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Jeanne M. Liedtka

Welcome Designers!

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Welcome Designers!

In this course, developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, we will introduce you to the design thinking process. It is a project-based course in which you will identify a human-centered problem that you want to solve. We will focus our attention on the first seven steps of our 14-Step design thinking process.

We’ll guide you through crafting and carrying out a research plan that helps you answer the question, “What is?” You will gather and identify important insights about the needs and wants of others and use this information to identify the attributes of an ideal solution.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Insights into Design Thinking
Welcome to the course! Ready to begin? We are going to get off to a fast start! This week you will be learning some introductory material and starting work on your project by completing Step 1.
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Project Planning
In Week 2 you'll advance your thinking about your project and learn more about the challenges of driving innovation through an organization.
What Is?
After completing your Design Brief, you are ready to move into Steps 4 and 5. This week you'll make plans and begin your research.
The Innovation Mindset
In Week 4, we will continue to work on the field work for your project. There are no new steps to tackle--just keep focusing on getting your field research completed. With your field work underway, we are going to spend our time this week shifting our focus from the level of process to the level of the personal and ask you to consider your own mindset and repertoire.
If Anything Were Possible
Welcome to Week 5. At this point, you have hopefully completed your planning and are wrapping up your field research. Your completed research will be the input that we'll use to mine for deep insights (Step 6) and then transform those insights into design criteria (Step 7).

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores a human-centered approach to designing, which is widely applied in the design industry
Develops research planning and execution, which are key skills for UX designers
Taught by Jeanne M. Liedtka, a recognized expert in design thinking
Requires students to work on a project throughout the course, providing hands-on experience
Covers the first seven steps of a 14-step design thinking process, building a solid foundation

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Design Thinking: Insights to Inspiration with these activities:
Watch videos on design thinking methodologies
Learn from experts and gain insights into the application of design thinking in various contexts.
Show steps
  • Explore TED talks and online courses
  • Follow industry blogs and thought leaders
Read 'Design Thinking for Innovation' by Jeanne Liedtka and Tim Ogilvie
Provide a foundational understanding of the design thinking process and its application across multiple industries.
Show steps
  • Read chapters 1-3
  • Summarize key concepts
Conduct user interviews
Gain hands-on experience gathering and analyzing user feedback to inform your design thinking process.
Browse courses on User Research
Show steps
  • Identify target user group
  • Create interview questions
  • Schedule and conduct interviews
  • Analyze and synthesize insights
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Participate in design thinking exercises
Engage in hands-on activities to reinforce your understanding of the design thinking process and develop your critical thinking skills.
Browse courses on Problem-Solving
Show steps
  • Join online workshops or challenges
  • Practice brainstorming and idea generation
  • Critique and provide feedback on design solutions
Attend design thinking meetups or conferences
Connect with other professionals in the field, learn about best practices, and expand your network.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Identify relevant events
  • Prepare an elevator pitch
Design a solution prototype
Create a tangible representation of your proposed solution to gain feedback and validate your design.
Browse courses on Problem-Solving
Show steps
  • Identify key features
  • Build a low-fidelity prototype
  • Test and iterate prototype
Volunteer for a design-focused non-profit organization
Apply your design thinking skills to real-world challenges while making a positive impact on your community.
Browse courses on Volunteering
Show steps
  • Research local non-profits
  • Identify opportunities to contribute
Develop a design thinking case study
Apply the design thinking process to address a real-world problem and demonstrate your understanding of the methodology.
Browse courses on Problem-Solving
Show steps
  • Identify a problem statement
  • Conduct user research
  • Generate and evaluate ideas
  • Develop a prototype
  • Test and iterate your solution

Career center

Learners who complete Design Thinking: Insights to Inspiration will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
User Researcher
User Researchers research and evaluate user needs and behaviors to inform the design of products and services. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Design Researcher
Design Researchers research and evaluate user needs and behaviors to inform the design of products and services. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Experience Designer
Experience Designers research, design, and evaluate the user experience across all touchpoints of a product or service. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
UX Designer
UX Designers research, design, and evaluate user experiences for websites and applications. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers research, design, and evaluate the interactions between users and products. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Industrial Designer
Industrial Designers research, design, and develop products for mass production. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Human Factors Engineer
Human Factors Engineers research, design, and evaluate products and systems to make them more user-friendly and efficient. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Service Designer
Service Designers research, design, and develop services. These services are focused on meeting human needs. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Innovation Consultant
Innovation Consultants help organizations develop and implement new products and services. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course could be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Design Strategist
Design Strategists develop and implement design strategies for organizations. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course could be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts analyze business needs and develop solutions. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Product Manager
Product Managers manage the development and launch of new products. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Product Designer
Product Designers research, design, and develop products. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding the basics of this work.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding some of the basics of this work.
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. As a part of this work, it is essential to understand the needs and wants of others, which is the focus of the first part of this course's design thinking process. This course may be useful for building a foundation in understanding some of the very basics of this work.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Design Thinking: Insights to Inspiration .
This is Tim Brown's book that discusses the applications of design thinking in the business world. Real-world case studies are examined within the book to show the power and versatility of design thinking.
Talks about fostering and creating a creative mindset in individuals and companies. It provides many useful practices and activities in order to cultivate creativity.
A classic work on innovation, this book provides a framework for understanding how disruptive innovations can lead to the downfall of established companies.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of human-centered design.
Provides a guide to using design thinking to improve healthcare.
Provides a framework for using design thinking to develop business strategies.

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