At each stop on our tour, we’ll be giving a lecture presentation about how each of us as designers can work for the greater good. We know, however, that intention only goes so far; we must collectively establish best practices. When we’re designing for homelessness, health, poverty, education, and well-being, the stakes are higher than ever, with little room for half-hearted efforts.
With that in mind, we have compiled a Toolkit for both design students and educators (or really for anyone who wants to apply creative problem solving to social issues) that outlines 13 values and corresponding strategies for not just how to design for the greater good, but how to produce GREAT design for the greater good. (Note: The 13 values are derived from the Designer’s Handshake document included in our book, Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People).
2015年10月7日 ソシオメディア UX戦略フォーラム 2015 FallでのUX測研 伊藤潤 発表原稿
<https: />
This is my presentation report at Sociomedia UX Strategy Forum 2015 Fall.
The Past, the Present, and the Future - Overview of Measuring Approach for Quality of Use in Japan
d.school Bootcamp Bootleg, as generously created and offered (under Creative Commons license) by the Stanford d.school: http://dschool.typepad.com/news/2009/12/the-bootcamp-bootleg-is-here.html
Σήμερα, με το πάτημα ενός κουμπιού έχουμε πρόσβαση σε όλο τον κόσμο, εξοπλισμένοι με ποικίλα εργαλεία , έχουμε την ευκαιρία, να εξερευνήσουμε νέες δυνατότητες , νέες ιδέες , νέες τελετουργίες και λύσεις . Έχουμε όμως ακόμα όνειρα; Με αφετηρία τη διαδικασία της σχεδιαστικής σκέψης ( ‘designerly’ ways of thinking), θα μελετήσουμε βήμα προς βήμα τα στάδια μετάβασης από την ιδέα στην υλοποίηση της δικής σας δράσης.
2015年10月7日 ソシオメディア UX戦略フォーラム 2015 FallでのUX測研 伊藤潤 発表原稿
<https: />
This is my presentation report at Sociomedia UX Strategy Forum 2015 Fall.
The Past, the Present, and the Future - Overview of Measuring Approach for Quality of Use in Japan
d.school Bootcamp Bootleg, as generously created and offered (under Creative Commons license) by the Stanford d.school: http://dschool.typepad.com/news/2009/12/the-bootcamp-bootleg-is-here.html
Σήμερα, με το πάτημα ενός κουμπιού έχουμε πρόσβαση σε όλο τον κόσμο, εξοπλισμένοι με ποικίλα εργαλεία , έχουμε την ευκαιρία, να εξερευνήσουμε νέες δυνατότητες , νέες ιδέες , νέες τελετουργίες και λύσεις . Έχουμε όμως ακόμα όνειρα; Με αφετηρία τη διαδικασία της σχεδιαστικής σκέψης ( ‘designerly’ ways of thinking), θα μελετήσουμε βήμα προς βήμα τα στάδια μετάβασης από την ιδέα στην υλοποίηση της δικής σας δράσης.
Design Investigation Method presented at SECAC 2013, Greensboro, NC. A simple research method that can be taught to beginning design students to strengthen their design solutions.
Handout to accompany workshop. See slides with the same title.
The document contains: some key ideas; a planning tool; results from a pre-workshop survey.
We introduce Learning Presentation design principles that incorporate theories of Adult Learning. These presentation principles and approaches can be adapted by researchers, teachers, and students for use in classrooms, conferences, and communities, whether F2F, hybrid, or online environments. We collaborate with participants by sharing knowledge and experience to create personalized strategies for maximizing learning while using presentation platforms. For this showcase we draw on our work with future faculty and current staff to demonstrate Learning Presentations as scaffolds for showcasing ideas, guiding learning, and engaging learners.
Ilene D. Alexander
Christina I. Petersen
President's Challenge Social Enterprise Award Brochure 2012ActionGood
“The President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Award aims to recognise outstanding social enterprises which are innovative and have made significant sustained contributions to the disadvantaged in our community. I hope that through this new award, the President’s Challenge will inspire more individuals, particularly our youths, to develop business ventures that also serve social causes.”
- President Tony Tan Keng Yam Launch of PC 2012 27 March 2012
Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2nd edition, October 2008)ActionGood
The 123 tools contained in the Toolkit offer guidance, recommended resources, and promising practices to policymakers, law enforcers, judges, prosecutors, victim service providers and members of civil society who are working in interrelated spheres towards preventing trafficking, protecting and assisting victims and promoting international cooperation.
Framework for action - Trafficking in Person (TIP)ActionGood
The International Framework for Action is a technical assistance tool that supports United Nations Member States in the effective implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The Framework is the result of broad participation between anti-trafficking partners including Anti-Slavery International, Council of Europe, ECPAT, IOM, ILO, LEFOE-IBF, OAS, OSCE, Terre des hommes, Johns Hopkins University, UNDAW/DESA, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNHCR, UNICRI, OHCHR and UNODC.
Public consultation on trafficking in persons national plan of actionActionGood
The Inter-agency Taskforce on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is seeking feedback on the proposed National Plan of Action which will guide Singapore’s response to TIP from 2012-2015.
Presentation slides for survey results of social enterprisesActionGood
For benchmarking purposes, SE Association commissioned a face-to-face survey on social enterprises with 2000 households in Singapore to establish a baseline of public awareness of social enterprises. The survey sought to find out whether the public is aware of social enterprises, what their buying behaviors are and what motivates them to support social enterprises.
A paper prepared by the Social Innovation eXchange (SIX) and the Young Foundation for the
Bureau of European Policy Advisors.
http://www.goodpaper.sg/study-on-social-innovation/
Research done by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) has shown a steady rise in volunteerism from 9.3% in 2000 to 23.3% in 2010. This shows that more people in Singapore are giving their time. But imagine if the remaining 75% stepped forward. So many more could be helped.
http://www.goodpaper.sg/behind-the-glitter-and-glamour-of-our-urban-streets/
Will a photo of hundreds of happy humans standing to form a shape of a dolphin on an open field do what a plea from a Mexican Senator and condemnation from conservation bodies and celebrities across the globe has not been able to do so far?
Release 25 still living bottlenose dolphins into the wild.
http://www.goodpaper.sg/HAPPy-humans-and-sad-dolphins/
Everyone agrees that the world could do with more love and understanding, and less violence and cruelty. An active step towards creating that world is humane education.
http://www.goodpaper.sg/creating-a-better-world-for-animals/
RADION INTERNATIONAL is a relief and development agency that works in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Thailand; reaching street children, abused womenfolk and broken families.
We are dedicated to serving vulnerable & marginalized communities, empowering them to overcome poverty and social oppression.
http://www.goodpaper.sg/radiating-love-and-care/
ActionGood Pte Ltd is a Singapore owned social enterprise that specialises in creative conceptualisation, art direction, visual design & implementation, content conceptualisation & direction, copywriting & editing and production management with focus on creating effective outcomes for the community good. Through its one stop service, the company seeks to increase the quality and quantity of civic engagement in Singapore.
BRAC, the largest non-profit in the developing world, was launched in Bangladesh in 1972 and today reaches more than 138 million people in Africa and Asia through its programs that address poverty by providing micro- loans, self-employment opportunities, health services, education and legal and human rights services. BRAC USA, founded in 2007, raises funds, provides BRAC programs with strategic and program services, cultivates partnerships and promotes awareness of BRAC’s successful community development model to support BRAC’s global expansion and influence the work of development organizations around the world.
http://www.goodpaper.sg/does-sustainability-matter/
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Acetabularia Information For Class 9 .docxvaibhavrinwa19
Acetabularia acetabulum is a single-celled green alga that in its vegetative state is morphologically differentiated into a basal rhizoid and an axially elongated stalk, which bears whorls of branching hairs. The single diploid nucleus resides in the rhizoid.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
2. Think design will change the world?
It just might. But first, we’ve got to change
the way we design.
Welcome to the Design Revolution. This
toolkit provides values and tactics for how
each of us—design practitioners, students,
and educators—can design better solutions
for the greater good: for people instead of
clients, for change instead of consumption.
Consider it a blueprint, a field guide, a user
manual. It’s not the be-all or end-all, but it’s
a start. Use it wisely; use it daily. Design just
might change the world . . . Ready, set, go.
2 1
3. Go beyond
doing no harm
I will engage only in design activities that
improve life, both environmental and human.
I will recognize that design that does not
improve life is a form of apathy and that
“doing no harm” is not enough. I will engage
only in design processes that are respectful,
generative, catalytic, and productive.
“Going for ‘the lesser of many evils’ is not good design—we can’t measure success by how
lightly we tread. Rather, we have to lead with the big ideas and maximize positive impact,
not just minimize negative impact.” —Emily Pilloton, Project H Design
2 3
4. students teachers
Know the difference between doing no harm (working deductively to minimize negative impact) When teaching basic design skills, theory, and history, set a precedent by showing examples of
and going beyond doing no harm (working productively to maximize positive impact). Seek out humanitarian products and solutions. Instead of limiting your examples of great design to iPods
projects that have such positive impact, not just projects that have a zero-sum outcome. Steer and stylized accessories, show appropriate technologies, life-improving tools, medical devices,
clear of the “less bad,” and go for the “proactively good.” and enabling solutions, and qualify these as good design by showing their social impact.
We all know what it means to measure an environmental footprint, but ask yourself how you Make community participation (not just class participation) a part of your grading structure.
might also measure your ethical footprint as a designer, then work on projects that improve that Reward students whose projects make social engagement a priority (i.e. 20 percent of a student’s
personal ethical footprint. Your designs are a reflection of your character. grade will be determined by direct involvement with local or underserved communities).
Before beginning a project, ask yourself what the worst case scenario might be if you designed a Be sure that every one of your studio syllabi includes a relevant social issue as a design challenge,
Go beyond
mediocre solution. Without a great design, would a specific demographic not have access to and make sure you have a local partner to serve as the client and collaborator throughout the
health care? Would a public school down the street not have healthy food in their cafeteria? process (i.e. a homeless shelter or inner-city elementary school).
Define the urgency, and be sure that your project is filling a critical need rather than simply a
personal desire.
doing no harm
4 5
5. Listen, learn, &
understand
I recognize that every client, partner, or
stranger is someone to learn from. I will
listen before assuming. I will seek to
understand the historical, geographical,
social, cultural, and economic contexts
and precedents before beginning the
design process.
“As Mark Twain once said, ‘It’s not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you
know for sure that ain’t so.’ If we want to create breakthrough innovations, we’ll need to set
aside preconceived notions about ‘the way things are,’ learning instead to watch and listen
carefully for clues on how we might design a better future.” —Tom Kelley, IDEO
6 7
6. students teachers
Get out of the studio, away from the computer, and interview people in their comfort zones instead Create a minimum requirement for qualitative research, front-loaded at the beginning of studio
of over the phone or via email. Listen to their words, and observe the surrounding context. Talk terms. Require at least ten hours (five hours traditional academic research, five hours “on the
to at least five people who participate in an activity or an action that is related to your project. streets,” in-person research) before allowing students to consider proposing initial design concepts.
Listen attentively, take notes, look people in the eye, and shake their hands after talking to them.
Encourage students to study “abroad.” “Abroad,” however, need not mean oceans away. Whether
Approach the project like an anthropologist rather than a designer. Don’t overuse the words in a remote village in Thailand or a crippled manufacturing town a few counties away, unfamiliar
“design” and “designer;” do not enter into new situations or contexts announcing your role as a experiences will help students develop empathy and work efficiently outside of their comfort zones.
“designer.” Instead, approach these new situations with humility, ready to learn, as a “creative
problem solver.” Ask the hows and whys rather than the whats and whens. Listen to your students! You work for them, not the other way around. While you are the facilitator
of their educational experience, listen to their needs and wants. When students are excited, the
work will excel. If students are asking for more humanitarian studios, ask them to help you in
Present your projects to your friends and family. Be sure that your ideas are meaningful (and
creating new curricula, then work to get those studios onto the school’s list of course offerings.
presentable) to those who are not as immersed in the design process, or who may know little
Listen, learn, &
about design at all. Those outside of the “design bubble” are the ultimate resource. Work to
produce solutions that “just make sense” for everyday people, without highfalutin’ designspeak.
8 9
7. Measure, share,
& teachI will measure results quantitatively and
qualitatively. I will, as appropriate, make my
best practices, successes, tools, and failures
available to colleagues for community-
based learning.
“Understanding the world requires observation in several forms—specifically, things that
are easily measured (such as environmental and financial performance) and those that are
not (such as social and cultural impacts like emotions, values, meanings). Designers need
to become comfortable investigating and blending both quantitative and qualitative data in
order to create solutions that make change.” —Nathan Shedroff, California College of the Arts,
Chair of MBA in Design Strategy program
10 11
8. students teachers
Don’t view your classmates as competition. Approach your studio with a “cupped hand” philosophy— Encourage your former students to volunteer as mentors to your current students. Bring in one
you are there to offer and contribute to the discussion rather than to solely take away ideas. Think guest to every class session who might offer feedback, or with whom your students can share
of two people in your class that you see as competitors. Use these two people as “consultants” their challenges.
throughout your design process.
Set up a weekly meeting with your fellow instructors. Meet up for happy hour at a bar or for coffee
Create your own metrics. At the beginning of a project, define three or four things that would at a cafe and share student work from the week. Use this group as a community and as a sounding
make this project a success. Along the way, be sure that you are working towards those goals. board for new lesson plans.
Create a “user empowerment” metric. Ask users to evaluate your design on a scale of one to ten, Ask your students to grade themselves at the end of every term and at specific points throughout
assigning a higher number to solutions with greater efficiency and functionality in their everyday their design process. Ask them to evaluate their progress around the following: Are their designs
lives. Collect this data at multiple points throughout the process. Establish strong relationships responses to direct user feedback and pressing social issues? Do they have wide-scale adapt-
and feedback loops with your user group so that at every step you are relying on constant feed- ability? Are they good business ventures or just provocative concepts? Has the impact of their
Measure, share,
back to improve the design. design decisions been measured, and if so, is that impact positive and wide-scale?
Become an obsessive documentarian. Take pictures of everything and write at least 500 words Ask students to blog through their projects, both individually and as a studio. This creates an
about your design process and progress on a daily basis. Use these “journal entries” as storytelling informal breeding ground for discussion within the studio group and pushes their processes and
devices for your partners, clients, and critics. Use multiple media (video, photography, drawings, ideas into the public eye for critique.
prose, mind-maps, and more) to create an archive of design documentation that tells the story.
& teach
12 13
9. Empower, heal
& catalyze
I will use design as a tool to empower
people, to make life better, to bring health
and improve life, and to enable users to
help themselves. I will seek out systemic
solutions over quick fixes.
“I’ve grown tired of pushing widgets, climbing the corporate ladder, and stroking the egos.
We’re seeing the design profession growing up. This is the first time we’re being asked to
come to the ‘big kids’ table’ to truly determine the outcome of what we do. As designers, we now
have an incredible opportunity and responsibility to affect change. We’re no longer designing for
widgets, we’re designing for people.” —Arvi Raquel-Santos, Nexus, Weymouth Design
14 15
10. students teachers
Apply the “object vs. tool” test—make sure that the solutions you propose are not dead-ends, but Inform students that you will issue automatic F’s for useless blobjects (even if this is an empty threat,
catalysts that enable something else to happen. Are your deisgns tools for user engagement or it will reinforce that “dead-end objects” are not acceptable). Begin your courses by stressing the
merely objects or accessories? What does your design make possible? importance of developing tools rather than stuff, and show examples that articulate the difference.
Ask people and users to be designers too. Give them cameras to photograph their environ- Look at student work and ask: Is the solution merely another product to be purchased, or is it a
ments, ask them to pose solutions. Put the power in the hands of your end users and allow that tool for empowerment? Does the solution only solve the visible symptoms, or does it contribute
to drive the process. to lasting, systemic change?
Prototype, prototype, prototype, then give your prototypes directly to your users. Record how they Take students on a Life-Cycle Analysis Field Trip. Show them the material sources, the factory
are used. Are there unforseen consequences, unplanned benefits, or unexpected opportunities? where products are made, stores where the products are sold, homes in which the products reside,
Your users will provide fresh eyes that shed light on your design’s existence in the real world. then the landfills in which the products rest. When students become aware of the many stages
of a product’s lifecycle, they will look at their own projects through a longer-range, critical lens.
Empower,
heal,& catalyze
16 17
11. Be optimistic,
but critical
I will employ perpetual optimism as a design
and business strategy but will apply the
same critical evaluation toward social and
humanitarian design work that I would any
other product. Just because it’s “for the
greater good” doesn’t make it good design.
“We don’t need do-gooders; we need people who are really good at what they do.”
—Architecture for Humanity
18 19
12. students teachers
See the big picture. Take the time to read and discuss a breadth of design theories that you have Encourage your students to take on social impact projects, but let them know that you will critique
never heard of or might not agree with. Develop a personal thesis for how you define “good design,” them just as hard, if not harder. Social impact projects often have even higher stakes as the
and be prepared to both defend your thesis and challenge opposition. solutions must be life-improving, even life-saving.
Ask people to rip apart your design projects, and develop a thick skin. Ask people to look beyond Host “free-thinking” debates. Create a classroom environment in which “there are no wrong
the fact that your projects have “social good” components and give you critiques that are realistic, answers,” and allow students to freely discuss big issues (“When is a consumer society a good thing?
even harsh. Ask your end users “Would you use this? Or is this ridiculous? Is it too designed?” Should health care be free to all?”). By beginning with an open and broad debate, students might
View criticism as the best motivation. better identify where their passions lie and which issues are worth tackling as designers.
Hold your teachers to a high standard. If you think their practices are irresponsible or could be Give writing assignments. By asking your students to articulate their thinking or process in written
improved, talk to them about it, and offer to help your instructors revisit and improve their form, they will become more critical and thoughtful about their work.
lesson plans.
Be optimistic,
20 21
13. Think big &
have no fear
I will take calculated risks and not be
afraid to use design as a tool for change.
I will explore new models for how design
can have the greatest impact for the
greatest number.
“Samuel Mockbee, Rural Studio founder, said something similar with his mantra ‘Proceed and
be Bold!’ Or, as marketing guru Chris Lochhead says, ‘It takes courage to do legendary work.’
The things we do with the highest impact always take guts.” —John Bielenberg, Project M
22 23
14. students teachers
Send one good email per day to a person whose input might be valuable, even if they are famous, Take your students on “big-picture” field trips. Bring them to public rallies, webcast UN congresses
live an ocean away, or you think they are untouchable. If they don’t reply, don’t take it personally, during studio time, and ask them to think beyond the studio walls.
but do send another email.
Reward bravery.
Write down your loftiest goal on the back of your business cards (i.e. “Using design, I want to
improve access to high-quality education in the U.S.”). When you hand people your business Face off against the “Old Guard” of design educators. Ask the administration to support you in
card, they will have a handwritten reminder of who you are beyond your email address. creating new programs and new classes for the new design imperatives.
Go to every party, and talk to anyone who will listen.
Think big &
have no fear
24 25
15. Serve the
underserved
I will look first to demographics underserved
by design and propose viable solutions for
such groups as the homeless, the sick, the
ailing, the young and old, the handicapped,
poor, and incapacitated.
“Designing for the underserved means putting solutions in places that need it most. The
design industry has focused on making luxury-based objects for so long. This is our
opportunity to use our creativity for something meaningful —something we can stand
behind.” —Kim Karlsrud and Danny Phillips, Project H Design, Los Angeles
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16. students teachers
Find an overlooked demographic that is personal to you. Who in your life lacks access to creative Choose a local, urgent issue and run a “quick-fire” exercise with your students. Play the role of
solutions? A friend’s sister who has learning disabilities? Your grandmother, who struggles with the public policy maker, and ask them to pitch design-based ideas as solutions. For example, has
daily mobility? Start with those who are close to you and investigate the ways you could use design your town recently seen a huge economic decline? Ask students to generate quick ideas and
to improve their lives. present them to you over the course of one studio class.
Find at least two local organizations that are related to your project and show up to volunteer. Go on “citizen field trips.” Spend a studio session volunteering at a senior citizen’s facility, YMCA
Through service and immersion, you are likely to see opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise see after school program, or soup kitchen.
through traditional design research.
Challenge your students to spend a night in a shelter or to work out at the gym in a wheelchair.
Personal experience as part of an underserved demographic helps establish empathy and deep
Start in your own backyard. Don’t look to the developing world oceans away when there are
understanding of the need.
homeless communities in your own city. Start locally, but keep global scalability in mind, and try
to develop local solutions that have the potential for wider application.
Serve the
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underserved 29
17. Don’t reinvent
the wheel
When something works well, I will not
assume I can or should start from scratch.
I will use what is available to me and look to
local resources, skill sets, and materials.
“Not reinventing the wheel means acknowledging the efforts of those who have come before.
We’re not here to knock them over and stand in their place, we’re here to work with them and
stand on their shoulders.” —Ryan Duke, Project H Design, San Francisco
30 31
18. students teachers
Weigh the costs and benefits of implementing a new system versus building on top of existing Write a project brief that calls for a design improvement rather than creation. Give students an
infrastructure. What already exists? Could your time be better spent improving existing solutions? existing product, and ask them to develop an incremental improvement that enhances that
Do not discount the power of incremental improvements over brand-new solutions. Are there ways product and elevates its use through new functionality or new markets.
to leverage the ubiquity or popularity of everyday objects into a life-improving design solutions?
Use constraints to your advantage. For example, challenge your students to design with materials
Ask yourself, “What am I up against?” If you are designing a better farmer’s market stand, know from within a 100-mile radius or using only off-the-shelf components.
that your “competition” is an $8 folding table from WalMart. Can you really pose a better solution,
and if so, how will you make the case to your target market that your design is better?
Think like a business person. Come to terms with the fact that new ideas can be hard sells. How
will you convince people that your solution is worthy of their behavior change?
Don’t reinvent
Consult nature for age-old design solutions. Draw from biomimicry principles.
the wheel
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19. Do good
business with
good
I will be honorable in business and
partnerships. I will build distribution into
my design and employ businesses that
maximize social impact. I will align myself
people
and work with individuals and groups who
have the same values as I do.
“There’s one value that trumps all others, predetermines your success with design or any other
undertaking: authenticity. People see straight through any design and any person that isn’t
authentic.” —John Cary, Public Architecture
34 35
20. students teachers
Develop a business plan for distribution, manufacturing, and marketing into all of your Set a good example. Teach the value of good business, and help students learn how to present
Do good
school projects. their ideas, collaborate, and meet new partners in the most respectful way.
Write thank-you notes to your teachers, partners, and those who have helped develop your Ask students to work within a budget and present their business cases.
project along the way.
Engage local businesses in your community as studio project clients.
Reach out to your heroes and try to work with them. Ask your students to submit a rough business plan or “systems-based strategy” to accompany
their designs. This will encourage them to think about how the design fits into the real world, and
Work alongside your classmates whenever possible. Stop every hour or so and give each other where it might be overlapping with previous solutions.
business with
informal evaluations.
good people
36 37
21. Own up and
repairI will take responsibility for any failures or
mistakes I may make and take measures
to repair and understand my errors.
“My role is not to serve myself, but to work towards the greater good. As a designer, I work to
create new choices that benefit people and the planet. Through my work with low-income
communities worldwide, I design systems that benefit society and build the capacity of
individuals to innovate within their own environments.” —Jocelyn Wyatt, IDEO
38 39
22. students teachers
Look through your portfolio and ask yourself, “Do my design projects pose solutions to big Share your personal stories of failure, along with your successes. Create a culture of “productive
problems? Do they make life better for the target audience or user group?” If you’re unhappy failure.” Encourage students to be brave, try new things, and to “fail with purpose,” learning from
with the answer, not to worry—there is plenty of time to improve. To get started, pick out your their mistakes as a way to hone in on a better design process.
weakest project and commit the next school term to reworking it into something that meets
this “life-improvement” requirement. Give a “what not to do” lecture. Present examples of designs that have gone wrong and resulted
in negative impact. Have students identify where the design process may have gone wrong and
Ask yourself, “What mistakes have I made while in design school?” Did you approach a project how the solution could be improved.
with a heavy hand and offend users in the process? Did you specify an environmentally irrespon-
sible material because it was the easy choice? Look back and identify where you could have Ask students, at the end of the term, what they would have done differently, and give them an
made better choices. Write each of these moments on a Post-it as a reminder for how you can opportunity in the following term to rectify those points.
improve in the future.
Own up and
repair
40 41
23. Don’t do what
you don’t know
I will acknowledge the limits of my expertise
and will not hesitate to say “no” or to pass
projects to another designer who may do a
better job.
“One of the most important characteristics of a designer is humility—an appreciation that
designers are part of a continuum of past and future practitioners. Sometimes the best
answer is ‘I don’t know; that’s a great question.’” —Allan Chochinov, Core77
42 43
24. students teachers
Take a business or economics class to understand different scales of distribution, or an anthropology Establish relationships with other universities, public school districts, local organizations, or
class to learn alternative research techniques. This cross-pollination will bring new insights to international agencies.
your design process.
Invite professors from the economics, business, and social science departments to be guest
Design requires trust. Invest time with your clients and users to build long-term relationships. lecturers in your studio or jurors on your final critiques.
When it comes to human-centered design, humility comes first; everything else will follow. Set up cross-disciplinary studios that are listed in multiple departments (for example, a studio
developing more user-friendly blood glucose monitors for diabetics, cross listed with the pre-med
program). Ask your students to partner with someone outside of the design school throughout
a project.
Don’t do what
Encourage your design students to double major in something outside of design.
you don’t know
44 45
25. Always put
the user first
I will always place need over consumption
and the human being over the market. I
will consider human value, experience, and
consequence above all else.
“Design is how you treat your customers. If you treat them well from an environmental,
emotional, ergonomic, and aesthetic standpoint, you’re probably doing good design.”
—Yves Behar, fuseproject
46 47
26. students teachers
Design with, not for. Don’t view your projects as “design for clients,” but rather “solutions for people.” Challenge your students to understand their users without using the computer or statistics. Help
Give partners and users a stake in the process by making them co-designers. Bring them into them to build trust with partners, and encourage them to interview people face to face.
your design process from the start.
Practice interview skills in class, and provide tips for how students can harvest more useful
Go to the user. If you’re working on a project for a homeless shelter, work from the homeless information while in the field.
shelter. Be there, in person, as much as possible.
Show the difference between user-centered design and consumer-centered design. Pick 20
projects or products and ask students to place them on a continuum with user-centered at one
Give design credit to your users. Credit your projects as collaborations with the homeless shelter
end, and consumer-centered at the other; then justify their answer.
or any individuals who helped shape the solution. Give your clients and users the tools they need
to tell the story. Invite your partners to your final critique.
Always put
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the user first 49
27. Be part of a
greater whole
I will remember that I am a part of a system
and a community of designers, users,
clients, and global citizens. I will recognize
that my individual decisions affect
this greater group, and that I have a
responsibility to contribute productively.
“First we are human beings. Then we are designers. If successful design can come from
empathizing with other human beings, then designers should see themselves first as a
member of the human race. For all the differences we all have, we have as many similarities.”
—Randy Hunt, Supercorp
50 51
28. students teachers
Join the student chapter of your local professional organization (ex: IDSA, AIGA, AIA), go to each Become a student again. Go out in the field and interview people with your class. Help your
and every meeting, and speak up. If big groups aren’t your thing, organize your own small group students prototype, source material, and user test. If they can get their hands dirty, you can too.
of like-minded students (not just designers), and meet on a regular basis.
Take pride in your students. Present student work at a local event. Promote and represent your
Go to one big design conference every year, and listen closely. Then, after all the talk, commit to school, and ask for feedback. Encourage your school to adopt responsible design principles like
turning what you have learned into real action. the Designers Accord.
Show your work online, in every avenue; share it with others and don’t be territorial. Accept the
criticism and praise with grace.
Be part of a
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greater whole 53