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Aria Chernik, JD, PhD and Kevin Hoch

What is design? How is it a deeply human endeavor? How can we design better products, services, and experiences in our communities? If you’re interested in helping create a more equitable and accessible world, this Center for Computational Thinking module on Open Design is for you.

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What is design? How is it a deeply human endeavor? How can we design better products, services, and experiences in our communities? If you’re interested in helping create a more equitable and accessible world, this Center for Computational Thinking module on Open Design is for you.

In this introductory module to Open Design, you’ll learn how you can center equity in your design processes. You’ll learn how the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share — will guide you to meaningfully impact your community. The principles at the heart of Open Design — active inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration — are applicable to work in all fields, providing you with a reflective framework as you make important decisions.

This module provides the background on Open Design and its relationship to similar methodologies. After completing this introductory module, you should have the knowledge necessary to explain Open Design to others — and continue your Open Design journey with other learning opportunities.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started with Open Design
What is design? How is it a deeply human endeavor? How can we design better products, services, and experiences in our communities? If you’re interested in helping create a more equitable and accessible world, this Center for Computational Thinking module on Open Design is for you. In this introductory module to Open Design, you’ll learn how you can center equity in your design processes. You’ll learn how the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share — will guide you to meaningfully impact your community. The principles at the heart of Open Design — active inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration — are applicable to work in all fields, providing you with a reflective framework as you make important decisions. This module provides the background on Open Design and its relationship to similar methodologies. After completing this introductory module, you should have the knowledge necessary to explain Open Design to others — and continue your Open Design journey with other learning opportunities.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores design as a deeply human endeavor, emphasizing equity and accessibility
Teaches an iterative four-step design process that guides meaningful community impact
Covers the principles of Open Design, including active inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration
Provides a foundation in Open Design and its relationship to similar methodologies

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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 Open Design with these activities:
Read design books
Expand your knowledge of design principles and practices by reading books written by experts in the field.
Browse courses on UX Design
Show steps
  • Identify relevant books on design from the course syllabus or online resources.
  • Read the books thoroughly.
Review notes and materials
Refresh your understanding of the core concepts and principles covered in class by reviewing your notes, assignments, and other course materials.
Show steps
  • Gather all of your notes, assignments, and other course materials.
  • Review the materials thoroughly.
Design best practices
Review common design principles and best practices to strengthen your understanding of the core concepts of design.
Browse courses on Design
Show steps
  • Gather examples of good and bad design.
  • Analyze the principles and best practices employed in the examples.
Five other activities
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Learn a prototyping software
Gain hands-on experience by following tutorials on how to use a prototyping software to create interactive prototypes.
Browse courses on Prototyping
Show steps
  • Choose a prototyping software that aligns with your design goals.
  • Follow video tutorials or online courses to learn the basics of the software.
  • Create a simple prototype using the software.
Conduct user interviews
Gain experience in gathering qualitative data by conducting user interviews to better understand user needs and motivations.
Browse courses on User Research
Show steps
  • Define the goals of your interview.
  • Create an interview guide with open-ended questions.
  • Recruit participants for your interviews.
  • Conduct the interviews and ask follow-up questions to clarify responses.
Participate in a design hackathon
Engage in a collaborative and fast-paced environment where you can apply your design skills to solve real-world problems.
Show steps
  • Find an upcoming design hackathon in your area.
  • Form a team or join an existing one.
  • Brainstorm and develop a design solution within the given timeframe.
  • Present your solution to a panel of judges.
Write a design case study
Demonstrate your design thinking process by writing a case study that highlights a successful design project, showcasing your ability to analyze, synthesize, and communicate design ideas.
Browse courses on Case study
Show steps
  • Select a design project to document.
  • Outline the problem, design approach, and results of the project.
  • Write the case study using clear and concise language.
Design a mobile app
Apply your design skills to a real-world project by designing a mobile app that addresses a specific user problem.
Browse courses on Mobile App Design
Show steps
  • Identify a problem or need that your app will address.
  • Conduct user research to gather insights into the target users.
  • Brainstorm and sketch out different design ideas.
  • Create a prototype of your app using a prototyping software.
  • Refine your design based on user feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Open Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
User Experience Researcher
User Experience Researchers design and research products and services to ensure that they are usable, accessible, and enjoyable for users. This course would be helpful for User Experience Researchers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating user-centered products and services. Additionally, the course would provide User Experience Researchers with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Service Designer
Service Designers design and develop services that meet the needs of users. This course would be helpful for Service Designers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating user-centered services.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers design the interactions between users and products and services. This course would be helpful for Interaction Designers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating user-centered interactions. Additionally, the course would provide Interaction Designers with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Product Designer
Product Designers design and develop products that meet the needs of users. This course would be helpful for Product Designers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating user-centered products. Additionally, the course would provide Product Designers with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Information Architect
Information Architects design and organize the information in websites, software, and other products and services. This course would be helpful for Information Architects because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating user-centered information architectures. Additionally, the course would provide Information Architects with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Design Researcher
Design Researchers research and evaluate user needs and experiences to inform the design of products and services. This course would be helpful for Design Researchers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for conducting user-centered research. Additionally, the course would provide Design Researchers with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Design Strategist
Design Strategists develop and implement design strategies for organizations. This course would be helpful for Design Strategists because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating user-centered design strategies.
Design Manager
Design Managers lead and manage design teams. This course would be helpful for Design Managers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating a user-centered design culture. Additionally, the course would provide Design Managers with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Founder
Founders start and lead their own businesses and organizations. This course would be helpful for Founders because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which are essential for creating innovative products, services, and organizations. Additionally, the course would provide Founders with experience in using the iterative four mindsets of Open Design — understand, create, evaluate, and share.
Engineering Manager
Engineering Managers lead and manage engineering teams. This course may be helpful for Engineering Managers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which can be used to improve the design and development of engineering products and services.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers plan, develop, and implement marketing campaigns for products and services. This course may be helpful for Marketing Managers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which can be used to create more effective marketing campaigns.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. This course may be helpful for Project Managers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which can help them to manage projects more effectively.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to provide insights for decision-making. This course may be helpful for Data Analysts because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which can help them to collect and analyze data more effectively.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. This course may be helpful for Software Engineers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which can help them to design and develop more user-friendly software applications.
Content Writer
Content Writers create and edit written content for websites, blogs, and other marketing materials. This course may be helpful for Content Writers because it would provide them with a foundation in the principles of Open Design, which can help them to create more effective content.

Reading list

We've selected six 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 Open Design.
Provides a deep dive into Open Design as a design philosophy and methodology. Examines various facets of Open Design, including its principles, processes, and tools.
Provides insights into the challenges faced by large organizations in bringing new products and services to market. Discusses the concept of disruptive innovation and how it can lead to success.
Introduces the principles of lean startup methodology. Explains how to validate business ideas quickly and efficiently, and how to iterate and improve products and services based on customer feedback.
A classic in the field of design, covering the principles of human-centered design. Explores how to create products and services that are easy to use and understand.
Provides a comprehensive overview of service design principles and processes. Explores how to design and deliver service experiences that meet the needs of users.

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