Jams Jams are also a popular way to incorporate design thinking into a short timeframe. Design jams are fun, fast and collaborative brainstorming sessions where participants generate ideas and solutions in a creative environment. They have also been called “idea factories”. Jams go through the Double Diamond Design Process to allow for an iterative creative process cycle (discoverdefine-develop-deliver) from identifying a design challenge to finding a solution to it. Participants with diverse skillsets come together in order to create solutions to a challenge in a jam. Jams are hopeful sessions where participants are empowered to trust the team and tools to deliver a solution. Jams usually begin and end within a 48 hour period and sometimes, in just one day. The result of a jam is usually a concept or a prototype - anything from a business model to an art installation. They can be used as a creative part of a longer development process addressing complex problems or big issues. Hackathons The Hackathon concept originates from the root words, “hack” and “marathon” where the “hack” refers to programming. Hackathons are accelerated and intensive design processes undertaken in order to identify, model and illustrate new business and service ideas. These ideas are turned into concepts with the help of “quick and dirty” development, creativity, and rapid prototyping. Hackathons are also conducted in teams that often are interdisciplinary, and the work is completed within a limited time, usually in one to three days (24 and 72 hours). The prototyping is visualised, and the end-user is involved during the whole process. The outcome produced is usually a tangible technical solution. As such, programming skills are usually required of some of the members in each team participating in a hackathon. Hackathons are usually associated with software development. The SUCSESS project’s third training session included an intense hackathon day with teams working face-to-face in Johannesburg and one team working online over Zoom. The aim of the session was to come up with a solution to improve the employability of South African university graduates. Emphasis was placed upon the role of technology given that technology can create the articulation of existing and new social issues in contexts where human action alone has not succeeded in effecting change. 39
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