IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Introduction to Human-Centered DesignO N L I N E C O U R S E S Y L L A B U S

THANKS TO OUR KEYSTONE FUNDING PARTNER

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Course Description

Human-centered design (HCD) is a creative

approach to problem solving pioneered by

the design firm IDEO.

This is an intensive, hands-on learning

experience that will challenge you to get

out of your chair and out into the real

world to talk to people and test your ideas.

You’ll leave this experience equipped and

energized to apply the human-centered

design process to challenges across

industries, sectors, and geographies to

generate breakthrough ideas.

Course Format

This is an online course. You can view and

access all course materials at your own pace

during the period that the course is open.

There are no live sessions or specific times

you need to log in.

Statement of Accomplishment

Upon completion of this course, you will

earn a Statement of Accomplishment

signed by the Director of +Acumen and the

Executive Director of IDEO.org that you can

share with your professional networks.

What You’ll Learn

+ Master the 4 steps of the human-

centered design process to create

innovative solutions to real-world

challenges

+ Build an effective interview guide

to learn and document your use

research

+ Gain strategies for synthesizing

your user research and identifying

opportunities for design

+ Practice creative techniques to

build rapid prototypes and make

your ideas come to life

+ Learn to effectively test your

prototypes with real users and

identify promising solutions to

begin implementing

I N T R O D U C T I O N T O

H U M A N - C E N T E R E D D E S I G N

Learn from IDEO.org to use human-centered design for social innovation

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+ Introduction and the Beginner’s

Mind

+ Icebreaker: Visual Telephone

+ Discussion: Introduction to

Human-Centered Design

+ Activity: Mini Design Challenge to

Design a Better Commute

+ Activity: Choose Your Design

Challenge

+ Discussion: Team Knowledge and

Key Assumptions

+ Activity: Plan Your Research

+ Activity: Build an Interview Guide

+ Activity: Conduct Your Research

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+ Discussion: Share Stories and

Learnings from User Research

+ Activity: Cluster Insights into

Themes

+ Activity: Create Insights

Statements

+ Activity: Create ‘How Might We’

Questions

+ Activity: Brainstorm

+ Activity: Select Your Best Ideas

+ Activity: Gut Check

+ Activity: Create a Storyboard

+ Discussion: Determine What to

Prototype

+ Activity: Start Prototyping

+ Activity: Test Your Prototype and

Get Feedback

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+ Activity: Create an Action Plan

+ Activity: Create a Pitch

+ Activity: Share Your Solution

+ Reflection

+ Discussion: Moving Forward

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+Acumen is a vibrant community of change

leaders around the world. We believe that

by working together to amplify the impact

of each other’s work, we’ll create a world

beyond poverty. When this course wraps up,

how will you continue to stay connected?

Amplify

Consider taking on a new design challenge

or bring a prototype to your next meeting

to move your work forward. You could also

get a team together to submit ideas and

prototypes to IDEO.org’s Amplify program to

help solve some of the world’s most pressing

problems.

Design Kit

Sign up on Design Kit to receive updates

on new content, download or get your own

Field Guide to Human-Centered Design,

add your favorite Methods to your own

personalized online toolkit, and share

stories of how you’ve used human-centered

design in your own work!

Take Another +Acumen Course

With the largest offering of online education

in the social impact space, we’ve got courses

in personal development, leadership and

social entrepreneurship. As you have just

experienced, our hands-on courses offer

a practical and collaborative environment

to move your work forward. Check out our

calendar of upcoming courses.

If you’re interested in learning more about

human-centered design and social impact,

check out:

+ Human-Centered Design 201:

Prototyping: Learn from IDEO.

org designers to make your ideas

come to life

+ Facilitator’s Guide to Human-

Centered Design: Lead others

through the human-centered

design process

+ Social Entrepreneurship 101:

Discover Your Passion and Path to

Change the World

CONNECT WITH +ACUMEN courses@plusacumen.org

W H E R E W I L L

Y O U G O N E X T ?

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W H E R E W I L L

Y O U G O N E X T ?

Learn from the Best

At +Acumen, we’re fortunate and grateful

to work with some of the world’s most

incredible thought-leaders. They are

masters of their craft who have generously

given their time to create courses based on

their work. +Acumen Master Classes include

instructors such as Chris Anderson (Head of

TED), Angela Duckworth (an award-winning

psychologist and MacArthur genius), Krista

Tippett (an NPR Radio Host) and Dan Ariely

(a professor of behavioral psychology from

Duke University). If you’re interested in

learning more about impact and business,

check out:

Adam Grant

on Developing

Original Ideas:

How to become an

original thinker

capable of driving

creativity and

change in the

world

Elizabeth Gilbert’s

Creativity

Workshop:

Jumpstart your

creative journey

with coaching

from a bestselling

novelist

Become a Catalyst

Catalysts are current and former students

who care deeply about helping others

unlock their potential. They enrich the

course experience as guides -– answering

questions, helping students get unstuck,

and encouraging them to go beyond their

limitations. Apply what you’ve learned in

the course in a new way by coaching others

through the material, engage deeply in the

work of others and meet students from

around the world. Apply to be a catalyst.

Join the +Acumen Corps

We launched the +Acumen Corps to bring

individuals together to collaborate and

connect. We all know that driving social

change is hard work and that in order to

create the change we seek in the world, we

need each other. Corps members are bonded

by our shared goal of creating a world

beyond poverty and that it will take all of us

to achieve it. To join the +Acumen Corps you

must participate and complete a +Acumen

Challenge. Check out the +Acumen Corps

website to learn about and apply for

upcoming challenges.