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Annemiek van Boeijen and Jaap J.J. Daalhuizen

Do you want to learn how to design? Using the Delft Design Approach, you will learn how to use a number of key design methods to create meaningful products and services.

This course is an introduction to the Delft Design Approach offering a model and a set of signature methods from Delft to teach you how to get from understanding the user in context to defining a meaningful design challenge and - in the end - deliver a great design! The course challenges you to experience the design process yourself and reflect on your work with the help of students and excellent teaching staff from Delft, and industrial experts.

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Do you want to learn how to design? Using the Delft Design Approach, you will learn how to use a number of key design methods to create meaningful products and services.

This course is an introduction to the Delft Design Approach offering a model and a set of signature methods from Delft to teach you how to get from understanding the user in context to defining a meaningful design challenge and - in the end - deliver a great design! The course challenges you to experience the design process yourself and reflect on your work with the help of students and excellent teaching staff from Delft, and industrial experts.

No previous knowledge of design methods is required, yet some experience with designing (something) is helpful.

This course has been awarded with the 2015 Open Education Award for Excellence in the category 'Open MOOC' by the Open Education Consortium.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to study users in their own environment;
  • How to translate user insights into a design challenge that will spark creativity;
  • How to create a meaningful design to meet your challenge;
  • How to design and to structure your projects with the support of design thinking, a model and several methods;
  • How to evaluate and present your design.

Syllabus

This course is self-paced and structured along 6 steps. Most steps can be done in about a week, except for step 5 which might take two weeks). The course is then structured as follows:
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Step 1: Understanding meaning in design​•How do the things around us attain their meaning?​•How and why do we design meaningful things?
Step 2: Understanding the context of use• How and why do we gain empathic understanding of the users we design for?• How do we derive insights to inspire the design process?
Step 3: Defining a design challenge• How do we identify the key design problem when we look at the user's current situation?• How do we define a meaningful design challenge that will drive the creative phases of design?
Step 4: Generating ideas• How do we generate ideas?• How do we filter promising ideas?
Step 5: Developing concepts (Optional EXTRA: Prototyping Concept)• What is a design concept and how do we develop a concept?• What role does sketching have in developing concepts?• How do we evaluate concepts and decide between them?
Step 6: Testing with user & final presentation (Optional EXTRA: Testing Prototype of Concept)• How do we test key qualities of a concept?• How do we present a concept?

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Helps learners better understand the design process and how to structure projects with the support of design thinking
Taught by instructors Annemiek van Boeijen and Jaap J.J. Dalhuizen, who have extensive experience in the field of design
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Delft Design Approach, offering a valuable model and signature methods for learners to apply in their own design projects
Encourages learners to experience the design process firsthand and reflect on their work with the guidance of experts from Delft and industry professionals
Suitable for individuals with no prior knowledge of design methods, but some experience with designing is beneficial
Recognized with the 2015 Open Education Award for Excellence in the category 'Open MOOC' by the Open Education Consortium

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Reviews summary

Engaging introductory course

According to students, the Product Design: The Delft Design Approach course is a great introductory course with hands-on assignments that require work to understand the course concepts.
Good course for beginners.
"A very good introductory course"
Assignments are practical.
"The assignments were hands-on"
"Required us to work"
Course requires effort.
"Required us to 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 Product Design: The Delft Design Approach with these activities:
Review foundational concepts of design
This activity will help you refresh your understanding of foundational concepts in design, which will make it easier to absorb the new material in this course.
Browse courses on Design Principles
Show steps
Find a mentor in the design field
Finding a mentor in the design field will provide you with guidance and support as you develop your design skills.
Show steps
  • Identify your goals and what you hope to gain from a mentor.
  • Network with designers and attend industry events to meet potential mentors.
  • Reach out to potential mentors and ask them if they would be willing to mentor you.
Meet with classmates to discuss the course material
Meeting with classmates to discuss the course material will help you understand the concepts more deeply and identify any areas where you need additional support.
Show steps
  • Find a group of classmates who are interested in meeting regularly.
  • Choose a time and place to meet.
  • Prepare for each meeting by reading the course material and completing any assignments.
  • During the meeting, discuss the course material, ask questions, and share your insights.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Write a blog post on a design topic
Writing a blog post on a design topic will help you synthesize your understanding of design concepts and communicate them effectively.
Browse courses on Design
Show steps
  • Choose a topic that interests you and that you have some knowledge of.
  • Research the topic thoroughly.
  • Write a clear and engaging blog post.
  • Publish your blog post on a platform such as Medium or LinkedIn.
Compile a portfolio of your design work
Compiling a portfolio of your design work will help you showcase your skills and demonstrate your progress.
Show steps
  • Select your best design work to include in your portfolio.
  • Create a website or online platform to display your portfolio.
  • Share your portfolio with potential employers and clients.
Participate in a design competition
Participating in a design competition will provide you with hands-on experience in applying the design process and will help you develop your creativity and problem-solving skills.
Show steps
  • Find a design competition that you are interested in.
  • Form a team or work individually.
  • Brainstorm ideas and develop a concept.
  • Create a prototype.
  • Submit your entry to the competition.

Career center

Learners who complete Product Design: The Delft Design Approach will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Product Designer
Product Designers apply the Delft Design Approach to their work regularly. They are constantly studying users, translating user insights, creating meaningful designs, and developing concepts. This course would be particularly helpful for someone looking to become a Product Designer because it teaches the entire Delft Design Approach.
User Researcher
User Researchers are responsible for studying users and understanding their needs. This course would be useful for aspiring User Researchers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to studying users in their own environment.
Industrial Designer
Industrial Designers create and develop concepts for products that are both visually appealing and functional. This course would be useful for aspiring Industrial Designers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to generating ideas and developing concepts.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designers focus on the relationship between humans and products. They design products that are easy to use and interact with. This course would be useful for aspiring Interaction Designers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
UX Designer
UX Designers focus on the user experience of products and services. They design products that are easy to use and interact with. This course would be useful for aspiring UX Designers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Design Engineer
Design Engineers combine engineering with design to create products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This course would be helpful for someone looking to become a Design Engineer because it provides them with the skills they need to understand the context of use for a product and create meaningful designs.
Service Designer
Service Designers create and develop concepts for services that are both useful and efficient. This course would be useful for aspiring Service Designers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a service and creating meaningful designs.
Front-End Developer
Front-End Developers are responsible for the design and development of the user interface of websites and applications. This course would be useful for aspiring Front-End Developers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation for products and services. This course may be useful for aspiring Technical Writers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Back-End Developer
Back-End Developers are responsible for the development of the server-side of websites and applications. This course may be useful for aspiring Back-End Developers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for products and services. This course may be useful for aspiring Marketing Managers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business processes and identifying areas for improvement. This course may be useful for aspiring Business Analysts, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course may be useful for aspiring Project Managers, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to structuring projects and managing design teams.
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are responsible for starting and running their own businesses. This course may be useful for aspiring Entrepreneurs, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics. This course may be useful for aspiring Consultants, as it teaches the Delft Design Approach to understanding the context of use for a product and creating meaningful designs.

Reading list

We've selected 36 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 Product Design: The Delft Design Approach.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design thinking process, with a focus on using it for innovation. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design thinking and how to apply it to their work.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of design. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to design products and services that are both beautiful and functional.
Classic in the field of design. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of good design, and it valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to design products and services that are easy to use and enjoyable to use.
Provides a detailed guide to running a design sprint, a five-day process for solving big problems and testing new ideas. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use design thinking to solve problems and get results.
Explores the challenges that established companies face when they try to innovate. Christensen argues that large companies often have difficulty innovating because they are too focused on protecting their existing businesses. He offers a framework for understanding the innovator's dilemma and provides advice on how companies can overcome it.
Provides a practical guide to value proposition design. Osterwalder and his co-authors explain how to create value propositions that are customer-centric and that can help companies differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Provides a step-by-step guide to building a successful startup. Ries argues that startups should adopt a "lean" approach to innovation, which involves testing ideas quickly and cheaply, and then iterating based on feedback.
This deck of cards provides a set of tools and techniques for brainstorming, prototyping, and testing new ideas. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the design thinking process and how to apply it to their work.
Explores the role of emotions in design. It provides a framework for understanding how emotions affect our experiences with products and services, and it offers advice on how to design products and services that are emotionally appealing.
Provides a practical guide to conducting user research and design on a team of one. It valuable resource for anyone who is responsible for designing products and services without the support of a dedicated user research team.
Provides a practical guide to using design thinking in the classroom. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about how to use design thinking to create learning experiences that are engaging and effective.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the methods of design research. It valuable resource for engineers who want to learn more about how to conduct user research and design products and services that are effective and meet the needs of users.
Provides a practical guide to developing your creativity. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to generate new ideas and solve problems.
Provides a step-by-step guide to running a design sprint. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to use design sprints to accelerate innovation.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design process, from ideation to execution. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about design and how to apply it to their work.
Explores the role of emotion in design and how it can be used to create more engaging and meaningful experiences. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to design products and services that people love.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the user experience (UX) design process. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about UX and how to apply it to their work.
Provides practical advice on how to design websites and other digital products that are easy to use. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to create user-friendly designs.
Provides a practical guide to developing and implementing a UX strategy. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to create a user-centered design culture in their organization.
Explores the role of design in business and how it can be used to create more successful and sustainable organizations. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the importance of design in business.
Provides a practical guide to developing and implementing a culture of innovation in your organization. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to create a successful innovation program.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design thinking process, with a focus on innovation. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to use design thinking to solve problems and create new products and services.
This deck of cards provides 51 different design methods that can be used to inspire innovation. The cards are organized into five categories: inspiration, ideation, prototyping, testing, and delivery.
Explores the characteristics of successful innovators. It provides a framework for understanding how to build a culture of innovation in your organization.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design process. Kolko covers everything from user research to prototyping to testing.
Provides a detailed guide to the sprint process, which five-day design thinking workshop. Knapp and his co-authors explain how to use the sprint process to solve big problems and test new ideas.
Explores the challenges that established companies face when they try to innovate. It valuable read for anyone who wants to understand how to create a culture of innovation in their organization.
Provides a set of 125 principles that can be used to improve the design of any product or service. The principles are organized into five categories: usability, perception, appeal, decision-making, and teaching.
Explores the role of emotion in design. Norman argues that products should be designed to elicit positive emotions in users.
Provides a structured framework for developing value propositions that customers will love. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to create products and services that are successful.
Provides hands-on guidance on how to apply design thinking to real-world problems. It explores the key principles and processes of design thinking, and offers practical exercises and case studies to help readers learn how to use design thinking to generate innovative solutions.
Provides a practical guide to value proposition design. Osterwalder and his co-authors explain how to create value propositions that are customer-centric and that can help companies differentiate themselves from their competitors.
Provides a practical guide to building and launching minimum viable products (MVPs). Olsen explains how to use MVPs to test ideas quickly and cheaply, and then iterate based on feedback.
Provides an overview of design ethnography, a research method that involves observing and interacting with people in their natural environment. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn how to conduct user research.

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