GVSU to host Design Thinking panel discussion

Grand Valley will host a panel of local business leaders to discuss the concepts of design thinking and how they can be applied to solve complex problems. The event is in conjunction with West Michigan Design Week.

“Design Thinking for Social Impact”
Tuesday, April 7
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
L. William Seidman Center, room 1008, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

John Berry, director of the Design Thinking Initiative at Grand Valley, will facilitate the panel discussion.

Panelists for this event will include Ellen Carpenter, vice president of marketing and communications for Heart of West Michigan United Way, Ryan Kilpatrick, community assistance specialist at Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Kris Spaulding, sustainability director and owner at Brewery Vivant.

Design thinking is generally defined as an interactive, project-based, problem-solving process that combines empathy, creativity and rationality to meet real world needs.

Grand Valley announced its Design Thinking Initiative at the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year. Its mission is to help ensure students will be prepared for lifelong learning and careers in ever changing work environments by teaching interdisciplinary skills such as empathy, ideating, testing and prototyping.


The event is sponsored by Grand Valley in association with the Grand Rapids Art Museum and AIGA West Michigan Design For Good.