Learn to Move Mountains: Design Thinking is an Essential Skill
Sustainability is of the utmost importance, and young people are gaining an understanding of that. Elaine France introduces us all to design thinking, and how it could change the world.
Coursera, the online education platform, has just published its Global Skills Index (July 2019)1 analysing the top trending skills in Business, Technology, and Data Science, benchmarked across 60 countries and 10 industries. These are the skills we need for the future of work a.k.a Industry 4.0.
Each of the ten industry categories, including Automotive, Media, Manufacturing and Technology, identifies design thinking in the top ten of trending skills, with 7 out of 10 industry categories placing it first.
This resonates well with my own work which uses design thinking around real-world sustainability issues to increase wellbeing and Industry 4.0 skills, as we train children, youth and young people, to be the new generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs taking action for the planet.
Let me just define design thinking for you, so that we’re all on the same page.
Design thinking focuses on problem-solving processes, products and services around real people and their needs. This definition from Ideo U2 sums it up:
“In employing design thinking, you’re pulling together what’s desirable from a human point of view with what is technologically feasible and economically viable.”
It starts with empathy, an understanding of the need and clarity on the problem that you really care about solving; moves to generating and downloading many ideas to explore; and then makes the space for prototyping as you start turning ideas into reality.
The solutions can be simple and spectacular
A recent study by the OECD3 showed that youth wellbeing is at an all-time low. This anxiety is generated predominantly by climate catastrophe and wondering what employment opportunities there will be for them in future. We need to give them starting points for taking action: context, purpose and problem-solving techniques to make their march something even more tangible in challenging the status quo.
One of the schools that I have worked with sits at the heart of the Swiss Alps. This mountain school welcomes children ages 3 – 15 years old, combining academic learning with a love of the outdoors and sense of responsibility to care protect the stunningly beautiful local environment.
The resort caters to snow-sports in winter and hiking, biking and music festivals in summer. From the students’ point of view, their concern Is to protect these mountains as a source of fresh water and part of the planet’s cooling system, as well as having a deep understanding of the economic drivers faced by a tourist resort.
Enjoying this article?
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss a story. No spam, ever.
Elaine France
Contributor
Elaine has worked for 25 years as a change-maker and understands the challenges of taking action as a global citizen, growing sustainable solutions from within communities, rather than ‘doing it’ to them. She brings expertise and perspectives from across sectors, with tools and strategies that enable every individual to become an adventurer who dares to dream and has the courage to turn their ideas into reality. She works to create a circle of impact, empowering others so that they share and transfer those skills around the globe wherever they are, so that lasting change happens organically from the inside out. Visit www.flowinaction.org for more information
Related Articles
Members
Plug-in Solar Panels Will Be Sold in UK Supermarkets Within Months
The UK government has legalised balcony solar panels, with retailers like Lidl and Amazon set to sell units from around £400 as part of a wider clean energy package that includes mandatory heat pumps for all new homes from 2028
Why One in Five Planted Trees Die Before They Can Help Britain Reach Net Zero – And How Rhizocore Is Fixing It
UK tree planting lags targets, risking net zero aims. Edinburgh biotech Rhizocore pairs trees with fungi to lift survival to 97% and attract £4.5m to scale.
China’s Climate Gambit as Beijing Sets Ambitious 2035 Targets to Lead Global Energy Transition
China sets bold 2035 climate goals ahead of COP30, pledging a seven–10% emissions cut, a major renewables build-out and grid upgrades for solar and wind.
