Leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and the University of Colorado system recently visited Stanford University’s Design School (d.school) in Palo Alto, California. The visit was part of a weeklong workshop aimed at learning about the d.school’s approach to teaching and learning innovation.
The group was led by Benjamin Kwitek, Ph.D., director of innovation and co-founder of C3 Innovation at UCCS. He was joined by Innovation Program faculty members Carolyn Gery, Ed.D., and Gail Richards, M.S., as well as Ashley Taylor Tillman, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative director for the CU system.
Kwitek highlighted the importance of creativity in innovation, referencing David Kelly, founder of the d.school: “David Kelly, the founder of the d.school, was right when he said, ‘Belief in your creative capacity lies at the heart of innovation,’” Kwitek said. “In a world increasingly dominated by AI, the human creativity factor needs to be emphasized. We are not robots or the Tin Man in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – our faculty, staff and students have hearts.”
Ashley Taylor Tillman shared her perspective from her experience in California’s innovation community and her work at IDEO, a product design firm linked to Stanford’s d.school. “Design thinking is centered on empathy and understanding the user,” Tillman said. “CU students have incredible ideas and potential that can be unlocked to solve problems and produce innovative solutions.”
The workshop brought together universities from across the United States and other countries. Faculty and administrators from institutions such as Maryland, Michigan Tech, New York University, Rutgers, and Utah also participated.
Kwitek described the CU system’s position in innovation: “The CU system is recognized as one of the leading hubs for innovation in the world,” he said. “We need to make sure we continue to learn from the best to increase our edge and fuel the economic vitality of Colorado and beyond.”
The team gained insights from three core principles taught at the d.school: noticing, sensemaking, and experimenting. These steps are seen as essential for fostering innovation regardless of their sequence.
During their time on campus, participants engaged in activities such as listening circles, silent teamwork exercises, prototyping with basic supplies, and even dancing in a makeshift disco at Stanford’s Hasso Plattner Institute. San Francisco DJ Lamont later discussed how entertainment can help build culture.
Gail Richards reflected on one exercise: “It was the perfect exercise in tuning into the people around you, paying attention and responding based on what you learn,” she said.
The UCCS team plans to use lessons from Silicon Valley to update courses in its Bachelor of Innovation program. Carolyn Gery emphasized adapting teaching methods for today’s students: “Our students today were practically born with a smartphone in their hands,” she said. “We need to ensure we provide education that is dynamic and relevant.”
For more information about this initiative, interested parties can contact Benjamin Kwitek or Ashley Tillman by email.
