Senior Thesis Research Studios | CCA
Design Research + Innovation Frameworks
Designed and led senior thesis research studios guiding industrial design students through a structured yet exploratory approach to innovation.
The studios focused on helping students frame complex design challenges through experience, systems thinking, and disciplined innovation processes. Using established design research methods alongside a multi-phase framework, students learned to move from broad exploration to focused, insight-driven solutions.
I structured the studio around a nonlinear, iterative process, guiding students through stages of sensing, contextual research, user understanding, insight development, concept exploration, and solution validation. This approach encouraged students to build their own research methodologies while remaining responsive to feedback from peers, instructors, and external experts.
Throughout the course, students developed the ability to translate research into clear design direction, balancing rigor with creativity and grounding their concepts in real insight.
Impact
Established a repeatable framework for student-led design research and innovation
Strengthened students’ ability to move from ambiguity to validated concepts
Produced comprehensive thesis outcomes, including research books, prototypes, and final concept presentations
Supported the development of independent, systems-oriented design thinkers
Below are some examples of CCA Senior Thesis Research posters designed as a result of these courses by ID students from 2015- 2019.
