The Recreation Alignment Blog
Exploring how collaboration and innovation are shaping the future of recreation at UC San Diego.
Shared Learning for All.
This is where we share the journey of aligning UC San Diego’s Recreation Department with the university’s strategic goals. Through collaboration, innovation, and a design thinking approach, we’re tackling challenges, shaping priorities, and building a roadmap for a more impactful future.
Follow along for updates, insights, and stories that showcase how this initiative is transforming recreation and enhancing campus life for students, staff, and the broader community. Together, we’re creating solutions that matter.
Design Thinking In Recreation
AbstractThe UC San Diego Recreation Department, in partnership with The Idea Guy, is redefining the role and perception of university recreation through the application of Design Thinking principles and the Innovation Funnel methodology. By addressing six critical organizational challenges, the department is creating a replicable framework for operational excellence and enhancing its position as an…
SYNTHESIS
Turning Insights Into Action: Refining Solutions for Maximum Impact Introduction The Synthesis stage is where everything comes together. It’s about distilling insights, organizing feedback, and refining the final solution. This stage ensures that the work done across all prior phases of the Innovation Funnel is aligned, coherent, and ready for implementation. Think of it as…
PRESENT
Showcasing Solutions: Sharing and Validating with Stakeholders Introduction The Present stage is a critical moment in the Innovation Funnel. Here, teams showcase their work, communicate their ideas effectively, and gather the feedback necessary to refine or validate their solutions. It’s about more than just presenting; it’s about engaging your audience, inviting collaboration, and setting the…
Creating Shared Understanding – A Workshop That Changed the Conversation
In our journey to align UC San Diego Recreation’s goals with the university’s broader strategic plan, we planned an all-staff workshop as part of our initiative. While the original intent was to deliver a design thinking session focused on creating solutions for our problem statements, the workshop quickly became an invaluable learning opportunity about communication,…
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Management Workshop Aligns Recreation Department’s Priorities
The second step in the strategic alignment initiative for UC San Diego’s Recreation Department took place with the Management Workshop: From Problems to Problem Statements II. Led by Kevin Popovic, Education Manager of The Design Lab, this workshop provided the department’s senior managers with an opportunity to refine, consolidate, and prioritize the 13 problem statements…
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DEVELOP
Prototyping in Action: Turning Ideas into Testable Concepts Introduction With creative ideas refined in the Work stage, it’s time to bring them to life. The Develop stage focuses on transforming concepts into tangible prototypes that can be tested, improved, and validated. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning through iteration and ensuring your solutions align…
WORK
Innovation is more than just a flash of inspiration; it’s about turning those sparks of creativity into reality. The WORK stage is characterized by the development of prototypes or detailed plans.
Strategic Prioritization Begins for UC San Diego’s Recreation Department
The Recreation Department at UC San Diego hosted the first workshop in its strategic alignment initiative with the Recreation Department: From Problems to Problem Statements. Designed and led by Kevin Popovic, Education Manager of The Design Lab, this interactive session brought together 20 leadership members to define the department’s most pressing challenges and articulate them…
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LEARN
Gathering Insights: Understanding People, Needs, and Context Introduction Now that we’ve defined the problem in the Problems stage, it’s time to dig deeper. The Learn stage is all about gathering knowledge, data and insights that will shape the solutions to come. This is where you step into the shoes of the people involved within the…
PROBLEMS
Defining the Challenge: Identifying What Needs to Be Solved Introduction Every great innovation begins with asking the right question. The first step in the Innovation Funnel is all about defining the problem you’re solving. By crafting a strong problem statement and using the “How Might We” (HMW) model, you can focus on the root cause…
The Innovation Funnel: A Research Framework for Transformational Solutions
Guiding Ideas from Discovery to Impactful Implementation Introduction Innovation isn’t just about ideas—it’s about solving the right problems in the right way. The Innovation Funnel, developed by Kevin Popovic, is a research-based methodology designed to guide teams through every phase of the innovation process. From understanding challenges to implementing solutions, this framework ensures clarity, collaboration,…
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Designing a Strategic Future for UC San Diego’s Recreation Department
The Recreation Department at UC San Diego is excited to announce a new program designed to help achieve strategic alignment with the broader goals of the university. Led by Kevin Popovic, Education Manager of The Design Lab, this initiative exemplifies how design thinking can support organizational growth, foster collaboration, and create meaningful impact across campus.…
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