Social benefit focused design entrepreneurship education needs analysis in industrial design undergraduate education

In an age where social and environmental problems are increasing and becoming a common problem for all of us, it is known that design has answers to these problems and the positive effects it can create. The fact that the design ideas developed within the scope of Industrial Design discipline are social benefit-oriented and turn into a social initiative can bring these two disciplines closer and offer innovative solutions with positive effects. Within the scope of this thesis, within the framework of developing solutions for social and social problems, it is aimed to develop a curriculum and propose a toolkit by addressing the processes of transforming industrial design processes and approaches into social benefit-oriented design initiatives and exploring the integration potential of the two disciplines within the framework of educational needs analysis. Within the scope of the thesis research, THU203 Community Service Practices course, which is a common coded course of Eskişehir Technical University, was designed as a pilot course in the Department of Industrial Design during the autumn semester of 2023-2024 and carried out by the thesis advisor and researcher together with 8 Industrial Design Undergraduate students. Within the scope of the educational needs analysis of the research conducted within the framework of the pilot course, in cooperation with Tepebaşı Social Incubation Centre and with real stakeholders, students were enabled to experience the stages in the social business model development process with productive design research approaches. Studies and workshops involving social entrepreneurship and design-oriented thinking approaches were carried out within the framework of local and social problems. Simulation business idea presentation environments were prepared within the scope of the course designed with real stakeholders and mentors. Expert interviews were conducted with academics, social entrepreneurs and social enterprise coordinators. In the conclusion part of the research, it will propose the knowledge and skills sets, course materials, evaluation criteria and course design in an education model within the framework of Social Benefit Oriented Design Entrepreneurship. This educational model aims to contribute to the programme educational objectives and outcomes of Industrial Design Undergraduate Education.