Digital Learning, America 2020 Autumn Workshop: Design for Impact and Inclusion

Learn how to integrate a mindset and practice of inclusion into your design process.

Workshop Dates: October 12–16, 2020 (10 am–6 pm Central Standard Time)

Faculty: TBA

What is this workshop?

Inclusive design is the process of designing for the diversity of people’s needs and experiences. It starts by understanding multiple dimensions of diversity—such as gender, ethnicity, physical ability, socio-economic background, and beyond—in order to consider different perspectives throughout the design process.

In this class, we will look at what creates exclusion in design and innovation, and examine our own processes as we put new things into the world. We also need to look inward at our role as designers and ask questions like—"What are my biases?" "What lenses do I see the world through?" "How can I challenge my own assumptions?" and "Who might I be excluding in what I make?" This workshop will help people from all backgrounds address these questions head-on, and throughout the week, develop a set of tools to integrate inclusive practices into your organization. We will also explore topics such as systems design, ethics in design, and processes rooted in psychology, which will ultimately make your work more usable.

By the end of the week, you will know how to apply these tools during different phases of the design thinking process—from research and evaluation to prototyping and design. Plan for some personal reflection, empathy building, user research, experimentation, and to walk away with deep connections and lessons learned from the people you take the course with. After all, every perspective brings something unique to the conversation.

What will you learn and how?

• Human-centered design: We will develop an understanding of the human-centered design process and apply it to a hypothetical problem or challenge in your community.
• Inclusive Design: Understand what inclusive and exclusive design looks like through case studies and group activities.
• Bias: Understand how cognitive biases show up in the design process and apply this understanding to the prototypes we develop in class.
• Power + Equity: Understand the role of power in the design process and explore how to create more equitable solutions.
• Co-Design: Learn methodologies and approaches to collaborate with the communities you are looking to serve.

What you will not learn?

This class will not discuss ‘universal design’ principles. Where universal design normalizes differences and seeks to develop products and services that are used by as many people as possible, inclusive design celebrates differences and seeks to proactively develop products and services with and for diverse communities that are traditionally underrepresented.

Is this for you?

If you make decisions that affect other people and you’re interested in proactively addressing bias, equity, and inclusivity in your work, this class is for you. You will benefit from applying the tools and methods presented in this class in your own work. You don’t have to be a design practitioner to participate in this class, however, a basic understanding of human-centered design is helpful. There are no prerequisites.

Expertise Level of the workshop

• No specific expertise is required to participate in this class.

What do you need to bring to this workshop?

• A computer
• A growth mindset

Enroll now: There is a maximum number of 20 places available for each workshop, and all admission is based on a first-come-first-served basis. Enrollment will be closed when the workshops are full.