04. Designworks at Rotman
Design based innovation in education
University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management is a living example of forward thinking. Led by its celebrated Dean, Roger Martin, the school established designworks™, a centre for a new way of learning and thinking.
Managed by Heather Fraser, Designworks™ Director and Adjunct Professor at Rotman, the program provides a learning experience that encourages and nurtures new ways of thinking and leading. Bypassing conventional and often linear “management only” or “design only” curricula, designworks™ makes use of its resources in the academic and design community by teaming Rotman MBA students with those at the Ontario College of Art and Design. What results are integrated and collaborative project teams of diverse thinkers that play off each other’s strengths.
Our recent partnership with designworks was intensive. Designers from our studio worked closely with a designworks team, coaching them through a consumer strategy project for elite bike company Cervelo. We shared processes, studios, outlooks and approaches. What resulted was an enlightened understanding from both parties, some solid ideas for the client, and an ongoing partnership. 
"Managers who want to 'get' the new innovation paradigm should check out [Rotman's] MBA and exec-ed programs."
-Bruce Nussbaum, Managing Editor, BusinessWeek
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