WUtopia: a 15-Minute City
By 2050, 89% of the U.S. population and 68% of the world population is projected to live in urban areas.
Welcome to WUtopia! This is a First-year Seminar course provides an opportunity for students to develop their collaboration, critical thinking, complex problem solving, and communication skills while designing a human-centric 15-minute city that has all the basic needs within a short walk or bike ride. The concept of a 15-minute city has gained global attention and popularity post-pandemic as individuals and communities strive to rebalance their lifestyles and infrastructure to be more equitable and serving. Cities around the world have adopted this vision into their design planning, including Paris, Melbourne, Glasgow, Copenhagen, Portland, and many more.
This course is an opportunity to think critically about a large complex issue impacting the planet and systematically apply a process to creating an inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable city. Learn and experience how renown design firms are tackling a multi-faceted initiative and how you can apply similar techniques to your life and career planning.
Utilizing the Design Thinking methodology, teams will learn how to ask relevant questions, work together, and focus on the user to develop a deep understanding, frame the problem to be solved, initiate ideas, develop a plan of action, and prototype their concept.
Skills Emphasized: Creativity / Collaboration / Communication / Critical Thinking / Course preparedness