For the first time, Ohio State Design is offering courses required for the Design Thinking Minor on both the Columbus and Marion campuses, marking a significant milestone in cross-campus collaboration and student access. During Summer 2026, students will be able to complete three of the five required courses for the Design Thinking Minor entirely online and asynchronous, opening the door for learners across the university to engage with design thinking principles regardless of location.

All three courses will be delivered during Summer 2026, 8-week Session 2, running from June 5 through July 30, and represent a coordinated effort between Ohio State’s main campus and the Marion campus. This expansion reflects a growing commitment to shared academic offerings that broaden opportunity, leverage faculty expertise, and strengthen connections across Ohio State’s statewide system.

The Design Thinking Minor equips students with strategies for creative problem-solving, human-centered research, visualization, and compelling communication—skills that are increasingly valuable across disciplines and industries. In addition to serving Design students, these courses are also approved electives for students pursuing the Leadership Major, Public Health and the Arts Minor, and Entrepreneurship Minor, making them especially relevant for students seeking interdisciplinary learning experiences.

Courses Offered – Summer 2026

DESIGN 3105 – Exploring Design Thinking
Instructor: Kevin Ward
Class Numbers:

• Columbus: 22497
• Marion: 22708

This foundational course introduces students to the principles and methods of design thinking, focusing on empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iteration. Students learn how designers approach complex challenges and apply these strategies to real-world problems across social, organizational, and entrepreneurial contexts.

DESIGN 3305 – Visualization as Thinking
Instructor: Kevin Ward
Class Numbers:

• Columbus: 16907
• Marion: 22709

Visualization as Thinking emphasizes drawing, mapping, and visual frameworks as tools for analysis and sense-making. Students explore how visual representation supports deeper understanding, collaboration, and decision-making—skills that are particularly valuable in leadership, public health, and innovation-driven fields.

DESIGN 3505 – Presentation as Thinking
Instructor: Emily Valentine
Class Numbers:

• Columbus: 18184
• Marion: 22559

This course focuses on presentation as a form of critical and creative thinking, helping students develop narratives that clearly communicate ideas, processes, and outcomes. Through structured assignments and feedback, students build confidence presenting complex ideas to diverse audiences.

A Milestone for Access and Collaboration

Offering these courses simultaneously on the Columbus and Marion campuses represents an important step forward in expanding equitable access to design education at Ohio State. By delivering the courses 100% online and asynchronous, Ohio State Design is enabling students from a wide range of academic programs, schedules, and locations to participate without the constraints of time or geography.

For Marion campus students, this marks the first-ever opportunity to enroll in Design Thinking Minor courses offered directly through their campus—an expansion that strengthens academic pathways and reinforces Ohio State’s commitment to shared excellence across all locations.

Students interested in developing creative confidence, leadership capacity, and innovative problem-solving skills are encouraged to explore these summer offerings and consider how design thinking can complement their primary field of study.

For enrollment assistance, students should consult their academic advisor.