IXD
Design Sprint 101
Six-week course • cohort-based learning
The application deadline for the current cohort has passed.
We’ll learn together through a six-week design sprint experience to develop a fundamental understanding of the impact design sprint, practice justice-oriented design mindsets, and experience design through hands-on activities
Who is this program for?
This course is perfect for anyone interested in designing for impact and wishing to experience a design sprint
You may be part of a team, organization, or community group that could use a framework for creative inspiration and innovation.
You may run a small business or just have an idea that you hope will serve people and wish to do so well
You may be a leader and have to navigate complex systems or processes and wish to have ways to identify pain points and find solutions to help make things easier
You may be a design professional and wish to learn more about designing for impact
You may be curious about impact design and wish to learn how you could serve your network and community to make things better
WHat you can expect:
Six live virtual sessions, held weekly on Zoom
Tuesday Cohort - Meets Tuesdays at 5:00 - 6:30 pm PST starting Tues, April 12
Thursday Cohort - Meets Thursdays at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm PST starting Thurs, April 14
Bi-weekly design practice guides (including self-study reflection and design prompts)
Guidance and support via email
Tools and exercises for designing for impact
A supportive and safe space to experience a design sprint with like-minded creatives, entrepreneurs, and changemakers
Design sprint 101 Details
What you’ll need:
Paper and your favorite writing instrument*
An internet-ready device with a web-camera (e.g. laptop, tablet)**
Reliable access to Zoom and the Internet
Curiosity about the design process and generosity towards yourself and others as you learn
*Digital materials will be provided but during some sessions you will be encouraged to take notes or engage in activities with paper and your favorite writing instrument. Loose-leaf paper or journals are fine!
** Logging on via phone will likely not be a great as it makes it difficult to interact on Zoom. Having access to a larger device such as a computer, laptop or tablet is strongly encouraged.
The application deadline for the current cohort has passed.
Stay tuned for information about future cohorts.
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Week 1: Design Orientation
In our first meeting, we will provide an overview to impact design as an emerging practice, including related equity-centered design practices, community-centered design models, and what a justice-oriented design practice could look like.
We will also introduce the Design Challenge that will be our focus for the duration of the design sprint.
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Week 2: Discovery & Awareness
During the second meeting, we will focus on bringing awareness to our design inquiry through research and intentional discovery.
We will have the chance to practice listening sessions, and participants will be encouraged to engage in listening sessions as part of their intentional design practice.
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Week 3: Insights and Ideation
During the third meeting, we will explore how to craft insights based on what emerged through discovery.
We will have the chance to apply approaches to intentional idea generation.
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Week 4: Prototyping & Testing
In the fourth meeting, we will engage in rapid prototyping by examining our design assumptions and finding ways to test these in order to better inform our designs.
We will have the chance to practice at least one round of gathering feedback from other participants.
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Week 5: Iteration
In the fifth meeting, we will assess the state of our current designs and explore ways to approach iteration.
We will have the chance to practice at least one additional round of gathering feedback from other participants.
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Week 6: Integration
In the sixth meeting, we will wrap-up the design sprint. Participants will have the chance to share final designs with a small group of participants.
In addition, we will provide space to reflect the potential role of design sprints, how to move your impact design practice forward, and ways to apply the elements of the design sprint to your current work or world.
Design Sprint 101
The application deadline for the current cohort has passed. Stay tuned for information about future cohorts.
FAQs
What is a design sprint?
A “design sprint” is an action-oriented container for decision making, flexing between divergent and convergent thinking. Design sprints can take many forms; however, they are always bound by some sort of time constraint. A traditional product design sprint takes five days. Other sprints can take a weekend or can be spread out over a longer amount of time. This impact design sprint will be more of a design “marathon” — the container will be spread out over the course of six weeks.
What experience do I need To participate?
The IxD Design Sprint 101 course is for anyone interested in designing for impact and wishing to experience a design sprint.
This experience is especially useful for entrepreneurs or changemakers who wish to use impact design to better serve their community as well as design professionals who wish to learn more about designing for impact using a justice-oriented design framework.
No formal design experience, prior education, or training is required to participate.
What materials are required or provided?
You’ll need the following:
A camera-ready device (preferably an iPad or laptop) to participate in weekly Zoom sessions
Access to Zoom, What’s App, and Google Drive
A zeal for experiencing the design sprint in a safe space with like-minded creatives, entrepreneurs, and changemakers
The following materials will be provided:
Bi-weekly design practice guides (including self-study reflection and design prompts)
Tools and exercises for designing for impact
What will i be able to do after completing this course?
During the IxD Design Sprint 101 experience, you will have the opportunity to
Develop a fundamental understanding of the impact design sprint
Practice your development of justice-oriented design mindsets by working your way through a design challenge
Experience design through hands-on activities
Afterwards, you will have experienced a long-form design sprint and be able to better understand how to apply an impact design approach or principles to your current context.
where can i learn more about my supporting my design practice?
In addition to the IxD Design Sprint 101 experience, we are offering workshops and advanced trainings for impact design practitioners, including design sprint facilitation.
We believe design is transformative and can help us bring forth the just future our communities want and need. If you are interested in leading this movement towards integrating transformative design processes in your community or organization, we’ve got your back. If you’re looking for even more support, you can send us a note. We’d love to hear from you.
I’m interested! What’s next?
The application deadline for the current cohort has passed. Stay tuned for information about future cohorts.