Design Thinking

At PDS, we have a deep desire for our boys to become capable contributors to the world’s needs. Using our customized design thinking framework, PDS boys become need-finders and collaborate together to create products, services, experiences, or systems that fit the end-user’s needs. We call our framework EDGE and use each letter to guide the design process.

Explore the Problem

Students determine a problem that needs attention. The need could be that of students at PDS or a large scale global issue.

Develop Empathy

Developing empathy is critical to understanding the human elements of a problem and a good solution. The empathy stage helps students find a connection between the need at hand and their own experiences.

Grow Your Ideas

Students use creativity, ingenuity, inference, and collaboration skills to generate ideas for solutions. Special emphasis is placed on students understanding that “wild ideas are okay” and that they are a valuable part of the idea growth phase. One wild idea could be the opening pathway to a perfect solution.

Evaluate Prototypes

Prototypes may be grand three-dimensional objects or a simple sketch, experience, or service. Regardless of the size or structure, students spend time evaluating their own work. They look critically at the prototype and ask, “Is this the best that we can do?” Reflection is a key component of the design process and a necessary step in reaching the ultimate goal of a meaningful solution.