{"id":36425,"date":"2024-04-30T11:17:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T10:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hult.edu\/blog\/?p=36425"},"modified":"2026-05-06T17:06:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:06:48","slug":"climate-crisis-design-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hult.edu\/blog\/climate-crisis-design-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"Falling in Love With Problems Worth Solving: Tackling the Climate Crisis With Design Thinking"},"content":{"rendered":"

As sustainability tops the agenda for many global companies, it\u2019s no secret that green business is good business. In response to the climate crisis, the UN Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action for governments and business leaders globally.<\/p>\n

At Hult, we recognize the fundamental role business must play in building a sustainable future. There\u2019s an urgent need for innovative, creative, and ethical leadership to navigate tomorrow\u2019s business challenges. Through the integration of design thinking principles into our curriculum, we\u2019re helping to foster this new generation of creative change-makers who are ready to make a meaningful impact on business and society.<\/p>\n

Harnessing design thinking for innovation<\/h3>\n

Design thinking quite literally means thinking like a designer. It involves using creative thinking to approach complex customer problems from different angles\u2014truly thinking outside of the box. It is a human-centered, collaborative, and iterative approach to problem-solving.<\/p>\n

Design Thinking for Innovation<\/em>, a core course for master\u2019s students at Hult, harnesses the skill of creative problem-solving for world-changing impact. Led by Dr. Henrik Totterman, the course is structured to guide students through a comprehensive learning journey, starting with understanding the fundamentals of design thinking and progressing toward its practical application in developing innovative solutions.<\/p>\n

\"Henrik
Dr. Totterman helps students use the tools of creativity to solve problems.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each session delves into key topics within the design thinking methodology, such as understanding and truly empathizing with customer needs, mapping the customer journey, undertaking thorough market research, product prototyping, and user testing. Through a hands-on learning approach, students engage in team assignments that require them to apply design thinking principles to real-world challenges.<\/p>\n

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\"Students
A collaborative approach is key to success.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The course aims to cultivate the ability to identify business challenges and apply creative solutions using the principles of design thinking. The focus is always on human-centric innovation, using design thinking to reframe problems, come up with alternatives, and iterate toward improved solutions.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor me, design thinking is the process of developing a truly customer-centric solution to a problem, while always questioning how the solution can be even better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Linus Horn, <\/span>MIB Class of 2024, Fooga team member<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Design thinking in action: The Greener Business Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Greener Business Challenge is a team-based project at the heart of Dr. Totterman\u2019s course, worth 30% of the final grade. The challenge tasks students with accelerating the green transition, using the principles of design thinking to create and pitch sustainable business solutions that address some of today\u2019s most pressing environmental concerns, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Design
The project is hands-on from start to finish, with rounds of prototyping and feedback key to the evolution of ideas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Teams are responsible for undertaking market research, prototyping their ideas, and demonstrating the viability and scalability of their proposed venture. Along with an executive summary and explainer video, teams also needed to produce a business development pitch deck and present it to multiple executives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes we want to hurry to find a solution to a problem when we don’t really understand the problem at all. We need to invest time in trying to deeply understand the problem to be able to come up with a solution.<\/p>\n

Juan Fern\u00e1ndez Fern\u00e1ndez, MIB Class of 2024, Build Green team member<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\"Design
Student teams were responsible for presenting a formal business pitch to industry experts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Student-ideated solutions ranged from businesses designed to tackle plastic waste and move towards a circular economy, to 3D-printed fashion and AI-assisted cosmetic purchasing. By identifying environmental issues and crafting solutions balancing viability and ecological stewardship, this project develops the core competencies needed for tomorrow\u2019s ethical businesspeople. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an overview of just three unique, student-scoped concepts:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fooga: Redefining Food Sustainability<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

The problem:<\/strong> Excessive food consumption leads to massive waste, with the US alone wasting an estimated 40% of food. <\/span><\/p>\n

The solution:<\/strong> Fooga offers high-quality excess food at reduced prices to low-income households while composting perishables to create nutrient-rich soil for local farmers. This innovative approach not only reduces waste but also promotes community well-being. <\/span><\/p>\n

Watch the video to see Fooga in action and understand the design thinking process behind their solution:<\/span><\/p>\n