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Terry Behan

This exciting online course helps you understand design methods and how to use them to identify business opportunities. It starts by focusing on the importance of design in a changing world by examining VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) and the 4Cs (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity). It then delves into the ways opportunities for design are growing in emerging markets and the need for designers to practice their craft as artisans. This includes exploration of the Empathy and Excellence framework. After covering these foundational concepts, the course examines the Double Diamond methodology in detail. It concludes by exploring ways to validate an opportunity by assessing risk versus value and testing your thinking with a canvas.

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This exciting online course helps you understand design methods and how to use them to identify business opportunities. It starts by focusing on the importance of design in a changing world by examining VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) and the 4Cs (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity). It then delves into the ways opportunities for design are growing in emerging markets and the need for designers to practice their craft as artisans. This includes exploration of the Empathy and Excellence framework. After covering these foundational concepts, the course examines the Double Diamond methodology in detail. It concludes by exploring ways to validate an opportunity by assessing risk versus value and testing your thinking with a canvas.

To succeed in this specialization, you should be a professional with at least two to three years of experience in an organizational setting. Experience in a design role or working with designers is helpful.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

- Understand the importance of design and the responsibilities of designers

- Examine the expanding role of design and the tools helping it grow

- Analyze how design frameworks can help you find opportunities and frame problem statements

- Assess opportunities, experiences, and the use of a canvas

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What's inside

Syllabus

Creative Problem Solving: Using Design as a Toolkit
In this week, you'll learn about the expanding role of design, and see how rigorous design can accommodate scalability. You will discuss the importance design plays in today's world, and think about why it's important to not only design, but continually redesign. You'll be introduced to the concept of VUCA: volatile, unpredictable, chaotic, and ambiguous. You will also have the chance to dive into the changing landscape of education, and see why the Four C's are critical for designers of the future. Finally, you will see what role the designer plays in preserving design ethics. This will help you to unpack the art versus the science of design.
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Calling Skilled Practitioners: The Need as Opportunity Space Grows
In this week, you'll see that the opportunity space is expanding and find out what this means for design in emerging markets. You'll learn about six factors that are making it possible for design to solve local problems globally. We'll do this by exploring a series of case studies out of East Africa. You'll explore the different types of design tools and methodologies. In this week, one of the methodologies you'll be introduced to is the Empathy and Excellence approach.
Unpacking the Double Diamond Method
In this week, you'll learn about another design methodology: the Double Diamond Method. The Double Diamond Method is made up of four phases: the discover phase, the define phase, the develop phase, and the deliver phase. We'll deep dive into each of these phases to see what steps take place in each and how the four phases and the fifteen steps work together. You'll then be able to apply the Double Diamond method to enhance the design process.
Validating an Opportunity
In this week, you'll look at how perceived risk and value are used to prioritize projects within the portfolio selection process for different types of organizations. You'll consider how to mitigate risk. You'll learn to calculate your addressable market size from the full market size. We'll introduce you to various types of canvases and explain their uses in different scenarios. You'll see why in some contexts, the lean canvas works best. Finally, you'll learn how to identify an opportunity and create a distinctive experience, and find out why creating a distinctive experience is so important.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores the expanding role of design in emerging markets, which is relevant for designers who work on global projects and want to understand how their work can impact different cultures
Develops skills in using the Double Diamond methodology, which is a comprehensive and thorough process for designing and developing new solutions
Provides tools and techniques for assessing opportunities, which can help learners make better decisions about which projects to pursue
Teaches the importance of design thinking, which is a key skill for professionals in any industry
Introduces learners to the Empathy and Excellence framework, which can help them create more human-centered designs
The instructors, Terry Behan, has experience in the design field, which lends credibility to the course content
Requires at least two to three years of experience in an organizational setting and may be less accessible to those without that experience

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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 Leveraging Design Methods to Identify Business Opportunities with these activities:
Read 'A Philosophy of Design' by Paola Antonelli
Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of design, its history, and its impact on society.
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 1: 'Introduction: What is Design?'
  • Read Chapter 2: 'The History of Design'
  • Read Chapter 3: 'The Impact of Design on Society'
Watch Online Tutorials on Design Tools
Helps students learn new design tools and software that are relevant to the course.
Browse courses on Design Tools
Show steps
  • Identify a design tool or software you want to learn
  • Search for online tutorials on that tool or software
  • Watch the tutorials and practice using the tool or software
Participate in Online Discussion Forums
Encourages students to engage with their peers, share ideas, and learn from different perspectives.
Show steps
  • Join the online discussion forum
  • Read and respond to other students' posts
  • Post your own questions and insights
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a Design Thinking Workshop
Provides hands-on experience with design thinking tools and techniques.
Browse courses on Design Thinking
Show steps
  • Find a design thinking workshop in your area
  • Register for the workshop
  • Attend the workshop
Design a Mood Board
Helps students develop their visual communication and concept development skills.
Show steps
  • Gather images, colors, and textures that inspire you
  • Arrange the elements on a digital or physical board
  • Write a brief description of the mood board's concept
Practice Double Diamond Exercises
Reinforces the Double Diamond design process methodology.
Browse courses on Design Process
Show steps
  • Choose a design challenge
  • Apply the Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver phases
  • Reflect on the process and identify areas for improvement
Develop a UX Design Portfolio
Provides students with an opportunity to apply their design skills to a real-world project.
Browse courses on UX Design
Show steps
  • Choose a project idea
  • Conduct user research
  • Design and prototype the user interface
  • Create a case study to showcase your work
Design a Business Proposal for a Design Project
Helps students develop their communication and project planning skills.
Browse courses on Business Development
Show steps
  • Identify a potential client and design project
  • Research the client's needs and industry
  • Develop a design brief
  • Create a business proposal that includes a project plan, timeline, and budget

Career center

Learners who complete Leveraging Design Methods to Identify Business Opportunities will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Consultant
Consultants are brought in to companies of all sizes to solve specific problems, often in a short period of time. One of the most important skills for Consultants, therefore, is being able to assess an opportunity, recognize where the most value lies, and communicate it clearly. Those who wish to succeed in this career role may find the course particularly useful because it covers such skills and knowledge. By the end of the course, you will be able to understand the importance of design and the responsibilities of designers, examine the expanding role of design and the tools helping it grow, analyze how design frameworks can help you find opportunities and frame problem statements, and assess opportunities, experiences, and the use of a canvas.
Product Manager
Product Managers, often abbreviated to PMs, are responsible for the success of a product throughout its lifecycle. This means that they must be able to understand the needs of the customer, identify opportunities for new products or features, and develop a plan to bring the product to market. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and assessing risk, which are both essential skills for PMs.
UX Designer
UX Designers are responsible for creating user experiences that are both effective and enjoyable. This means that they must be able to understand the needs of the user, identify opportunities for improvement, and design solutions that meet those needs. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and designing solutions.
Market Researcher
Market Researchers are responsible for collecting and analyzing data about the market for a product or service. This data can be used to identify opportunities for new products or features, or to improve the marketing of existing products or services. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and assessing risk, which are both essential skills for MRs.
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are people who start their own businesses. They must be able to identify opportunities for new products or services, and develop a plan to bring those products or services to market. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and assessing risk, which are both essential skills for Entrepreneurs.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing the business needs of an organization and developing solutions to meet those needs. This often involves identifying opportunities for improvement, and developing plans to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
Design Researcher
Design Researchers use research methods to understand the needs of users and to help designers create products and services that meet those needs. Design Researchers may choose to specialize in particular subfields, such as UX Research or Human Factors Research. Those who work in the field of Human Factors Research must adhere to ethical standards, often borrowing from related fields such as psychology. This course may be useful to those interested in this career, since it dives into the need for designers to practice their craft as artisans and preserve design ethics.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns that promote the products or services of a company. This involves identifying opportunities to reach the target audience, and developing strategies to engage with that audience. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and assessing risk, which are both essential skills for Marketing Managers.
Industrial Designer
Industrial Designers combine art and engineering to create products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the design of existing products, or to develop new products altogether. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
Service Designer
Service Designers use design methods to improve the experience of using a service. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the service, and developing solutions to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers design the interactions between users and products. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the user experience, and developing solutions to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
Information Architect
Information Architects design the structure and organization of information. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the findability and usability of information, and developing solutions to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
UX Writer
UX Writers create the written content that users see when they interact with a product or service. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the user experience, and developing solutions to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
Front-End Developer
Front-End Developers are responsible for the design and development of the user interface of a website or application. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the user experience, and developing solutions to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.
Art Director
Art Directors oversee the visual aspects of a project, including the design of the product, the packaging, and the marketing materials. This involves identifying opportunities to improve the visual appeal of the product, and developing solutions to implement those improvements. The course may be useful for those in this role since it explores methods for identifying opportunities and developing solutions.

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 Leveraging Design Methods to Identify Business Opportunities.
This classic work in innovation theory examines why successful companies often fail to innovate and adapt to disruptive technologies. It provides insights into the challenges of managing innovation and offers strategies for overcoming them.
This practical guide provides a step-by-step process for developing new products and services using design thinking methods. It covers topics such as user research, prototyping, and testing.
Argues that design thinking is essential for businesses to succeed in the 21st century. It provides a framework for integrating design thinking into all aspects of business strategy and operations.
Introduces the lean startup methodology, a process for developing and testing new products and services with minimal resources. It emphasizes the importance of customer feedback and iteration.
Provides a framework for understanding and designing value propositions. It helps readers to create products and services that are desirable, viable, and feasible.
Provides a step-by-step guide to running design sprints. Design sprints are short, focused workshops that help teams to solve complex problems and test new ideas.
Provides practical advice for UX professionals who are working alone or on small teams. It covers topics such as user research, design thinking, and prototyping.

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