CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
INTEGRATING DESIGN THINKING TO FOSTER PATENTABLE INNOVATION IN DESIGN EDUCATION
Alhussain, Danah Fouad; Alfaisal, Hanan Faisal; Hemaida, Ghaydaa Ahmed
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
Imam Abdulrhman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
Page(s):
409 - 414
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
Design education is increasingly challenged to align creative outputs with real-world innovation and intellectual property (IP) generation. This study presents a pedagogical model that integrates the Design Thinking methodology into the industrial design process to support the development of patentable products within an undergraduate design curriculum. The model was applied over three academic cycles in a senior-level design studio, structured around the five stages of Design Thinking: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Students were guided not only through user-centered research and iterative prototyping but also through a tailored framework for IP screening, novelty assessment, and patent drafting. Assessment rubrics were redefined to include indicators for technical originality, feasibility, and IP potential. The outcomes included several high-quality design concepts, of which multiple were filed as patent applications. This integration demonstrated that academic environments can serve as innovation incubators, transforming design outcomes into protectable and potentially commercialize solutions. It also fostered an entrepreneurial mindset among students, encouraging them to think beyond academic deliverables toward sustainable innovation. This paper offers a framework for integrating patent awareness and intellectual property literacy into design education, addressing the growing demand for applied innovation within higher education. The approach aligns with national innovation strategies and reflects a global shift in design education—moving beyond traditional instruction toward producing solutions that are not only creative but also protectable and commercially viable.
Keywords:
