"Why join the navy when you can be a pirate?" asks Steve Jobs, Chairman and CEO of Apple Computer. In a nutshell, it's this philosophy of unconventional thinking that has propelled his meteoric rise in the tech world. From the Macintosh to the iPhone to the iPod, his company's innovative products reflect the perfect marriage of technology and design.

In his Innovation course at Notre Dame, Professor Matt Bloom uses the Apple iPod as an example of innovation, which he defines as "new ideas put to productive use." The MBA class explores design thinking that shapes the world around us to make it better. In introducing the concept to new classes, Bloom says, "Innovation and design rely on being able to see the world around you differently from the way most people see it. This 'seeing differently' is the way innovators spot where improvements can happen and the way they dream up and shape positive, effective responses."

To spark the students' desire for innovation, Bloom assigns individual journals in which they record their notes and reflections, ideas and insights, and "bug" and "wow" lists of good and bad designs/innovations. Recent ND MBA graduate Lauren McCloskey Elston says, "The journal represents a journey. We were encouraged 'to let learning be our guide,' and the class allowed us to take brainstorming, creativity, and self-expression to a whole new level."

Along with the course journal, or innovation sourcebook, Bloom incorporates a team project (documentary, movie, or original creation), encourages class participation, and provides plenty of real-life examples. Jamie O'Reardon, another ND MBA recent graduate, says, "Professor Bloom presents videos, case studies, and lectures (including illustrations from Chariots of Fire, Dead Poets Society, and the 1980 U.S. hockey team) to focus on individuals who are at their peak and are completely engulfed in what they are doing. As a result, they find contentment in their work and their achievements speak for themselves." Armed with inspiration from a course that is equally innovative, today's Notre Dame MBA students themselves are seeking the same level of fulfillment.