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Shanna Daly, Steven Skerlos, Kathleen Sienko, and Charlie Michaels

Engineering courses often focus on technical skills and processes, leaving students with few examples of how to apply these skills in the real world. With "Introduction to Socially Engaged Design," you'll learn about this essential engineering and design framework, strengthening the connection between your work and its impact on individuals, societies, and the environment.

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Engineering courses often focus on technical skills and processes, leaving students with few examples of how to apply these skills in the real world. With "Introduction to Socially Engaged Design," you'll learn about this essential engineering and design framework, strengthening the connection between your work and its impact on individuals, societies, and the environment.

Developed by expert faculty at the University of Michigan, the Socially Engaged Design model shows engineers and designers to explore the broader societal implications, outcomes, and potential unintended consequences early in the product design process. You'll learn to explore, develop, and iterate on your solutions to make equitable, evidence-based decisions. You will better understand how your experiences shape your work and explore how power, privilege, identities, and cultural contexts can shape your approach and impact. The course draws heavily on real-world examples of product design solutions that enhanced and deterred the progress of individuals and communities. In addition to these concepts, you'll learn how to effectively work with stakeholders to bring a design solution to life.

By understanding design solutions' economic, social, and environmental impacts, you can develop better product and engineering design solutions for current and future generations.

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Syllabus

Introduction to the Socially Engaged Design Process Model
In this module you will explore the intersection of technical design, engineering, and social factors, focusing on equity and societal needs. You will examine the Socially Engaged Design (SED) Process to navigate complex engineering challenges, learn its structure, and apply the SED principles through case studies showcasing the societal impact of engineering.
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Explore
In this module you will understand how to employ stakeholder maps to identify project influences and discover the impact of power dynamics and personal bias on stakeholder interactions.
Define
In this module you will learn the process of identifying and defining engineering needs and design opportunities, and understand how to distinguish between and gather stakeholder requirements and engineering specifications. In addition you will examine how personal biases can affect problem framing.
Ideate
In this module you will understand the role of tools and strategies in ideation to create innovative design solutions. You'll survey best practices in generating and selecting ideas, while examining how identity and power dynamics influence the ideation process.
Develop and Realize
In this final module you will dig into the Develop and Realize stages as critical analysis processes for validating and verifying design concepts. This module defines prototyping as an iterative tool, focuses on stakeholder engagement in development, discusses varied validation strategies, and addresses the influence of personal and societal factors on idea evolution.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops a strong foundation in Socially Engaged Design (SED) Principles
Examines Socially Engaged Design as an Essential Component of Engineering and Design Frameworks
Strengthens the Connection Between Technical Design, Engineering, and Societal Needs
Builds on the Reputation of Engineering Faculty at the University of Michigan
Covers Best Practices in Generating and Selecting Ideas, While Acknowledging Biases in the Process
Explicitly Addresses the Influence of Personal and Societal Factors on Idea Evolution

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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 Introduction to Socially Engaged Design with these activities:
Connect with mentors
Allows you to seek guidance and support from experienced professionals in the field
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  • Identify potential mentors in the field
  • Reach out and introduce yourself
  • Schedule regular meetings to discuss your progress and goals
Practice stakeholder mapping
Helps you develop skills in identifying stakeholders and analyzing their influence
Browse courses on Stakeholder Mapping
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  • Identify different types of stakeholders
  • Analyze stakeholder interests and power dynamics
  • Create a stakeholder map
Attend workshops on socially engaged design
Provides opportunities to learn from experts and engage in hands-on activities
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  • Research and identify relevant workshops
  • Register and attend selected workshops
  • Participate actively and take notes
Four other activities
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Organize and review course notes and materials
Helps you stay organized and reinforces course content
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  • Regularly review lecture notes and readings
  • Create summaries or mind maps
  • Organize materials into a coherent structure
Develop a case study on a socially engaged design project
Allows you to apply your knowledge by analyzing a real-world example
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  • Identify a suitable socially engaged design project
  • Gather information and data on the project
  • Analyze the project's societal impact and implications
  • Write a case study report summarizing your findings
Volunteer with organizations focused on socially responsible design
Provides practical experience in applying socially engaged design principles
Browse courses on Community Engagement
Show steps
  • Research and identify organizations that align with your interests
  • Contact the organizations and express your interest in volunteering
  • Participate in projects and initiatives
Participate in design competitions that emphasize social impact
Challenges you to apply your skills in a competitive setting while addressing social issues
Show steps
  • Identify and research relevant design competitions
  • Form a team or work individually on a design proposal
  • Develop and submit your design solution

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