2 credits
Spring 2026 Lecture Upper Division
In this course, we will teach students to unlock their creative potential and master the art of generating innovative ideas addressing important societal problems by leveraging emerging technologies. Students will explore a diverse toolbox of ideation techniques, from brainstorming to SCAMPER, and discover how to apply them effectively in real-world scenarios. We will dive into the psychology of creativity, learn to think laterally, and harness imaginative thinking to tackle complex problems. Whether an aspiring entrepreneur or more inclined to innovate within an established company (intrapreneur), this course will empower students to transform ideas into tangible solutions. The course is a combination of lectures, recitations, discussions, and activities during which students will receive critical feedback from the instructor and peers on their idea assignments. Students start with idea harvest, i.e., the generation of multiple ideas in a short problem/solution format around an important societal problem such as climate change, environment, health/wellness, aging, automation, and AI. After critical evaluation, the most promising idea will be turned into a one-pager, a format targeted for a manager or CTO. The one-pager is focused on answering important questions about the problem, its scale, customer needs, proposed solution, and market potential. After a second round of critical evaluation, the one-pager will be turned into a longer proposal/document (six-pager) targeted to a senior VP or potential investors. Other topics discussed in this course include opportunity recognition and customer discovery, competitive analysis, customer story and press release, user interface and user experience (UI and UX), critical evaluation of ideas and red teaming.
Learning Outcomes1Demonstrate an understanding of creativity and innovation principles by applying foundational theories and psychological concepts related to imaginative thinking and lateral problem-solving.
2Employ a variety of ideation techniques (e.g., brainstorming, SCAMPER, lateral thinking) to generate innovative solutions addressing complex societal challenges such as climate change, public health, aging, automation, and AI.
3Identify and evaluate high-impact opportunities by conducting customer discovery and applying methods of opportunity recognition.
4Assess and refine innovative ideas critically through structured peer and instructor feedback, iterative development, and red teaming strategies.
5Develop and communicate compelling idea summaries by transforming early-stage concepts into concise one-pagers tailored for managerial or technical audiences.
6Create investor- or executive-ready proposals by expanding one-pagers into comprehensive six-page documents that include problem definition, solution details, market analysis, and customer needs.
7Analyze the competitive landscape to determine the uniqueness and potential market advantage of proposed innovations.
8Design user-centered solutions that integrate principles of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.
9Craft persuasive narratives including customer stories and mock press releases that clearly convey the value proposition of a product or solution.
10Demonstrate entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial mindsets by applying course frameworks in team and individual settings to develop viable innovations within startups or established organizations.
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.