Creative Solutions Exhibition 10.12.10

As part of Innovation Dublin 2010 the UCD School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering hosted a ‘Creative Solutions by 1st Year Students’ Exhibition on 18th November.  The exhibition was a display of selected students’ work undertaken as part of the new Creativity in Design module for 1st year Engineering students.

The ‘Creativity in Design’ module provides an active-learning engineering experience through which students develop their observation skills, problem solving skills and lateral thinking abilities.  Using the design thinking cycle students aim to develop high quality solutions to design problems.

Facilitating studio-based design work for 250 students required the development of a sustainable approach.  Aligned with the ‘Creativity in Design’ module has been the development and training of students on the ME in Structural Engineering with Architecture.  This ME group have a core module, CVEN40390 ‘Innovation Leadership’, as part of their curriculum, which develops their leadership, teamwork and facilitation skills, in addition to introducing them to innovation and problem-solving skills.  These ME students facilitate the studio project work for ‘Creativity in Design’ with Stage 1 engineering students. 

The work exhibited on 18th November was based on one of the assignments that students worked on in their module, it showed how information technologies and systems could help the public around the Grafton Street to access information and services that would fulfill their needs.  The winning team’s project was centred around a technological approach using GPS capability to guide visually impaired visitors to Grafton Street.  Second prize was awarded to the team who developed a prototype for an iPhone App incorporating a variety of information useful to tourists, shoppers and business people using the street.

Many thanks to Innovation Delivery Ltd. and the ESB who provided sponsorship for prizes and refreshments for the event.  Thanks also to the UCD Student’s Union for providing very welcome tea, coffee and sandwiches throughout the afternoon.