I did some research in the SCAD Graduate Thesis Collection and found some interesting topics, which are helping me to clarify what my topic or thesis statement could be. Being constantly told to narrow our focus is starting to make sense. Here are the three theses that I found in this initial search:
- Empathy Within Orthodoxy: Fostering a Culture of Innovation in Faith-Based Organizations Through Design Thinking by Jay Bopp
- The Effective and Empathetic Designer: Professional Identity as a Function of Self-Definition by Andrea Nordstrom
- Crossing the Line: Why Designers and Aid Agencies Need Each Other by Timothy Putt
From it, I gleaned ideas for books to read, with Amazon creating great recommendations. I also found some insight into committee members, noting that Professor Jason Frazier was on the committee of each of these students.
Here are some of the books that I have bookmarked for potential reading.
- Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Nonprofits Impact Culture and Others Don’t by Phil Cooke
- Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend by Andy Stanley
- Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication by Tim Schraeder
- This is Service Design Thinking: Basics, Tools, Cases by Marc Stickdorn
- The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage by Roger L. Martin
- The Ten Faces of Innovation: IDEO’s Strategies for Defeating the Devil’s Advocate and Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization by Jonathan Littman
- Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
- User Friendly Churches: What Christians Need to Know About the Churches People Love To Go To by George Barna
- Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth by Richard L. Reising
- Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples by Francis Chan
- Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church by Matt Chandler
I think I’m starting to get excited! I really look forward to digging through some of these books.