Evaluating the Design Challenge Navigator in built environment education

In response to the increasing complexity of challenges in the built environment, this study evaluates the Design Challenge Navigator (DCN), board-game-like design toolkit created to develop future competencies among students in higher education to help them tackle the full spectrum of contemporary challenges. Developed within the ERASMUS+ sUser project, the DCN bridges conventional Design Thinking with a systems-thinking approach and structured methodologies applicable at varying levels of complexity. Using a mixed-methods approach, the DCN was tested across three educational contexts at Avans University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. This involved students from Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Spatial Development. The findings indicate that the DCN encourages students to explore new methods, helps them structure and understand their process, and motivates them to follow a more user-driven approach. However, the study highlights the importance of tutor guidance, since the methodology can be complex to understand. And it highlights the importance of early integration into the curriculum to ensure the effectiveness of the DCN. Although the findings suggest that the DCN is a promising tool for educational purposes, further research is needed to validate its effectiveness amongst a larger student population and various project types.