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Sarah Kaplan,
Nika Stelman,
and
Mark Leung
This course introduces the principles and practices of human-centered design (also sometimes called “design thinking”) which are essential for developing innovative and inclusive products, services, processes and policies. You will learn by doing, experiencing the design process through exercises and a mini-bootcamp.
Read more
This course introduces the principles and practices of human-centered design (also sometimes called “design thinking”) which are essential for developing innovative and inclusive products, services, processes and policies. You will learn by doing, experiencing the design process through exercises and a mini-bootcamp.
Read more
This course introduces the principles and practices of human-centered design (also sometimes called “design thinking”) which are essential for developing innovative and inclusive products, services, processes and policies. You will learn by doing, experiencing the design process through exercises and a mini-bootcamp.
In this course, you will learn about and experience key human-centered design practices: empathize, reframe, ideate, prototype and test. You will learn why human-centered design is a central component of Gender Analytics. You will develop skills in problem finding (and not just problem solving) by understanding users', stakeholders’ and beneficiaries' lived experiences. You will learn to co-create with diverse stakeholders, develop prototypes, and iterate to develop more innovative solutions. This is the third course of the Gender Analytics Specialization offered by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. It's great on its own, and you will get even more out of it if you take it as part of the Specialization.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/qk2e2a/human
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What's inside
Syllabus
Human-centered design for inclusive innovation
In this module, you will learn the basics of human-centered design. You will get a taste of working as a designer and walk through the steps of the design process in a mini-bootcamp exercise. At the end of the module, we will discuss how human-centered design fits well with Gender Analytics.
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Syllabus
Human-centered design for inclusive innovation
In this module, you will learn the basics of human-centered design. You will get a taste of working as a designer and walk through the steps of the design process in a mini-bootcamp exercise. At the end of the module, we will discuss how human-centered design fits well with Gender Analytics.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Develops empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing, which are fundamental skills for solving complex problems with human-centered solutions
Examines human-centered design, which is essential for designing inclusive and innovative products and services
Emphasizes empathy and stakeholder engagement, which helps learners develop solutions that are grounded in the needs of diverse groups
Includes hands-on exercises and a mini-bootcamp, providing practical experience in applying human-centered design principles
Part of the Gender Analytics Specialization offered by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE) at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, enhancing its credibility and rigor
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Reviews summary
Practical human-centered design with inclusive lens
According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and engaging introduction to human-centered design. Many highlight the hands-on activities and mini-bootcamp as particularly valuable, providing a solid foundation in the design thinking process. The course is consistently praised for its unique focus on inclusive innovation and integrating a gender lens, which distinguishes it from other HCD programs. While some learners suggest the time commitment can be substantial for an introductory course, the majority find the content relevant and actionable, delivered by knowledgeable and engaging instructors, maintaining its value over time.
Well-paced for an introduction, but some desire more in-depth tools.
"I found the pace perfect for a beginner, covering the essentials without overwhelming me with too much detail."
"While a great introduction, I wished for more in-depth coverage on specific ideation or prototyping tools."
"The course demands a significant time investment if you truly want to engage with all the exercises and discussions."
Highly valuable for career development and immediate professional application.
"This course directly enhanced my skills for developing inclusive products in my professional role, making it very worthwhile."
"I can immediately apply these design thinking principles to my work projects, seeing direct impact."
"Highly recommended for anyone in product development, policy, or service design looking to broaden their perspective."
Led by expert instructors who facilitate deep and engaging learning.
"The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and made complex topics of human-centered design easy to understand."
"Their real-world examples and guidance during the hands-on activities were invaluable to my learning."
"I felt well-supported by the teaching team throughout the course, which made the learning experience smoother."
Integrates a vital gender lens into design thinking methodologies.
"The intersectional gender lens provided a critical new perspective on design, truly making it inclusive and relevant."
"This course stood out for its focus on gender analytics, which is incredibly relevant for equitable design in today's world."
"I found the discussions on co-creation with diverse stakeholders and understanding lived experiences particularly insightful."
Emphasizes hands-on exercises and real-world application of HCD.
"I really appreciated the hands-on approach; it wasn't just theory, but actual practice applying HCD principles."
"The mini-bootcamp exercise was a definite highlight, giving me a true taste of the design process from start to finish."
"This course provided me with practical tools and strategies I could immediately apply to my work."
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 Human-Centered Design for Inclusive Innovation with these
activities:
Review basic HCI principles
Show steps
Review key HCI concepts and principles you will need for this course.
Browse courses on
Human Centered Design
Show steps
-
Read the articles linked in the course syllabus
-
Watch the videos on the HCI basics
-
Complete the practice quiz
Read 'Designing for the Digital Age' by Kim Goodwin
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of human-centered design principles and practices.
View
Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read the book
-
Take notes on key concepts
-
Complete the discussion questions at the end of each chapter
Conduct empathy interviews
Show steps
Develop your skills in conducting empathy interviews to gather valuable insights.
Browse courses on
User Research
Show steps
-
Identify potential interviewees
-
Prepare interview questions
-
Conduct the interviews
-
Analyze the data
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Develop a persona
Show steps
Create a persona to represent the target users of your design project.
Browse courses on
Personas
Show steps
-
Gather data from empathy interviews
-
Identify common patterns and trends
-
Develop a persona
Start working on a design project
Show steps
Apply the human-centered design process to a real-world design project.
Show steps
-
Identify a problem to solve
-
Conduct user research
-
Generate ideas
-
Develop a prototype
-
Test the prototype
Attend a design conference
Show steps
Network with professionals in the field of human-centered design.
Show steps
-
Research upcoming design conferences
-
Register for a conference
-
Attend the conference
Mentor a junior designer
Show steps
Share your knowledge and experience with others to reinforce your own understanding.
Show steps
-
Find a junior designer to mentor
-
Set up a regular meeting time
-
Provide guidance and support
Review basic HCI principles
Show steps
Review key HCI concepts and principles you will need for this course.
Browse courses on
Human Centered Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the articles linked in the course syllabus
- Watch the videos on the HCI basics
- Complete the practice quiz
Read 'Designing for the Digital Age' by Kim Goodwin
Show steps
Gain a deeper understanding of human-centered design principles and practices.
View
Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the book
- Take notes on key concepts
- Complete the discussion questions at the end of each chapter
Conduct empathy interviews
Show steps
Develop your skills in conducting empathy interviews to gather valuable insights.
Browse courses on
User Research
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify potential interviewees
- Prepare interview questions
- Conduct the interviews
- Analyze the data
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Develop a persona
Show steps
Create a persona to represent the target users of your design project.
Browse courses on
Personas
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather data from empathy interviews
- Identify common patterns and trends
- Develop a persona
Start working on a design project
Show steps
Apply the human-centered design process to a real-world design project.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a problem to solve
- Conduct user research
- Generate ideas
- Develop a prototype
- Test the prototype
Attend a design conference
Show steps
Network with professionals in the field of human-centered design.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research upcoming design conferences
- Register for a conference
- Attend the conference
Mentor a junior designer
Show steps
Share your knowledge and experience with others to reinforce your own understanding.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a junior designer to mentor
- Set up a regular meeting time
- Provide guidance and support
Career center
Learners who complete Human-Centered Design for Inclusive Innovation will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Product Designer
Product Designer
Product Designers use human-centered design to create products that are both useful and usable. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Product Designer, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create products that are inclusive and equitable.
UX Designer
UX Designer
UX Designers use human-centered design to create user experiences that are both positive and efficient. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful UX Designer, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create user experiences that are inclusive and equitable.
Service Designer
Service Designer
Service Designers use human-centered design to create services that are both effective and efficient. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Service Designer, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create services that are inclusive and equitable.
Product Manager
Product Manager
Product Managers use human-centered design to develop and manage products. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Product Manager, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create products that are inclusive and equitable.
Innovation Consultant
Innovation Consultant
Innovation Consultants use human-centered design to help organizations develop and implement innovative solutions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Innovation Consultant, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create solutions that are inclusive and equitable.
Design Researcher
Design Researcher
Design Researchers use human-centered design to conduct research on users and their needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Design Researcher, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you conduct research that is inclusive and equitable.
User Researcher
User Researcher
User Researchers use human-centered design to conduct research on users and their needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful User Researcher, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you conduct research that is inclusive and equitable.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts use human-centered design to develop and implement policies that are effective and efficient. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Policy Analyst, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create policies that are inclusive and equitable.
Program Manager
Program Manager
Program Managers use human-centered design to develop and manage programs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Program Manager, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create programs that are inclusive and equitable.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Managers use human-centered design to develop and manage projects. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Project Manager, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create projects that are inclusive and equitable.
Community Organizer
Community Organizer
Community Organizers use human-centered design to engage with communities and develop solutions to their problems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Community Organizer, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create solutions that are inclusive and equitable.
Social Worker
Social Worker
Social Workers use human-centered design to help people overcome challenges and achieve their goals. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Social Worker, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create solutions that are inclusive and equitable.
Teacher
Teacher
Teachers use human-centered design to create learning experiences that are engaging and effective. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Teacher, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create learning experiences that are inclusive and equitable.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Managers use human-centered design to lead and manage nonprofit organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Nonprofit Manager, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create solutions that are inclusive and equitable.
Health Care Administrator
Health Care Administrator
Health Care Administrators use human-centered design to improve the quality and efficiency of health care services. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful Health Care Administrator, including empathy, reframing, ideation, prototyping, and testing. You will also learn how to apply an intersectional gender lens to your work, which will help you create solutions that are inclusive and equitable.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/qk2e2a/human
Reading list
We've selected seven 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
Human-Centered Design for Inclusive Innovation.
Classic work on design and usability. It provides a wealth of practical advice on how to design products and services that are both user-friendly and effective.
Save
Provides a concise and practical guide to conducting user research. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to gather and analyze user data to inform design decisions.
Save
Provides a practical guide to using lean principles to improve the user experience of products and services. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to deliver better products faster.
Provides a classic framework for understanding how disruptive technologies can lead to the downfall of large firms. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to avoid the innovator's dilemma.
Provides a practical guide to building and growing a successful startup. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use the lean methodology to create a successful business.
Save
Provides a compelling argument for why design thinking is essential for business success. It valuable resource for business leaders who want to learn how to create more innovative and successful products and services.
Provides a unique perspective on innovation from one of the world's leading innovation firms. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to create more innovative products and services.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/qk2e2a/human
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Introductory
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Institution
University of Toronto
Instructors
Sarah Kaplan
Nika Stelman
Mark Leung
Language
English
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Gender Analytics: Gender Equity through Inclusive Design. It's comprised of five courses:
- Gender Analytics Capstone Project
- Transformational Leadership for Inclusive Innovation
- Inclusive Analytic Techniques
- Gender Analytics for Innovation
- Human-Centered Design for Inclusive Innovation (viewing)
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