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Rational Creativity and Strategic Thinking - highlights from Minh Nguyen’s Workshop at FPT Quy Nhon Highschool
On a remarkable night at FPT Quy Nhon Highschool, Minh Nguyen, Co-founder of Collective Design Agency (CDA), captivated the minds of the next generation with an intensive 2.5-hour workshop on ideation, branding, and UX strategy.
Despite the late hour and the challenging content, the students displayed an incredible level of engagement and creativity, proving that with the right guidance, young minds are capable of developing ideas that could shape the future. This workshop wasn't just about teaching design or business skills; it was about inspiring these students to think critically, solve real-world problems, and harness their creativity in a structured, impactful way.
Entrepreneurship is more than just starting a business; it’s about identifying problems and creating innovative solutions. Minh Nguyen emphasized this throughout the workshop, encouraging students to explore daily challenges and consider how they could develop products or services to address them.
The ability to transform a problem into a potential business idea is a crucial skill that these young minds were introduced to. This workshop wasn't just about learning how to create a product; it was about fostering a mindset that sees opportunities where others see obstacles.
The first segment of the workshop focused on ideation—where students were tasked with identifying problems in their daily lives and brainstorming potential solutions. This process of ideation is the foundation of innovation, and Minh guided the students to think critically about the feasibility, originality, and impact of their ideas.
By rating each idea on factors such as understanding, explanation, feasibility, and originality, the students were able to select the most promising concepts to develop further. This structured approach to creativity teaches students that while inspiration is important, the true power of creativity lies in its ability to solve real-world problems.
Once the students had settled on their ideas, the next challenge was to bring these ideas to life through branding and visual identity. Minh introduced the concept that a brand is more than just a logo; it’s the story, values, and identity that a product or service communicates to its audience.
The students were guided through the process of sketching logo concepts, finalizing their designs, and developing a cohesive visual identity that would be memorable, versatile, and relevant to their target audience. This exercise taught the students that effective branding requires both creativity and strategic thinking.
The workshop also delved into the importance of user experience (UX) and information architecture (IA) in connecting with an audience.
Minh explained that a well-designed UX strategy is essential for ensuring that a product or service not only meets the needs of its users but also creates a seamless and enjoyable experience. The students were tasked with mapping out user journeys, designing low-fidelity wireframes, and considering how different users might interact with their product or service. This hands-on experience showed them that UX design is about more than aesthetics; it’s about understanding and anticipating the needs of the user.
One of the key insights shared during the workshop was the distinction between rational creativity and creativity based on inspiration.
Minh emphasized that while inspiration is often seen as the driving force behind creative endeavors, true creativity is rooted in rational thinking and problem-solving. Rational creativity involves taking an abstract idea and transforming it into something tangible and impactful through a blend of logic and emotion. This approach to creativity was clearly demonstrated by the students, who were able to develop sophisticated concepts and present them effectively, despite the challenging content of the workshop.
Minh Nguyen’s workshop at FPT Quy Nhon Highschool was more than just an introduction to ideation, branding, and UX strategy; it was a powerful lesson in the importance of creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. By challenging these students to think deeply about real-world issues and develop innovative solutions, Minh has helped to equip them with the tools they need to succeed in whatever path they choose to follow. The energy and creativity displayed by the students were truly inspiring, and their ability to rise to the occasion is a testament to their potential to become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
Entrepreneurship teaches students to identify problems, create solutions, and think critically, which are valuable skills in any career.
Rational creativity involves using logic and problem-solving to turn ideas into tangible products, while inspiration-based creativity relies more on spontaneous ideas and emotions.
Branding helps to create a recognizable identity for a product, making it easier for consumers to connect with and trust the product.
UX ensures that a product meets the needs of its users and provides a seamless, enjoyable experience, which is crucial for customer satisfaction and retention.
The workshop provided students with practical skills in ideation, branding, and UX strategy, as well as fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Problem-solving is at the heart of entrepreneurship, as it involves identifying issues and developing innovative solutions that can be turned into successful products or services.