Are you passionate about finding solutions to important societal challenges? Do you want to discover how the Design Thinking method helps you generate creative and innovative ideas?

During the Design Thinking and Doing minor, you will work on assignments from organizations and entrepreneurs in the Zeeland region.

With the Design Thinking method, you focus on the user when finding creative solutions. You learn to solve problems by first truly understanding who the stakeholders are and what they need. You think creatively about innovative ideas. Collaboration, empathy, brainstorming, and experimentation are central to this method. Throughout the process, you will use the HZ Studio toolkit, which consists of four clear phases: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver.

Collaboration in Various Projects

During this minor, you will work on different projects in collaboration with students from various nationalities and study programs. The projects come directly from the professional field and may vary each semester. Examples of past projects include:

• Province of Zeeland: Researching how smart mobility can be applied and how human behavior can be influenced and changed.
• Groene Strand Initiative: Investigating how biodiversity on the beach can be improved.
• SME Companies in Zeeland: Exploring how small and medium-sized enterprises can save energy and give back to the environment.

Each semester brings new themes and projects that make the Zeeland region more future-proof.

Coaching

You will be guided by experienced coaches who provide you with the right tools and insights to make your project a success.

• Weekly coaching sessions to discuss your ideas, progress, and challenges.
• Practical workshops to support your professional growth, such as personal leadership development.

Structure of the Minor

You will work in a group of up to five students per project.

• Full-time minor (30 ECTS): Work on two projects simultaneously.
• Fewer ECTS: Work on one project.

At the beginning of each semester, you will review the available projects and submit your preferences. We strive to match your interests with your assigned projects.

Lower ECTS Packages

Besides the 15 or 30 ECTS minor, you can also enroll in packages with fewer ECTS. Options available:

• 6, 10.5, and 15 ECTS packages.

To enroll in an HZ Studio 2 package, you must first successfully complete an HZ Studio 1 package.

Workplace: HZ Studio

During this minor, you will work in the HZ Studio, located on the second floor of the HZ tower in Vlissingen. This vibrant office environment is shared with students from the Applied Research minor, giving you the opportunity to learn from others with different interests and cultural backgrounds.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Depending on your project, you may contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Improve well-being by enhancing the quality of life in Zeeland through innovation.
• SDG 11: Enable the renewal of Zeeland by making places more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.
• SDG 12: Promote responsible consumption and production, such as encouraging sustainable mobility or recycling food waste from restaurants.

In this minor, you will:

• Understand the concept of regeneration and apply its principles to critically reflect on your personal development based on the Inner Development Goals (IDGs).
• Work within an interdisciplinary team on an assignment for an external client, applying Design Thinking principles.
• Systematically analyze the problem, engage stakeholders in formulating a problem definition, and critically reflect on your role in the interdisciplinary collaboration.

This minor is open to students from all programmes at all universities of applied sciences.

You must have completed the propedeuse and 30 credits in the main phase.

This is an English language minor but there may be possibilities for Dutch projects depending upon the amount of Dutch students.

For the applied research track, we have numours online sources and methodology books in our studio available. The following books are recommended for the design thinking track (you can borrow them from the Innovation Studio library):

• Lewrick, M., Link, P., & Leifer, L. (2020). The design thinking toolbox: A guide to mastering the most popular and valuable innovation methods. John Wiley & Sons.
• Borges, C. C., & McNamee, S. (2022). Design thinking and social construction: a practical guide to innovation in research. BIS Publishers.

This minor does not have a fixed schedule.

• Full-time minor students (30 ECTS) must be physically present for at least 6 half-days per week in the HZ Studio.
• Weekly coaching sessions and biweekly client updates.
• Mandatory workshops to support learning.

For students taking fewer ECTS, schedules and deadlines are flexible in consultation with your coach and teammates.

Portfolio (100%)

HZ has study programmes in Vlissingen and Middelburg. Students from all over the world study here. We think it is important that you get the best out of yourself and develop your talents. At HZ, you matter.

Do you have any questions? Or would you like to discuss whether this minor suits you? We will be happy to help. You can contact Jessica Borgs at garage@hz.nl.