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Jeanne M. Liedtka

Welcome Designers!

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Welcome Designers!

In this course, you will learn to use the most important tools from the field of human-centered design to generate ideas: stakeholder mapping, journey mapping, personas, value-chain analysis, the job-to-be-done, ethnographic interviews, and more. Learn to connect with your customers on a human level, to get beyond what they say and observe what they do.

Developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, the courses sees a team of design experts join Jeanne Liedtka to explore some of these critical tools that will spark your creativity and help you discover more about your potential clients.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Stakeholder Map
This week, we'll examine the stakeholder mapping tool. This tool is especially critical as we tackle more complex problems using a design thinking methodology.
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Job to be Done and Ethnographic Interviews
This week, you'll learn about two important and related-tools: Job to Be Done and Ethnographic Interview Guides.
Journey Map
This week, you'll learn about journey mapping, an important discovery tool. We'll show you what it is and why and how to do it.
Personas
This week, we'll look at how we can use personas to find important differences that can help us surface specific sets of needs and wants.
Value Chain Analysis
This week, we'll walk through the Value Chain Analysis process so that you can evaluate your value chain.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Develops problem-solving skills using human-centered design tools
Introduces a diverse range of human-centered design techniques
Combines theoretical knowledge with practical guidance on applying design thinking methods

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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: Discovery Tools with these activities:
Read or review stakeholder mapping fundamentals
Review the fundamentals of stakeholder mapping to prepare for learning how to apply it in the course
Browse courses on Stakeholder Mapping
Show steps
  • Review the definition of stakeholder mapping.
  • Review the different types of stakeholders.
  • Review the benefits of stakeholder mapping.
Find a mentor who can provide guidance on human-centered design
Finding a mentor can provide you with valuable guidance and support throughout the course and beyond
Browse courses on Human-Centered Design
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentors.
  • Reach out to those mentors.
  • Meet with those mentors to discuss your goals.
Gather resources on human-centered design
Gather resources on human-centered design to deepen your understanding of the topic
Browse courses on Human-Centered Design
Show steps
  • Search for resources on human-centered design.
  • Organize the resources into a collection.
Six other activities
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Show all nine activities
Watch tutorials on conducting ethnographic interviews
Watch tutorials on ethnographic interviews to improve your understanding and skills
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on ethnographic interviews.
  • Watch the tutorials.
  • Take notes on the key points.
Practice creating stakeholder maps
Practice creating stakeholder maps to improve your understanding and skills
Browse courses on Stakeholder Mapping
Show steps
  • Identify the stakeholders for a given scenario.
  • Classify the stakeholders into different categories.
  • Analyze the relationships between the stakeholders.
  • Develop a stakeholder map.
Attend a workshop on design thinking
Attend a workshop to gain hands-on experience with design thinking tools and techniques
Browse courses on Design Thinking
Show steps
  • Search for workshops on design thinking.
  • Register for a workshop.
  • Attend the workshop.
Read The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
This book provides insights into the challenges of innovation and how to overcome them, which is relevant to the course's focus on design thinking and innovation
Show steps
  • Read the book.
  • Take notes on the key points.
  • Discuss the book with others.
Develop a journey map for a specific product or service
Develop a journey map to improve your understanding of the customer experience
Browse courses on Journey Mapping
Show steps
  • Identify the customer touchpoints.
  • Map the customer journey.
  • Analyze the customer journey.
  • Develop recommendations for improving the customer experience.
Mentor other students in the course
Mentoring others helps you solidify your understanding of the course material and improve your communication skills
Show steps
  • Identify other students who could benefit from your help.
  • Offer your help to those students.
  • Meet with those students to discuss the course material.

Career center

Learners who complete Design Thinking: Discovery Tools will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Product Manager
Product Managers lead the creation and development of new products, coordinating with designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure that products meet customer needs. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct user research, develop product roadmaps, and manage product launches. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to create products that are both desirable and successful.
Design Research Lead
Design Research Leads are responsible for conducting user research and providing insights to inform the design process. They work closely with designers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure that products are designed to meet the needs of the user. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct user research, develop research plans, and present research findings. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to lead successful design research projects.
User Experience (UX) Designer
UX Designers are responsible for designing the user experience of products, ensuring that products are easy to use and enjoyable. They work closely with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to create products that meet the needs of the user. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct user research, create prototypes, and design user interfaces. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to create products that are both desirable and successful.
Innovation Consultant
Innovation Consultants help organizations to develop and implement new products, services, and processes. They work with clients to identify opportunities for innovation, develop innovation strategies, and manage innovation projects. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct market research, develop business models, and manage innovation portfolios. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to help organizations create successful innovations.
Design Thinking Facilitator
Design Thinking Facilitators lead design thinking workshops and help organizations to use design thinking to solve problems and create new opportunities. They work with teams to identify problems, develop solutions, and create prototypes. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to facilitate design thinking workshops, develop design thinking curricula, and evaluate design thinking outcomes. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to lead successful design thinking initiatives.
Service Designer
Service Designers are responsible for designing the delivery of services, ensuring that services are efficient, effective, and enjoyable. They work closely with service providers, customers, and other stakeholders to create services that meet the needs of the user. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct service research, develop service blueprints, and design service experiences. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to create services that are both desirable and successful.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts work with stakeholders to identify and analyze business needs, and develop solutions to improve business processes. They work closely with IT professionals, engineers, and other stakeholders to implement solutions that meet the needs of the business. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct business analysis, develop business requirements, and manage business change. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to create solutions that are both desirable and successful.
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of the stakeholders. They work closely with team members, stakeholders, and other project managers to coordinate activities and ensure that projects are successful. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to plan projects, manage project teams, and control project costs. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to lead successful projects.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns, ensuring that products and services are marketed to the right audience, at the right time, and in the right way. They work closely with sales teams, product managers, and other stakeholders to develop marketing strategies and manage marketing budgets. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct market research, develop marketing plans, and manage marketing campaigns. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to create marketing campaigns that are both effective and engaging.
Operations Manager
Operations Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and controlling operations, ensuring that operations are efficient, effective, and compliant. They work closely with production teams, supply chain managers, and other stakeholders to manage operations and ensure that products and services are delivered to customers on time and within budget. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to plan operations, manage production teams, and control costs. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to lead successful operations.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for leading sales teams, ensuring that sales targets are met and that customers are satisfied. They work closely with sales representatives, product managers, and other stakeholders to develop sales strategies and manage sales pipelines. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to manage sales teams, develop sales pipelines, and close deals. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to lead successful sales teams.
Engineer
Engineers design, develop, and test products and systems. They work closely with other engineers, scientists, and technicians to create products that meet the needs of customers. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to develop engineering solutions, design products, and test systems. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to create products that are both desirable and functional.
Teacher
Teachers educate students in a variety of subjects, including math, science, and social studies. They work with students to develop their skills and knowledge, and to prepare them for success in college and beyond. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to develop lesson plans, teach students, and assess their learning. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to be a successful teacher.
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and support to organizations on a variety of topics, including strategy, operations, and human resources. They work closely with clients to identify problems, develop solutions, and implement change. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to conduct research, develop recommendations, and present findings. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to be a successful consultant.
Social Worker
Social workers help people to overcome challenges and improve their lives. They work with individuals, families, and communities to provide support and resources. This course will provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to assess needs, develop interventions, and advocate for clients. With its focus on human-centered design, this course will help you build the skills you need to be a successful social worker.

Reading list

We've selected 13 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: Discovery Tools.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design thinking process, from understanding the problem to developing and testing solutions. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design thinking and how to apply it to their work.
This classic book explores the challenges that established companies face when they try to innovate. It provides insights into why companies often fail to innovate and how they can overcome these challenges.
Provides a step-by-step guide to developing a value proposition that will resonate with your customers. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about value proposition design and how to use it to create successful products and services.
Classic in the field of design. It provides insights into how people interact with products and how to design products that are easy to use and enjoyable.
Provides a step-by-step guide to running a design sprint, which five-day process for solving big problems and testing new ideas. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design sprints and how to use them to accelerate innovation.
Collection of tools and resources for human-centered design. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about human-centered design and how to apply it to their work.
Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful startup. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about lean startup principles and how to use them to create a successful business.
Provides a step-by-step guide to developing a business model. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about business models and how to use them to create successful businesses.
Provides a guide to using design thinking in education. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about design thinking and how to use it to improve their teaching.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design process. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design and how to use it to create innovative products and services.
Provides a guide to developing your creativity. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about creativity and how to use it to solve problems and create innovative solutions.
Provides a guide to using design thinking for social innovation. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design thinking and how to use it to solve social problems and create innovative solutions.

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