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Jeanne M. Liedtka
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/00w5yn/design
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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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause 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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Reviews summary
Design thinking: practical framework & insights
According to students, this course offers a highly practical introduction to Design Thinking, focusing on actionable steps. Many found the structured, project-based learning approach to be particularly effective, enabling them to apply concepts immediately. The instructor's clear explanations and the emphasis on human-centered problem-solving were frequently praised. While it provides a solid foundation in the initial seven steps of the design thinking process, some learners noted it might be too introductory for those with significant prior experience, suggesting it's ideal for professionals seeking a robust entry point rather than advanced exploration. Overall, it's considered a valuable experience for skill development.
Covers foundational aspects, but may not be deep enough for advanced users.
"While excellent for beginners, I felt it only scratched the surface, especially covering just 7 of the 14 steps."
"For someone with prior exposure to design thinking, parts of this course might feel a bit basic."
"I wish there was more depth on advanced techniques, but it's a solid introduction for what it aims to do."
Instructor's delivery makes complex concepts accessible and interesting.
"The instructor was fantastic, clearly passionate about design thinking and excellent at explaining complex ideas."
"I found the lectures to be very engaging, which kept me motivated throughout the course."
"The professor has a great way of breaking down the steps and making them relatable to real-world scenarios."
Highly relevant for professionals seeking to enhance problem-solving skills.
"I'm a professional looking to innovate in my role, and this course gave me concrete tools and a new mindset."
"The insights gained are directly applicable to my work in product development, helping me approach challenges differently."
"This course is perfect for anyone in a business or innovation role who needs a structured approach to human-centered design."
Provides a well-structured, easy-to-follow introduction to design thinking.
"As a beginner, I found the breakdown of the 7 steps incredibly clear and easy to grasp. It's a great starting point."
"The lectures presented complex ideas in a very understandable way, making the design thinking process less intimidating."
"The course material is well-organized, building foundational knowledge logically week by week."
Emphasizes hands-on learning through a real-world project.
"The project-based approach was truly invaluable; it helped me internalize the design thinking steps and apply them directly."
"I loved that I could work on a real problem from my own context. This made the learning highly relevant and immediately useful."
"The course isn't just theory; it guides you step-by-step through a practical project, which solidified my understanding."
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
Provide a foundational understanding of the design thinking process and its application across multiple industries.
View
The Designing for Growth Field Book
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read chapters 1-3
-
Summarize key concepts
Conduct user interviews
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Watch videos on design thinking methodologies
Show steps
Learn from experts and gain insights into the application of design thinking in various contexts.
Show steps
Show steps
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
Show steps
Provide a foundational understanding of the design thinking process and its application across multiple industries.
View
The Designing for Growth Field Book
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read chapters 1-3
- Summarize key concepts
Conduct user interviews
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience gathering and analyzing user feedback to inform your design thinking process.
Browse courses on
User Research
Show steps
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
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
Show steps
Connect with other professionals in the field, learn about best practices, and expand your network.
Browse courses on
Networking
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify relevant events
- Prepare an elevator pitch
Design a solution prototype
Show steps
Create a tangible representation of your proposed solution to gain feedback and validate your design.
Browse courses on
Problem-Solving
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify key features
- Build a low-fidelity prototype
- Test and iterate prototype
Volunteer for a design-focused non-profit organization
Show steps
Apply your design thinking skills to real-world challenges while making a positive impact on your community.
Browse courses on
Volunteering
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research local non-profits
- Identify opportunities to contribute
Develop a design thinking case study
Show steps
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
Show steps
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:
Design Researcher
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.
User Researcher
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.
UX Designer
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 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.
Experience Designer
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.
Human Factors Engineer
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.
Industrial Designer
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.
Innovation Consultant
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.
Service Designer
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.
Design Strategist
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.
Product Designer
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.
Product Manager
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.
Business Analyst
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.
Marketing Manager
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
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.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/00w5yn/design
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 step-by-step guide to the sprint process, a five-day design thinking workshop.
Save
This set of cards provides a quick and easy way to learn about the design thinking process.
Provides a framework for building successful startups by testing ideas quickly and cheaply.
Identifies the five key characteristics of successful innovators.
Provides a guide to using design thinking to improve healthcare.
Save
Provides a framework for using design thinking to develop business strategies.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/00w5yn/design
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Effort
5 weeks of study, 2-4 hours/week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Virginia
Instructor
Jeanne M. Liedtka
Language
English
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Design Thinking. It's comprised of four courses:
- Experiencing Design: Deepening Your Design Thinking Practice
- Design Thinking: Insights to Inspiration (viewing)
- Design Thinking: Ideas to Action
- Design Thinking: Discovery Tools
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