Today my team The Bookworms gave our final presentation at the HPI School of Design Thinking, also known as the Potsdam d-school (sister of Stanford’s d.school).  Judging from the crowd’s energy and cheers, I would say it was a success!  

6 weeks (essentially 10 days, since we meet twice a week at the d-school), extensive research, many prototypes and brainstorming sessions later we developed Between The Pages, a TV show about books for the digital native generation.  It was a whirl wind of a time and a great learning experience.  Talking to young people about books on the streets of Berlin was especially illuminating.  

Many thanks to our client Frank Elstner, the famous German TV host, and the d-school for this fantastic opportunity!

Here’s a little summary of our final prototype:

(click on the images for a close up)

After the presentations we received certificates listing the two major projects we worked on this summer, mine being:  1.  Reconsidering Energy Consumption and 2.  Book Recommendations.

(photograph courtesy of Martin Jordan)

And the traditional d-school pins:

(photograph courtesy of Martin Jordan)

The Potsdam d-school is expanding this next year- there will be 2 basic tracks and one advanced track.  The new building, which will house the advanced track is gorgeous!  The interior design incorporates what the d-school team has learned, after many iterations, about how to successfully facilitate teamwork and innovation.

If you’re interested in being a student, apply now!  Applications for next Fall are due by the 31st of July, 2010.