director. After attending a recent workshop at the Henry Ford Learning Institute, Bianchi and the Middle School deans resolved to train the rest of the faculty and institute “DT Days,” where students will learn the DT process and create prototypes.

“What became apparent about the DT process is the emphasis on empathy and true “big-thinking” creativity,” Bianchi said. “Many school assignments claim to be creative in nature, but after our DT training, I have a new understanding of and appreciation for how to use collaboration to foster original thought. I am excited to expose our teachers and students to these new concepts and see how each individual embraces the process.”

DT activities are based on open-ended concepts. For example, at the Henry Ford workshop, the DCDS team was tasked with creating a better “carry” item – anything from a purse to a cart to a dump truck. By utilizing the DT process, numerous ideas sprang up that dealt with the topic from a process perspective by identifying a need such as improving lunch options for professionals in Detroit and establishing a more accessible recycling program. The team found that with a less focused initial challenge, their solutions and outcomes became more creative.

The DT concept is already taking hold at DCDS in numerous ways. Bianchi plans to train the DCDS executive leadership team in the process, which could potentially make the DT process part of the school’s decision-making model. This fall, the middle school will debut new mobile and customizable classrooms for learning – creating a physical link to the DT themes of creativity and innovative thinking.

“Many elements of the DT process can be adapted from the elementary to executive level,” Bianchi continued. “Additionally, we know that colleges, universities and hiring directors are looking for individuals who excel in problem solving and non-cognitive skills such as creativity, collaboration, ethics and teamwork. At Detroit Country Day Middle School, we believe it is our responsibility to offer our students opportunities to practice and build these skills.”

Detroit Country Day School offers students from preschool through high school an exemplary education rooted in academic rigor and a commitment to the full development of each student’s potential. The school is an independent, coeducational, non-denominational, college preparatory school nationally recognized for excellence in academics, athletics and the fine and performing arts. Founded in 1914 by F. Alden Shaw, Detroit Country Day School today enrolls more than 1,500 students on four campuses located in Beverly Hills and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.dcds.edu.