Problem of the Month: Empathy & Ideation

Problem of the Month: Empathy & Idea Generation

In this session, we’ll shift from framing the problem to understanding the people connected to it. Through guided exercises and small-group conversations, you’ll explore how different individuals experience the problem — their motivations, constraints, and unmet needs. As a reminder, this month we’re focusing on improving learning and focus.

Using those insights, you’ll work collaboratively to generate ideas for possible solutions. The emphasis is on range and creativity, not polish or feasibility. This is a space to think expansively, test assumptions, and build on one another’s ideas without pressure to be “right.”

This session is especially useful if you’re interested in human-centered problem-solving, creative thinking, or learning how better understanding leads to better ideas. You don’t need to have attended Week 1 to participate — each session stands on its own.

Open to UC Berkeley students