Design Thinking for Social Impact
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Now more than ever it’s necessary to bring creativity, innovative thinking, and a cross-section of stakeholders together to solve systemic social challenges in communities across the US. The Design Thinking for Social Impact Course provides a blueprint for Universities, Corporations/Non-Profits, Local Government, and Community Leaders to come together to collaborate on their most pressing community challenges. This course will not only provide a framework for social change and justice for local communities and their corporate partners, it will also shepherd interdisciplinary teams through the design thinking process - a toolkit that will be invaluable to their professional growth and respective organizations.
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Course Curriculum
Community Kickoff + Convening
Stakeholders from across community sectors will come together to formally discuss their unique design challenge. This session will provide historical context, showcase existing resources, and frame community dynamics for course participants. Ultimately, the convening will help participants actively align on goals, roles, and desired outcomes for the course.
Module1: Introduction to Design Thinking & Social Impact
Module 2: Problem Framing
Module 3: Your Stakeholders- Their Journey
Module 4: Understanding Data
Module 5: Design Research: Empathy & Story telling
Module 6: Synthesis & Ideation
Module 7: Prototyping, Testing & Iteration
Module 8: Going To Market - The Pitch towards sustained impact
Stewardship:
Work with ZSchool and Catalyst to ensure continuity of work and seamless handoffs
Stakeholders from across community sectors will come together to formally discuss their unique design challenge. This session will provide historical context, showcase existing resources, and frame community dynamics for course participants. Ultimately, the convening will help participants actively align on goals, roles, and desired outcomes for the course.
Module1: Introduction to Design Thinking & Social Impact
- Discover the elements that comprise an effective Design Thinking approach for social change and sustainability
- Identify and review relevant case studies that sit at the intersection of design and impact
- Learn best practices, behaviors, and values that drive the design thinking process
Module 2: Problem Framing
- Deep dive into the unique design challenge your team will be navigating throughout the course
- Shape a clearly defined project process
- Learn the ins and outs of trauma informed/ethical design approaches
- Align on impact metrics and successful outcomes
Module 3: Your Stakeholders- Their Journey
- Begin to Map research strategy and plan.
- Develop journeys and interviewing techniques to uncover details.
- Break down mental models and barriers to discover opportunities.
Module 4: Understanding Data
- Pull data sources from across social science channels
- Develop a survey for community members
- Shape a comprehensive and human-centered interview guide
Module 5: Design Research: Empathy & Story telling
- Conduct interviews with identified stakeholders
- Research existing analogous models
- Create insightful stories that empower teams to advocate and take action.
Module 6: Synthesis & Ideation
- Distill data into clear channels of opportunity for the community
- Maximize team creativity using brainstorming techniques and tools.
- Identify design direction(s) alongside community stakeholders
Module 7: Prototyping, Testing & Iteration
- Reframe and refine solutions based on the needs of your community
- Improve your interviewing and observing skills.
- Learn rapid prototyping and iterative design techniques.
Module 8: Going To Market - The Pitch towards sustained impact
- Consider all facets of presenting a new design to market, including impact to users
- Quantify value proposition and positioning
- Clearly articulate a continued investment and funding strategy for your concept
- Develop a sustainment and impact strategy with community stakeholders
- Amplify and socialize community concepts with a cross-section of community members (including advisory board)
- Identify resources to support the development and implementation of concept
Stewardship:
Work with ZSchool and Catalyst to ensure continuity of work and seamless handoffs
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