FriLeadership Camp

Design Mentoring & Facilitation

Client: FriLingue for Ministry of Interior UAE

Project Duration: 3 Weeks

Scope: Design Mentoring, Upskilling, and Facilitation

Deliverables: Lecture Materials & Workshops

Context

FriLingue was entrusted by the Ministry of Interior (UAE) to deliver a design thinking in leadership course to a group of 70 high school and undergraduate students. This initiative sought to instil the principles of design thinking and I was enlisted as a design expert, tasked with shaping and delivering this visionary course.

Objective

My objective was two-fold: to impart design thinking expertise to a team of facilitators with limited design background and to educate a cohort of 70 students in design thinking. I was also entrusted with the creation of comprehensive course materials and the formulation of an engaging project challenge to guide the students.

Role and Responsibilities

In collaboration with another design expert, I played a pivotal role in crafting and conducting the course. Our first challenge was rapidly equipping facilitators, most of whom lacked prior design knowledge, with the necessary skills to guide students effectively. Additionally, I was responsible for conceiving the leadership challenge and providing guidance to the students. Throughout the process, I offered close mentorship to two student teams, guiding them through the entire design thinking journey.

Learnings and Challenges

A notable challenge arose from the unexpected situation of having individuals unfamiliar with design tasked with teaching it to the students. My colleague and I, as the only designers on the team, undertook the responsibility of bridging this knowledge gap, ensuring that facilitators acquired the essential skills to successfully lead design thinking sessions.

Cross-cultural education: Navigating the cultural intricacies and nuances of teaching students from the UAE presented another fascinating challenge. We were acutely aware of the region’s conservative practices and traditions, which influenced our approach significantly. Adapting the language, lectures, and course materials to align with this conservative setting demanded careful consideration and strategic adjustments, enriching our teaching experience.