This workbook is an accompaniment to the Design Thinking for Educators Toolkit,

available for free at designthinkingforeducators.com. Designer’s

Designer’s Design

Workbook
Thinking
for

Workbook Educators

MY DESIGN CHALLENGE:

EXAMPLE WORKBOOK

Design
Thinking
for
Design
Thinking Educators
for
Educators
What is Design Thinking?
Welcome to the
Design Thinking is about believ- Design Thinking gives you faith Design Thinking is:
ing we can make a difference, in your creative abilities and a human-centered
Designer’s Workbook.
and having an intentional process for transforming difficult collaborative
process in order to get to new, challenges into opportunities optimistic This workbook includes step-by-
relevant solutions that create for design. experiemental step instructions for completing
a design challenge using the
positive impact.
design thinking process. this
workbook is a quickstart guide
to the design thinking process
and is best used in combination
with the design thiinking toolkit
for educators.

The Design Thinking Toolkit for

Educators contains in-depth
instructions and explanations
as highlighted by each step in
THIS WORKBOOK CAN SUPPORT ANY DESIGN CHALLENGE YOU this workbook the toolkit also
WANT TO TACKLE. THOUGH WE OFTEN SEE CHALLENGES THAT provides you with examples
CENTER AROUND A FEW SPECIFIC TOPICS: from educators, like yourself, of
how they’ve been using design
thinking in their work.

This workbook is an accompanymant

to the Design Thinking for Educators
toolkit, available for free at
designthinkingforeducators.com.

CURRICULUM SPACES PROCESSES & TOOLS SYSTEMS

Every day you design ways to The physical environment of the Your school has already designed Not everyone can always make decisions
interact with your students around classroom sends a big signal a set of processes or tools that for the system that they exist within, but
content. You can follow a design about how you want your students may or may not be setting up everyone can contribute to the design of
process to be more intentional to behave. Right now we tend to your school for success. This is that system. Designing systems is about
about connecting this content to think of our classroom spaces as typically outside of the classroom balancing the complexity of many differ-
the interests and desires of today’s standard… kids in rows, sitting in and specific interactions around ent stakeholder needs with the needs of
learners by finding out more about desks. By rethinking the design learning, and more around how the the operation. When designing systems,
the things that they do outside of of our spaces, we can send new system operates. Every process is we’re often setting high-level strategy
school and connecting that to the messages to our students about already designed, and thus can be such as stating visions, priorities, poli-
content you are bringing to them. how they should feel and interact in redesigned! Sometimes creating cies, and key communications around
the classroom. tools can be essential to support- these ideas.
ing newly designed processes.
 Getting
Hello Designer!

Whether this is your first design project or

your fiftieth, you are taking a brave step

Started
to address challenges in your classroom,
school or community by designing new
solutions that build from people’s needs
and desires. Exciting!
This workbook is meant to help you
structure your process and capture your
thoughts. Use it how it best helps you…
you can use some of the methods or all of
the methods, it’s up to you.
First step… define your challenge and
create a project plan.

WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION

0-1 Define a Challenge

0-2 Create a Project Plan
0–3 Create a Project Plan
DT for Ed 0–1 Define a Challenge GETTING STARTED Workbook
6 7

0–1 Define a Challenge

Dreams and Gripe Session
Finding opportunities for design often begins by noticing problems. Sometimes it comes out as
Next, flip these statements into possible design challenges. Begin your question with “How
wishes (“I really wish our school had _.”) Sometimes it comes out as complaints (“It annoys me
might we…” or HMW for short. This turns the problems you see into opportunities for design!
that we’re not _.”) Either starting point is fine. You might want to try this with a friend… share
your dreams and gripes and ask them to reflect back design opportunities.

DREAMS/THINGS I WISH WOULD EXIST HOW MIGHT WE…

I WISH I COULD COLLABORATE MORE WITH OTHER TEACHERS. HMW... CREATE NEW TOOLS FOR TEACHERS TO COLLABORATE?

GRIPES/THINGS THAT COULD BE BETTER HOW MIGHT WE…

KIDS ARE SO ENGAGED ON THE COMPUTERS BUT I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH. HMW... REDESIGN MY CLASSROOM TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS

THINGS WOULD BE BETTER NEWER TECHNOLOGY. OF MY STUDENTS?

DT for Ed 0–2 Create a Project Plan GETTING STARTED Workbook
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0–2 Create a Project Plan

Sketch out the End Goal(s) Establish Constraints
What will I work to produce? What constraints will I need to manage?

END GOAL(S) CONSTRAINTS

PROTOTYPES I WILL TRY AND BUILD NEEDS TO FIT WITHIN MY CURRENT SCHOOL BUILDING

A PILOT PROGRAM BUDGET OF 5O DOLLARS FOR THE YEAR

A VISION DOCUMENT THAT I’LL SHARE WITH OTHERS HAS TO BE READY TO TRY WHEN STUDENTS RETURN FROM BREAK

A “PITCH” PRESENTATION TO ENLIST OTHERS IN THE IDEAS

Define Indicators of Success

What measures and indicators will help me know my ideas are successful?

MEASURES OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

POSITIVE FEEDBACK I GET FROM STUDENTS

MY PRINCIPAL FUNDS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

OTHER TEACHERS WANT TO JOIN ME

DT for Ed 0–2 Create a Project Plan GETTING STARTED Workbook
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Write a Brief How Might We!

Write up a short “brief” that clarifies the challenge you’d like to address. Write it as if you were Capture the design challenge you’ve decided to work on…
handing it to someone else to design with. Capture thoughts on why this is a problem, and what the
opportunity for design will be.
CHALLENGE QUESTION

BRIEF

HMW... REDESIGN MY CLASSROOM TO BETTER MEET

WITH THE ATTENTION SPANS OF STUDENTS DECREASING, AND INCREASING
THE NEEDS OF MY STUDENTS?
COMPETITION WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, A 30 YEAR-OLD CLASSROOM,

AND MORE STUDENTS BEING ADDED TO THE CLASSROOM EVERY YEAR, THE

INCREASED CHAOS DOESN’T SERVE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. CLASSROOM

SET-UP STRONGLY INFLUENCES LEARNING BEHAVIORS, THERE IS A BIG

OPPORTUNITY TO REDESIGN MY CLASSROOM TO BETTER ADDRESS THE

NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF TODAY’S STUDENTS.

WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGE IS THIS? (CIRCLE ONE)

CURRICULUM SPACES PROCESSES SYSTEMS

AND TOOLS

!
TIP
Keep the challenge simple
and optimistic. Make it broad
enough to allow you to
discover areas of unexpected
value, and narrow enough to
make the topic manageable.
DT for Ed 0–3 Create a Project Plan GETTING STARTED Workbook
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0–3 Create a Project Plan

The Design Thinking process is flexible and can integrate into your school structure and Project Checklist
timing. The process can be run in a day, a week, a year, or more. What you put into the challenge What do you need to get in place to enable you to get started on this project? Do you need to
determines what you get out of it. The depth of insight, opportunity areas, and level of concept align schedules to conduct a challenge on a professional development day? Do you need to book
refinement and impact will vary depending on the length of your project For now, choose the space or request materials? Who do you want help from?
timeline you’d like to begin working with. After getting started on the project, you may find that
you’ll want to evolve this plan to meet the needs of your design solutions. TO HELP ME WITH PLANNING, I WILL ENGAGE:
CHECKLIST

BOOK ROOM
Circle your Design Plan BORROW CAMERA
DAY MON TUE WED THU FRI SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER
DISCOVERY
8am 8am 8am 8am 8am 8am

INTERPRETATION
DISCOVERY
EVOLUTION
DECEMBER JANUARY FEBURARY
INTERPRETATION noon noon noon noon noon
noon IDEATION

IDEATION DISCOVERY EXPERIMENTATION

EXPERIMENTATION
INTERPRETATION

EXPERIMENTATION IDEATION MARCH APRIL MAY

EVOLUTION EXPERIMENTATION
5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm
5pm
EVOLUTION

JUNE JULY AUGUST

EVOLUTION

In a Day In a Week or Two Spread out over Months

Sketch your Timeline

Create a timeline for your project. What are major dates you’ll be working toward? Do you need a
prototype to be ready for use after summer break? Do you want to share learnings at parent-
teacher night or pitch your concept to the school board? Consider deadlines, meetings, and
interim check-in dates.

TIME

I WANT TO COMPLETE THE FIRST ITERATION OF THIS PROJECT BY:

Great!

You have now defined

a design challenge to
create new solutions
1
for, and have sketched DISCOVERY
a work plan for you
and your team.

Now you are ready to

move on to the first
phase of the design
process... Discovery.

WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION

1–1 Understand the Challenge

1–2 Prepare Research
1–3 Gather Inspiration
DT for Ed 1–1 Understand the Challenge DISCOVERY Workbook
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1–1 Understand the Challenge

Review the Challenge Share What you Know
What are some things your team identified about the current design challenge? Capture key What do you believe you already know about this challenge? What would you like to learn more
thoughts, constraints, and barriers from the discussion. about? Capture your assumptions, and your questions.

THOUGHTS, CONSTRAINTS, BARRIERS I ALREADY KNOW

- TOO MANY STUDENTS IN MY CLASSROOM, THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY - STUDENTS DON’T LIKE CHANGE. THEY WOULD PREFER TO KEEP THEIR

TO FIT ALL THE DESKS IN THE ROOM DESK LOCATION IN THE SAME PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

- DON’T WANT TO GET RID OF SUPPLY OVERFLOW BUT I HAVE - BEHAVIOR CAN BE SHAPED BY CLASSROOM SET-UP

NO WHERE TO STORE IT

I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT

- BEST SET-UP FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDY VS. GROUP WORK

- INTERESTING WAYS OTHERS MANAGE SPACE, PEOPLE & RESOURCES

- PRIVACY IN A PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT

Did your group rewrite the challenge after your discussion? If so, capture it here:

HOW MIGHT WE...

DT for Ed 1–1 Understand the Challenge DISCOVERY Workbook
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Build your Team Define your Audience

Who is on your team? Who are core members and who are extended members? Through your Who will you be designing for? Consider the core audience and extended audience.
discussion, what did you determine about the roles that people will play and the unique goals that Draw a visual reminder.
you each have?

CORE TEAM MEMBER(S) GOALS AND ROLES

(ME) TEAM LEADER.. TO LEAD A DESIGN PROCESS

THAT HELPS ME BETTER ENGAGE MY STUDENTS.

AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES GROUPS
WHO SHARE THE
SPACE

EXTENDED
AUDIENCE(S)

STUDENTS TEACHERS THAT

EXTENDED TEAM MEMBER(S) GOALS AND ROLES THAT NEED USE MY ROOM TO
CORE
AUDIENCE(S)
MORE ATTENTION COLLABORATE

EXTENDED
AUDIENCE(S)

PARENTS THAT
WANT TO COME
HELP IN THE
CLASSROOM
DT for Ed 1–2 Prepare Research DISCOVERY Workbook
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1–2 Prepare Research

Identify Sources of Inspiration Identify Places of Inspiration
Who are all of the people involved in your topic? Who might represent extreme behaviors Where can you go to have an inspiring experience related to your challenge? What are analogous
related to your topic? Which experts do you want meet with to learn more about your topic? settings or extreme experiences where you might witness similar or relevant behaviors and
List the candidates that you think will provide the most inspiration and circle 3-5 that you activities in a different context? List the as many locations as you can and circle 3-5 that you are
want to engage with first. most excited to observe first.

USERS, EXPERTS, EXTREME USERS INSPIRING LOCATIONS, ANALOGOUS SETTINGS

EXPERTS: INTERIOR DESIGNERS FOR OFFICES, BEHAVIOR EXPERT, WORKSPACE ON AN AIRPLANE, IKEA, GOOGLE, PIXAR

FENG SHUI MASTER, SPACE ORGANIZATION SPECIALIST SPEND TIMING WORKING & SITTING IN THE STUDENTS’ CHAIR,

EXTREMES: HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN, STUDENTS GOING TO DIFFERENT TYPES IN A CUBICLE, AT A PLAYGROUND

OF SCHOOLS, STUDENTS ATTENDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

DT for Ed 1–2 Prepare Research DISCOVERY Workbook
22 23

Select Research Participants

Who specifically do you want to talk to and learn from? Create detailed descriptions for
at least 3 different users or sources of inspiration. Be sure to cover a variety of gender,
experience, ethnicity, etc.

USER TYPE
USER TYPE HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENT

USER DESCRIPTION USER DESCRIPTION

13-17 YR-OLD STUDENT WHOSE PRIMARY LEARNING SPACE IS NOT IN A FORMAL

CLASSROOM. LEARNING MIGHT TAKE PLACE IN EXPERIENTIAL LOCATIONS SUCH

AS AN OUTDOOR BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY CLASS, IN A MUSEUM, AT AN OFFICE,

OR THROUGH REMOTE MEANS. INTERVIEW TO TAKE PLACE IN ONE OF THESE

LEARNING LOCATION OR AT THE STUDENT’S FAVORITE STUDY SPOT. WOULD

LOVE TO SEE BACKPACK, FAVORITE BOOK, OR LEARNING TECHNOLOGY.

USER TYPE USER TYPE

USER DESCRIPTION USER DESCRIPTION

DT for Ed 1–2 Prepare Research DISCOVERY Workbook
24 25

!
Build a Question Guide: Interview INTERVIEWEE NAME TIP
What do you want to learn to better understand the challenge at hand? What are you hoping Make a copy
of this for each
to understand about people’s motivations and frustrations? What do you want to learn about JOHN, AGE 16 interview.
their activities?

START SPECIFIC GO BROAD PROBE DEEP

What are some specific questions you can ask to What are some questions that can help you start to under- What are some ways you might be able to dig deeper in the conversation,,
open the conversation? stand this person’s hopes, fears and ambitions? to find even more of the perspective this person has?

TELL ME A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DRAW YOUR LEARNING SPACE FOR TELL ME A STORY ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU FELT REALLY GOOD IN THIS

DID IN CLASS DAY... ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU LOVE SPACE. WHAT HAPPENED? WHO WAS THERE? WHY DID YOU FEEL SO GOOD?

AND WHAT YOU DON’T

DT for Ed 1–2 Prepare Research DISCOVERY Workbook
26 27

!
Build a Question Guide: Observation OBSERVATION SITE TIP
What are you looking to learn in this observation? Capture themes and questions that you want Make a copy
of this for each
to make sure you get to in the site visit! Fill in one of these worksheets for each observation, so STARBUCKS COFFEE SHOP observation.
that you can consider what you will ask for each place you are visiting.

THINGS TO SEE THINGS TO DO

What are some things you want to make sure you observe while you are visiting this place? What are some things you can do to gain inspiration in this place?

HOW DO PEOPLE INTERACT WITH INFORMATION IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS? PRETEND I AM WORKING ON A BIG PAPER AND TRY TO GET COMFORTABLE

WHERE DO PEOPLE SEEM TO FOCUS BEST OR LIKE TO STUDY? ENOUGH TO STUDY AND FOCUS. WHAT DO I NEED?
DT for Ed 1–2 Prepare Research DISCOVERY Workbook
28 29

Prepare For Fieldwork CHECK LIST

Assign responsibilities before going into the field. Who is in charge of confirming date, time, and
QUESTION GUIDE
location of the research activities? Who is responsible for making sure you have all the necessary
equipment? Who will take the lead in interviewing? In documenting?
PARTICIPANTS CONTACT DETAILS

TEAM MEMBERS’ CONTACT DETAILS

TEAM MEMBER ROLE

DIRECTIONS TO LOCATION

MEG INTERVIEWER NOTEPADS AND PENS

CAMERA (CHECK BATTERIES!)

MOBILE PHONES

THANK YOU GIFTS FOR PARTICIPANTS

(IF APPLICABLE)

POST-IT NOTES, SHARPIE MARKERS

LOCATION OR INTERVIEWEE ADDRESS, DATE AND TIME

JOHN SMITH 123 MAIDEN LANE, JAN 12, 4:30PM

DT for Ed 1–3 Gather Inspiration DISCOVERY Workbook
30 31

1–3 Gather Inspiration AS YOU ARE INTERVIEWING, that person.

capture what you see and hear during Look for work-arounds and adaptations
a field visit. Capture direct quotes. people have made to make a system to
Inspiration Notes Separate your observations from your serve their needs better such as books
! interpretations so that you know what you
saw and what you thought it meant for
stacked under a laptop to make the
screen a better height for viewing.
NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED/LOCATION VISITED TIP
Fill this out of
this for each
JOHN SMITH, HIS BEDROOM AND WORKSPACE interview.

OBSERVATIONS AND QUOTES INTERPRETATIONS

- JOHN KEEPS EARPHONES AT HIS DESK - I THINK MUSIC HELPS JOHN FOCUS WHILE STUDYING

- “I’M VISUAL, SO I USE PINTEREST WHEN I’M WRITING A PAPER.” - I THINK JOHN LEARNS BEST THROUGH VISUAL CONTENT AND WANTS

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SURF THE WEB WHILE HE IS WORKING IN SCHOOL.

DT for Ed 1–3 Gather Inspiration DISCOVERY Workbook
32 33

1–3 Gather Inspiration AS YOU ARE INTERVIEWING, that person.

capture what you see and hear during Look for work-arounds and adaptations
a field visit. Capture direct quotes. people have made to make a system to
Inspiration Notes Separate your observations from your serve their needs better such as books
! interpretations so that you know what you
saw and what you thought it meant for
stacked under a laptop to make the
screen a better height for viewing.
NAME OF PERSON INTERVIEWED/LOCATION VISITED TIP
Fill this out of
this for each
STARBUCKS, NEAR THE UNIVERSITY observation..

OBSERVATIONS AND QUOTES INTERPRETATIONS

-THE CAFE MOSTLY HAS ONE PERSON AND ONE LAPTOP PER TABLE - PEOPLE LIKE TO WORK IN PUBLIC BUT STILL WANT THEIR OWN SPACE.
Through the Discov-
ery phase, you have
gained deeper under-
standing, empathy
2
,and inspiration for INTERPRETATION
your design challenge.

Through, Interpreta-
tion, the second phase
of the design process,
you will now make
make meaning and
define insights from
your Discovery
observations and
interviews.

WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION

2–1 Tell Stories

2–2 Search for Meaning
2–3 Frame Opportunities
DT for Ed 2–1 Tell Stories INTERPRETATION Workbook
36 37

2–1 Tell Stories What did this participant care about the most?
What motivates him/her?
Capture Your Learnings
Immediately after interviewing, be sure to capture your learnings. Capture one observation, story
highlight or quote per post-it note. Use the prompts to guide you.

WHO DID YOU MEET? (PROFESSION, AGE, LOCATION, ETC)

JOHN, 16, HIS HOUSE

What was the most memorable and surprising story?

JOHN FOCUSES BEST AT A COFFEE SHOP, NOT THE LIBRARY

What frustrated him/her?
BECAUSE SOME STIMULUS KEEPS HIM FROM ZONING OUT.

What was interesting about the way he/she

interacted with his/her environment? What questions would you like to explore
in your next conversation?
DT for Ed 2–1 Tell Stories INTERPRETATION Workbook
38 39

Learnings from my partner/team:

Share Inspiring Stories

Take turns sharing stories of the people
Learnings from my partner/team:
you talked to or the places you visited.
While listening to your team, capture their
stories and observations on post-it’s, using
a separate post-it per thought. Capture the
most interesting learnings here.

Learnings from my partner/team:

Learnings from my partner/team:

Learnings from my partner/team:

Learnings from my partner/team:

DT for Ed 2–2 Search for Meaning INTERPRETATION Workbook
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2–2 Search for Meaning

Find Themes Make Sense of Findings
Look for themes, patterns and connections across your wall of post-it notes. Cluster related Take a closer look at your themes and find overlaps, patterns and tensions as they relate to each
post-it’s around themes that you notice. It’s like moving your thoughts around and seeing new other. Can you group several related themes in larger categories?
patterns as a result. Create headlines for each category that capture these themes and patterns.

HEADLINES WHAT ARE THE LARGER CATEGORIES?

- STUDENTS FEEL A LACK OF PRIVACY NECESSARY FOR STUDYING - FLEXIBILITY

WHEN IN THE CLASSROOM. - STUDENTS WANT PRIVACY BUT ALSO ACCESSIBILITY TO HELP

- STUDENTS DESIRE A VARIETY OF DESK/TABLE WORK OPTIONS

WHILE STILL HAVING OWNERSHIP OVER PERSONAL DESKS.

- THE CURRENT CLASSROOM DOESN’T ENCOURAGE STUDENT COLLABORATION

AS THERE IS NO WHERE FOR THEM TO WORK TOGETHER.

Did you find any contradictions? Did you have After having discussed with your team, and/or
any unexpected learnings or find something gotten feedback on the categories, what are
that felt surprising? Why? you excited to dig deeper into?

UNEXPECTED LEARNINGS I AM EXCITED TO EXPLORE...

- CREATIVE WORK PLACES CHANGE CREATING A STUDY SPACE THAT’S

THEIR SPACE CONFIGURATION OFTEN. QUIET ENOUGH FOR FOCUS BUT

- STUDENTS FEEL THEY CAN STUDY ACTIVE ENOUGH TO KEEP STUDENTS

BEST WHEN AWAY FROM THEIR STIMULATED

NORMAL DESKS.
DT for Ed 2–3 Frame Opportunities INTERPRETATION Workbook
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2–3 Frame Opportunities

Define Insights Make Insights Actionable
Is your question...
Insights are a concise expression of what you have learned from your research and inspiration. Actionable and successful ideas start with
They are the “aha” moments and unexpected learnings. the right question, which identifies important
opportunities through great INSIGHTS.
Sometimes, it can be helpful to write an insight in the form of a Point-of-View (POV) statement
Remember, each “How might we” (HMW) BROAD ENOUGH TO SPEAK NOW IDEAS?
which makes an insight specific to user or user group. A simpler way to create a POV is through
question will only address a portion of your
the POV equation.
challenge so you can create multiple HMW’s
and prioritize them for ideation.
user + need + interesting learning = POV
NARROW ENOUGH TO FEEL MANAGEABLE?

INSIGHT/POV
! FOCUSED ON RESPONDING TO YOUR
USER-DRIVEN INSIGHT?
TIP
Avoid brainstorm
JOHN NEEDS A BALANCE OF PRIVACY AND STIMULUS TO STUDY BECAUSE questions that already
HE FOCUSES BEST WHEN THERE IS SOME ACTIVITY TO KEEP HIM FROM imply a solution

GETTING TOO BORED.

HOW MIGHT WE...

- HOW MIGHT WE MAKE A CLASSROOM FEEL LIKE A HOME STUDY SPACE?

INSIGHT/POV
- HOW MIGHT THE CLASSROOM CUSTOMIZE ITSELF FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL?

INSIGHT/POV

INSIGHT/POV
DT for Ed 2–3 Frame Opportunities INTERPRETATION Workbook
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Create a Visual Reminder THINGS TO TRY Journey map Venn diagram Two-by-two Relationship map
Map out the network of connections-
Frameworks, diagrams, and illustrations are great tools for
people, actions, objects, interactions.
communicating insights or complex information.
Illustrate activity or information flow.

Map the actual/figurative journey that

people or things take.

SKETCH OR CREATE A VISUAL THAT WILL HELP EXPRESS YOUR INSIGHTS.

Now that you’ve creat-
ed a point-of-view and
framed opportunities
for your design chal-
lenge, you are ready
3
to move to the third IDEATION
phase of the design
process...Ideation!

Ideation will help you

come up with many
possible design solu-
tions to address your
challenge.

WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION

3–1 Generate Ideas

3–2 Refine Ideas
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3–1 Generate Ideas

Prepare for Brainstorming
A successful brainstorm session requires planning. The small details matter. Invite a diverse
CHECK LIST
group of people who can stay open-minded and can build on each other’s ideas. 6-10 is ideal for a
brainstorm. Who will you invite? SELECT A FACILITATOR

NAMES
PRESENT YOUR TOPIC

INTRODUCE THE RULES

OF BRAINSTORMING

EQUIP EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE

START WITH A WARM-UP

MOVE ONE BY ONE

KEEP THE ENERGY HIGH

POST ITS MARKERS

SNACKS
BRAINSTORM RULES
(never underestimate the power
of sugar in a brainstorm!)

Sufficient wall space is necessary to have room for everyone to get up and see each other’s 1. DEFER JUDGEMENT

ideas, and will leave you with room to post plentiful ideas. Where will you conduct the brainstorm 2. ENCOURAGE WILD IDEAS
and how will you set-up the space to facilitate a brainstorm? 3. BUILD ON THE IDEAS OF OTHERS

ROOM SET-UP 4. STAY FOCUSED ON TOPIC

5. ONE CONVERSATION AT A TIME

6. BE VISUAL

7. GO FOR QUANTITY

POST THE BRAINSTORM RULES.

PAPER
DT for Ed 3–1 Generate Ideas IDEATION Workbook
50 51

Facilitate Brainstorming
Create, or use some of the suggested some warm-up brainstorm questions from the Facilitate
Brainstorming method to get people in the right mood. Which questions will you use?

Feeling stuck?
WARM-UP QUESTIONS Here are a few other things to try:
- HOW MIGHT WE FIND A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK?
Add constraints
Change the magnitude of the solution space, using
- “NEVER COULD WE EVER.” THINK OF THINGS YOU COULD NEVER DO AT
size, price, time commitments, and count. Ask yourself,
SCHOOL, UNDERWATER, IN A TUXEDO. “What if… it was larger than this room? smaller than a
peanut? took 5 years to implement? took 1 minute?
was available for all? available for only a few?”

Use inspiring brands.

Ask yourself, “How would McDonald’s, Nike, Apple,
Urban Outfitters, or Disney do it?”

Make it time-specific
Ask yourself, “What if it were made for the morning?
night?”

Which topic will you focus your brainstorm on? Hone in on a target audience
Ask yourself, “What if it were only for tweens? kids?
TOPIC athletes? parents?”

PERSONAL SPACE CUSTOMIZATION

Which HMW brainstorm questions will you use?

HOW MIGHT WE...

- HMW DESIGN THE CLASSROOM TO CUSTOMIZE ITSELF FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL?

DT for Ed 3–1 Generate Ideas IDEATION Workbook
52 53

Select Promising Ideas

After you brainstorm, cluster any related ideas and have the team pick
their 3 favorite ideas.

Collect the post-its of the favorite concepts from the brainstorm.

Include the sketches if applicable. Which ideas received the most votes?

FLIP UP DESK
DT for Ed 3–1 Generate Ideas IDEATION Workbook
54 55

Ask other group members for feedback about their favorite part of your sketch as well as aspects
where they see room for improvement. What did they say?
Sketch to Think
Pick one of the favorite ideas from the brainstorm, and flesh out the concept through NOTES
a quick sketch or two.
DT for Ed 3–2 Refine Ideas IDEATION Workbook
56 57

3–2 Refine Ideas

Do a Reality Check
What is at the core of your idea: what gets you Make a list of all the challenges and barriers Starting from the list you created in step one of this worksheet page, describing the core values
excited about it? What is the most important you are facing with your idea. What are you of your idea, what are other ways in which you could address the needs differently?
value for your audience? What is the real need missing? Who would oppose the idea? What
that this is addressing? will be most difficult to overcome?

VALUE, NEEDS CHALLENGES, BARRIERS NEW CONCEPTS

- LETS STUDENTS HAVE PRIVACY IN - NOT ENOUGH HELP OR FUNDING TO - IF STUDENTS NEED PRIVACY, MAYBE I CAN REARRANGE MY ROOM TO GIVE

PUBLIC SPACE HACK ALL THE DESKS IN MY ROOM THEM A SENSE OF PRIVACY WITHOUT HAVING TO BUILD NEW DESKS

- ENABLES STUDENTS TO TO WORK THIS WAY INSTEAD OF MODIFYING ALL THE DESKS, MAYBE WE PROTOTYPE A LARGER

COLLABORATE USING EXISTING COLLABORATION TABLE THAT CAN STOW AWAY IN MY ROOM WHEN NOT IN

DESKS USE (LIKE A FOLDING TABLE)

- LETS STUDENTS KEEP

PERSONALIZED DESKS
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58 59

WHAT NEEDS OR OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE CONCEPT ADDRESS?

Describe Your Idea LETS STUDENTS HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO COLLABORATE IN THE CLASSROOM BUT
Create a concept description for the idea that you would like to prototype and repeat for each idea.
ALSO PUT UP THEIR “DESK BLINDERS” WHEN THEY’RE TRYING TO FOCUS.

CONCEPT NAME: ENABLES STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PERSONALIZED DESKS THAT

FOLD-UP LEAF-DESK ALLOW FOR FLEXIBLE WORKSTYLES.

SKETCH

ONE-SENTENCE CONCEPT DESCRIPTION:

THE MURPHY DESK, FOLD UP THE LEAVES FOR PRIVACY, FOLD OUT TO CREATE

EXTENDED DESK SPACE FOR COLLABORATION.

WHO DOES IT INVOLVE, BOTH IN BUILDING AND IN USING IT?

- HELP FROM A WOODWORKER, SOMEONE WHO CAN SEW AND/OR HANDY-MAN

HOW DOES IT WORK?

VOLUNTEER PARENTS
ADD A HINGE AND DESK LEAF TO EACH DESK TOP. THE LEAF WILL FOLD UP
- CLASSROOM STUDENTS AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES GROUP WILL BENEFIT
TO OFFER STUDENTS PRIVACY WHEN THEY’RE TRYING TO BE HEAD’S DOWN, OR

FOLD OUT TO GIVE THEM MORE WORKSPACE WHEN THE STUDENTS WANT TO

WORK AS A TEAM. ADD CASTERS TO THE DESK SO STUDENTS CAN EASILY

MOVE THE DESK AROUND FOR COLLABORATION. DESK CUSHIONS!

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THROUGH PROTOTYPING THIS IDEA?

TEST THAT THE IDEA WORKS ON A FEW DESKS TO GET FUNDING FOR THE

ENTIRE CLASS.
You have now gener-
ated lots of ideas and
chosen a few concepts
to move forward.
4
In the fourth phase of EXPERIMENTATION
the design process—
Experimentation—you
will prototype in
order to bring your
concepts to life.

WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION

4–1 Make Prototypes

4–2 Get Feedback
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4–1 Make Prototypes SOME THINGS TO TRY

CREATE SEPARATE TRY “EXPERIENCE SHRINK BIG THINGS DOWN

SIMPLER PROTOTYPES PROTOTYPES” Use scale models and mockups.
Take Photos “Works like” (how the back end func- Have people roleplay or bodystorm
GO 2D
tions), “acts like” (how the “front-end” using props and prompts.
Since your prototype should be out in the world, take photos of it and place them here. interaction works), and/or “looks like”
Use storyboards or diagrams.
(how it looks).

Place photo here Place photo here

Place photo here Place photo here

P
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4–2 Get Feedback

Identify Sources for Feedback Select Feedback Participants
How do you need to test your prototype in order to receive the most relevant feedback? Can you Who do you want to engage in the feedback process? Who will you learn the most from? Include
let people experience your prototype without further explanation by leaving it in various places? people you have met during your field research as well as new participants.
Do you need to walk people through the experience of your prototypes? What will your testing
session look like?

I WILL TEST BY... FEEDBACK PARTICIPANTS

ASKING STUDENTS TO USE DURING STUDY HALL OR AFTER-SCHOOL WHEN MY JOHN SMITH

CLASS ISN’T AS BUSY WOODWORKER

What about your idea do you need to test? What kind of feedback do you need in order to iterate
and refine your idea? What is the most important question you want to ask? Are you trying
to learn whether people would participate in a new activity you designed? Are you wondering
whether people will change behaviors over time because of your concept?

LIST FEEDBACK GOALS

WANT TO KNOW IF THE PRIVACY BLINDERS MAKE THE STUDENTS FEEL MORE

LIKE THEY’RE WORKING FROM THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME WITH PRIVACY.

WANT TO SEE IF THE ADDED SURFACE SPACE ENABLES MORE COLLABORATION

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Build a Question Guide

!
INTERVIEWEE NAME TIP
It is likely that as you have made your idea tangible, you have developed questions about how the Fill this out of
this for each
prototype should work, what people are interested in, how to best engage participation, etc. List
interview.
any questions that have been bubbling up about your concept. During your feedback session,
you’ll want to ask for specific feedback about your idea. What would you like to know more about?

START SPECIFIC GO BROAD PROBE DEEP

What are some specific questions you can ask to What are some questions that can help you start to under- What are some ways you might be able to dig deeper in the conversation,,
open the conversation? stand this person’s hopes, fears and ambitions? to find even more of the perspecitive this person has?
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Facilitate Feedback Conversations: Capture Prompts

Use these prompts to help people give you constructive feedback, and to help you consider what
parts of the experiment you should keep or change.

KEEP KEEP

FLEXIBLE PERSONAL WORKSPACE.

INCREASE INCREASE

COMFORT IN THE DESK AND ABILITY TO COLLABORATE.

DECREASE/STOP DECREASE/STOP

PUTTING 2 DESKS TOGETHER DOESN’T WORK BECAUSE OF THE CRACKS

IN THE SURFACE AREA.

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Integrate Feedback
What was the original intent of your concept? Review the feedback from your testing sessions.
Based on the feedback you have received, do your earlier learnings and ideas from your research
and ideation phase hold true?

REFLECT

THOUGHT I NEEDED TO BUILD NEW DESKS BUT REALIZED THAT I COULD OFFER

PRIVACY AND FLEXIBILITY BY REARRANGING THE ROOM AND ADDING ONE NEW

TABLE. I DIDN’T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.

According to your feedback, what do you think is most important to making your idea a success?
How might you improve your prototype? How can you emphasize what was well received about
your prototype?

FEATURES TO ITERATE

STUDENTS STILL LIKED PERSONALIZING THEIR SPACE. HMW ENABLE SPACE

PERSONALIZATION WITH SHARED COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACES?

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Identify What’s Needed How much do I need to make this Who can help you realize your idea? What
List the materials you will need to build your refined concept. Are these supplies available at concept a reality? capabilities are you looking for? Who is
your school? Will you need to purchase any new assets? invested in supporting the concept? Do you
need to find someone to champion the idea?

AVAILABLE AT SCHOOL NEED TO BUY COST PEOPLE

OLD DOOR THAT I CAN TRANSFORM CASTERS TO EASILY ROLL THE 20 US DOLLARS JOHN’S DAD CAN BUILD IT

INTO LARGE WORK SURFACE TABLE OUT OF THE WAY WHEN NOT

IN USE

How can I get funding or materials support?

SOURCES

LOCAL HARDWARE STORE DONATION?

How long will it take to bring this concept to life in a more refined way?
Do you need time for preparation? Does anyone need to be trained?
Do you want to use an existing meeting time differently?

TIME
You now have a proto-
type out in the world.
Congratulations!

Now it’s time for the

5
Evolution step of the EVOLUTION
design process, where
you’ll collect learnings
and consider how you
can scale and engage
others to further your
design solution.

WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION

5–1 Track Learnings

5–2 Engage Others
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5–1 Track Learnings What does success mean to you? What do you wish to see happen with this project? Are you
hoping that a large number of colleagues attend an event? What would you tell the school’s leadership
Define Success in order to receive more funding? What would you like to hear a student say about your idea?
Review the goals you set out in the getting started section of this workbook. Reflect on how your
vision maps to where you are today. How has your concept been used? Is the prototype being IMPACT I AM LOOKING FOR...

used by the people you intended it for? What do they appreciate about your concept?
ULTIMATELY, BETTER GRADES.

FEWER EXCUSES FROM STUDENTS ABOUT WHY THEY CAN’T GET MORE OF THEIR
CONCEPT USE
WORK DONE WHILE IN CLASS. AND SIMILARLY, FEWER COMPLAINTS
STUDENTS ARE SO EXCITED BY THE COLLABORATION TABLE THAT THEY’VE
FROM PARENTS.
STARTED “RESERVING” IT FOR USE.

STUDENTS ARE USING THE PRIVACY CORNER TO STUDY, AND HAVE MY HELP

NEARBY, RATHER THAN GOING TO THE LIBRARY WHICH USED TO BE

THEIR PRIVATE ZONE.

How will you track and measure the success of your design solution? Will you ask people about
the concept? Are you waiting for someone to approach you?

METHOD FOR TRACKING

NUMBER OF TIMES MY CLASSROOM IS REQUESTED FOR AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

ASKING STUDENTS ABOUT WHICH CLASSROOM CONFIGURATONS ARE BEST

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What do you need to illustrate the “before/after” impact overview of the design solution?
Do you need to gather images? Quotes?
Document Progress
Document progress of your concept. What different behaviors have you noticed since
ASSETS I NEED...
implementing your concept? Have the relationships between people changed? What comments
have your received from your students or peers? QUOTES FROM STUDENTS

PHOTOS OF THE STUDENTS WORKING IN THE DIFFERENT AREA OF THE CLASS

NOTES
EXAMPLES OF THE BEFORE AND AFTER WORK, AND HOW THE COLLABORATION
THE COLLABORATION TABLE HAS RESULTED IN LARGER PROJECTS, PHYSICALLY
TABLE HAS ENCOURAGED THAT CHANGE.
RESULTING FROM STUDENTS. THIS MEANS THAT EACH STUDENTS, LITERALLY HAS

PHYSICAL ROOM ON A PROJECT TO INCORPORATE HIS/HER WORK.

MORE STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING TO WORK IN TEAMS VERSUS

ALONE ON PROJECTS.

BECAUSE THE PRIVACY CORNER IS NEAR MY DESK, SOME OF THE MORE INTRO

VERTED STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING MORE QUESTIONS.

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5–2 Engage Others PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOW-UP

Plan Next Steps (ME): CONNECT WITH PARENTS TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS ARCHITECTURE OR
What are all the actions that need to be taken to build your concept? Capture any open
SOUNDPROOFING EXPERIENCE
questions. Who will be responsible for each task? Who will be responsible for finding
answering to any open questions?
MR. ARCHER WILL REACH OUT TO HIS FURNITURE MAKING FRIEND.

ACTIONS, QUESTIONS

HOW CAN WE MAKE THE PRIVACY CORNER MORE “PRIVATE” AND SOUNDPROOF

AND STILL LET LOUDER STUDENTS COLLABORATE NEARBY

BUILD A STURDIER AND MORE FLEXIBLE COLLABORATION TABLE THAT CAN EASILY

BE STORED/FOLDED UP WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

Create a timeline which includes your deadline for evolving this concept along
with any other major meetings or dates.

TIMELINE
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Tell a brief and engaging story, focusing on the most important aspects of your concept.
What story will you tell? What inspired your idea and how does it respond to the needs you
!
Pitch Your Concept (optional) TIP uncovered? Why is this idea valuable to the various people involved?
Who are you pitching to? Create a provocative statement Use this method when you are trying
to gain support from others in order
for your idea that will get your audience excited about the to bring your idea to life. STORY, INSPIRATION, VALUE
opportunities you see. Frame it as “What if…?”
ALL STUDENTS DO NOT STUDY, LEARN, OR WORK ALIKE. AS WE NEED TO BE
WHAT IF...
FLEXIBLE IN OUR TEACHING STYLES, AS DO OUR CLASSROOMS NEED TO BE TO
THERE WAS A BETTER WAY TO SHARE PHYSICAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES
SUPPORT US. STRUCTURAL BARRIERS IMPACT LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR. OFFICE
ACROSS THE SCHOOL? WHAT IF WE RESTRUCTURE OUR CLASSROOMS TO SHARE
SPACES ARE FLEXING TO NEW WORK STYLES, OUR CLASSROOMS SHOULD BE
THEM ACROSS GRADES? WHAT IF WE KNOCKED DOWN THE WALLS OF OUR
ABLE TO LEVERAGE THOSE LEARNINGS..
CLASSROOMS TO ENABLE MORE SPACE FLEXIBILITY? WHAT IF WE COULD HAVE

PRIVACY CLASSROOMS OR LOUD COLLABORATION SPACES ALLWITHIN AN ARMS

REACH OF A TEACHER?

What are you asking for from your audience? Clarify your list of needs.

NEEDS

HELP FROM ARCHITECTS, PARENTS, INTERIOR DESIGNERS, TO RETHINK THE BEST

USE OF THE CLASSROOM. OR, HELP US TO START FROM SCRATCH.

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What are you asking from them? Consider adapting your pitch to speak directly to this
audience. Why would they be interested in helping? How do both parties hope to benefit
!
Build Partnerships (optional) TIP
from a partnership?
Which organizations or individuals that have capabilities Use this method when you need the
resources or capabilities from others
you are missing in order to realize your idea? What is your to realize your idea.
BENEFITS

relationship with them? How can you reach out to them?

WHAT IF...

NOTES NOTES
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What needs did you learn about?

!
Share your Story TIP
Outline the presentation you’d like to give to share your story. Use this method to when you want
to share your design experience and
Consider these prompts... solution with broader audience.

What was the initial dream/gripe that kicked off this challenge?

What needs did you learn about?

Who was part of the team or contributed to the project?

What was the most surprising thing you learned while looking for inspiration?

What partners did you integrate? What partners did you integrate?
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Concept

Remember your process

Use photos to illustrate where possible.

What was the most absurd brainstorm idea?

Feedback

Share a few of your initial concepts or prototypes.

What kind of feedback did you receive on these concepts?

Concept Concept

Feedback Feedback
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Place photo here

Show us where you’ve gotten

Use photos to illustrate where possible. Share your concept.

Place photo here

HOW HAS YOUR PROTOTYPE BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

Place photo here

CAPTURE QUOTES YOU’VE HEARD RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND/OR IMPACT

you’ve seen around the students/school/classroom.
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Build a Community Now that you’ve completed one challenge, it’s time to
Advancing your understanding of Design Thinking is best done DESIGN MEETING TIMES
start the process over again. Define a new challenge
How often will you meet? How long
through repeatedly undergoing the process with new design will your meetings last? Where will you and work your way through the process. refer to the
challenges. Having a network of people you can bounce ideas meet? What dynamic do you want to
Design Thinking for Educators Toolkit to bring more
establish? What will you discuss?
off is essential to moving your thinking forward. Who will you depth to your work!
invite to your design network? What design challenge will you tackle next?

Who you will meet?

CHALLENGE QUESTION

WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGE IS THIS? (CIRCLE ONE)

When? How often? CURRICULUM SPACES PROCESSES SYSTEMS

AND TOOLS
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