The University of Texas at Austin

ITD 110 College of Fine Arts

HOW TO DESIGN Center for Integrated Design
YOUR LIFE Julianna Murphy

Spring 2022 Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR Julianna Murphy [email protected]

Lecturer for the Center for Integrated Design Office Hours: Mondays from 5-6pm in
Design Lead - IBM Quantum Computing DFA 4.106 or by appointment

COURSE INFO This course is scheduled to meet in person during scheduled course times. All students are expected to
attend in person and according to the attendance policies specified in this syllabus. 
Class will meet: Monday evenings 6:00-9:00pm for five weeks (1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, and 2/21)
Classroom (Week 2-5) : Doty Fine Arts (DFA) 4.106
Zoom Room (Week 1): https://utexas.zoom.us/my/juliannamurphy

COURSE In the business world, Design Thinking is valued for its ability to generate innovation, solve complex
OVERVIEW problems, and deliver delightful user experiences. Its versatility and adaptability make it ideal for a
wide variery of applications - from designing a new website to creating the perfect grovery store layout.
But while not everyone wants to be a designer, anyone can benefit from using these practices and
methodologies to solve problems in their own life.
In this course, the problem we will be focusing on is college and your life beyond it. You will use Design
Thinking to uncover what you actually want out of the next 5 years of your life - then use that insight to
prototype, test, and create a sustainable plan to achieve your goals. Along the way, you will also learn
the importance of introspection and how collaboration can take the fear out of planning for your future.
The techniques covered in class are designed to be applicable beyond college -- to life planning,
problem solving, and goal setting at any point in your life.

PREREQUISITES All majors & years are welcome.

LEARNING In this course, you will:

OUTCOMES 1. Learn Design Thinking methods to help you better
understand yourself, get unstuck, and plan for the
future.
2. Deepen your emotional intelligence through reading
and guided self-reflection.
3. Create a plan for your time at UT and beyond that will
satisfy your career, social, and intellectual goals.
4. Practice your collaboration and presentation skills.

COURSE Required purchase:

MATERIALS Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
(DYL in syllabus)

Optional (required readings will be provided in Canvas):

The Emotionally Intelligent Office: 20 Key Emotional
Skills for the Workplace - The School of Life
(TEIO in syllabus)

Additional materials:
Pens, paper, sticky notes, printer access for worksheets
PRE-WORK Getting ready to “Design Your Life” Work to be done before class on the 25th:
In preparation for our first session, I would •Complete survey - https://forms.gle/
like to know a little more about you and Eh77sKRRFMw1gWRj9
your current plans.
Read:
•DYL - Introduction chapter
•TEIO - Ch. 19 Self-awareness

WEEK 1 - Introduction to Design Thinking Homework:

JANUARY 24 In class this week, we will go over the • Complete College-view (underclassmen) Work-view
syllabus, have an introduction to Design (upperclassmen) and Life-view (all) assignments
Thinking, and do a few warm-up exercises • 4 Good Time Journals + Reflection (paper)
to developing a better understanding of • Set up interviews for the week of Feb 8th
who you are and what your current goals
are. Read:
•DYL - Ch. 2 Building a compass
•DYL - Ch. 3 Wayfinding
• TEIO - Ch. 15 Objectivity

WEEK 2 - Analysis & Discovery Homework:

JANUARY 31 We will practice analyzing the data you • Turn in AEIOU activity
have generated about yourself and use it to • Complete Revised problem statement activity
uncover actionable insights. These insights • Set up interviews for the week of the 8th
will help ground your goals for the rest of
the course. Read & Listen:
•DYL - Ch. 4 Getting Unstuck
• TEIO - Ch. 16 Playfulness
• TEIO - Ch. 17 Purpose
• Two Guys on Your Head Podcast - Sunk Cost
https://www.kut.org/post/sunk-cost

WEEK 3 - Brainstorming, Ideation & Conducting Homework:

FEBRUARY 7 Research • Conduct interviews - turn in discussion guide,
We will learn about the ideation process transcripts, recordings/pics, and assessment (canvas)
and start brainstorming some big ideas •Turn in mind maps (on paper)
for your future goals. Then we will learn • Complete Big Ideas & Prioritization Exercise
some user research and interviewing skills (canvas)
in preparation for conducting your own
interviews. Read & Listen:
• DYL - Ch. 5 Designing your life
• DYL - Ch. 6 Prototyping
• TEIO - Ch. 7 Decisiveness
• Hidden Brain Podcast - You vs. Future You; Or Why
We’re Bad At Predicting Our Own Happiness - https://
www.npr.org/2016/08/23/490972873/you-vs-
future-you-or-why-were-bad-at-predicting-our-own-
happiness
WEEK 4 - Prototyping, Testing & Homework:
FEBRUARY 14 Decision Making • Turn in 2 (In class) Odyssey Plans
We will use your big ideas and insights to • Turn in Decision Matrix
generate several prototypes (Odyssey Plans) • Turn in Action Plan
of what your next five years could look like. • Prepare Final Presentations (must be in Canvas
You will then learn how to make confident before class on the 22nd)
decisions, how to test your chosen plan, and
how to map out concrete steps to make it a Read:
reality. • DYL - Ch. 9 Choosing Happiness
• DYL - Ch. 10 Failure immunity
We will also go over what is expected for
your final presentations.

WEEK 5 - Final Presentations and Reflections Reminder:

FEBRUARY 21 In our final class together, we will practice This is the last day to turn in any late assignments
presenting your design work to an or exercises
audience. Our special guests will provide
feedback on your presentations.

We will also do an in-class reflection.

GRADING Grades will be determined by your final Coursework will be weighted as follows in calculating
total points the Final Grade:

A = 94-100 Attendance (6 pts per class): 30pts

A- = 90-93 Participation (2pts per class): 10pts
B+ = 87-89 •Sharing work & providing thoughtful feedback
B = 84-86 College-view / Work-view: 2pts
B- = 80-83 Life-view 2pts
C+ = 77-79 Good Time Journal: 5pts
C = 74-76 AEIOU activity: 3pts
C- = 70-73 Revitalized problem statement: 5pts
D+ = 67-69 Interviews: 7pts
D = 64-66 Mind maps: 2 pts
D- = 61-63 Big Ideas & Prioritization: 2pts
F = 0-60 Odyssey Plans: 6pts
Decision Matrix: 4 pts
Action Plan: 7pts
Final Presentation: 15pts

EXAMS There are no scheduled exams for this course.

CLASSROOM Please observe the following rules during class as a courtesy to fellow students and the instructor.
ETIQUETTE
1) Be on time at the beginning of class and after each break. If you must come in late at the beginning of
class, please enter the room as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.

2) Turn off your cell phone’s notification sounds upon entering the class room. If you forget to do so,
and your phone rings, chirps, or vibrates loudly during class, turn it off immediately and discreetly. I
reserve the right to penalize repeat offenders by subtracting points from their day’s assignment.

3) Food is allowed but don’t distract other students with it. Everyone benefits from a classroom free of
distracting sights, sounds, and smells.

4) Consider bringing earphones and/or earplugs to class for work sessions. If you like to listen to music
while you work, you are welcome to do so, so long as no one else can hear it.

ATTENDANCE For a one credit-hour course, no absences will be allowed due to the very short time frame of the
coursework. However, if a serious medical or personal crisis (covid, hospitalization, death in the family,
etc.) impacts your attendance, please inform me as soon as possible.Students will still be required to
complete all in-class and out-of-class assignments covering that absence, so please e-mail me as soon
as possible to receive instructions for Make-Up Assignments OR notify me of your choice to receive a
zero for those assignments. Please know that I care about your wellbeing and if you are consistently late
or absent, I will be concerned and will personally reach out to you. If I do not hear from you, I will reach
out to your advisor to check in. 

If you are sick or are experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms, do not come to class. Doing so
will put you, and everyone around you, at risk. Stay home, and contact the University Health Services’
Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877. If you need to be absent from class, contact Student Emergency
Services and they will notify me.  Please also reach out to me, as specified above. Because of the nature
of our studio, it will not be possible to live stream the course online, however, I promise to work with
you to help ensure you succeed.

RELIGIOUS By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence as far in advance as possible of the
HOLIDAYS date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment,
or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the
missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

OVERVIEW OF Please be aware that on occasion the order and timing of the course schedule may need to be altered to
SCHEDULE accommodate UT closures, instructor illness, student needs/interests, and design program workshop
opportunities and lectures. Any significant alterations to the schedule will be announced via Canvas.

All assignments (unless stated otherwise) will be due on Canvas by the start of the following class.

PERSONAL Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics
NOUNS dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance,
and nationalities. I will gladly honor your request to address you by your chosen name and by the gender
pronouns you use. Please advise me of any changes early in the semester so that I may make appropriate
updates to my records. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s chosen (not legal)
name, if you have provided one. If you wish to provide or update a chosen name, that can be done easily
at this page, and you can add your pronouns to Canvas.
CONTENT Our classroom provides an open space for the critical and civil exchange of ideas. Some readings and
WARNING exercises in this course will include topics of a very personal nature, and/or that some students may find
traumatizing or difficult. I’ll aim to forewarn students about potentially challenging conversations, and I
ask all students to help to create an atmosphere of mutual respect, sensitivity, compassion, and privacy.
Students will not be forced to share personal information if they do not feel comfortable doing so.

FERPA & CLASS Class recordings are reserved only for students in this class for educational purposes and are protected
RECORDINGS under FERPA. The recordings should not be shared outside the class in any form. Violation of this
restriction by a student could lead to Student Misconduct proceedings.

SHARING No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments
OF COURSE (quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and
MATERIALS IS additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class unless you have my
PROHIBITED explicit, written permission. Unauthorized sharing of materials promotes cheating. It is a violation of
the University’s Student Honor Code and an act of academic dishonesty. I am well aware of the sites
used for sharing materials, and any materials found online that are associated with you, or any suspected
unauthorized sharing of materials, will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the
Office of the Dean of Students. These reports can result in sanctions, including failure in the course.

USE OF CLASS The materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, exams, quizzes, and homework
MATERIALS assignments are copyright protected works.  Any unauthorized copying of the class materials is
a violation of federal law and may result in disciplinary actions being taken against the student. 
Additionally, the sharing of class materials without the specific, express approval of the instructor may
be a violation of the University’s Student Honor Code and an act of academic dishonesty, which could
result in further disciplinary action.  This includes, among other things, uploading class materials to
websites for the purpose of sharing those materials with other current or future students.

COPYRIGHT AND Understanding the basic principles of copyright and fair use is of critical importance to designers. Many
FAIR USE of the uses we will make of texts, images, and videos this semester will be covered by the doctrine of fair
use. However, as creators, you need to be aware of your own and other copyright holders’ legal rights,
and to properly identify and license your own and others’ works. We will discuss these issues during the
semester as needed, but when you have questions about whether or when you can appropriate someone
else’s work, a useful resource is Georgia K. Harper’s Copyright Crash Course, available at http://
copyright.lib.utexas.edu/.

UT ELECTRONIC Electronic mail (e-mail) is a mechanism for official University and instructor communication to
MAIL students. Students are expected to check e-mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay current
NOTIFICATION with University- and course-related communications, recognizing that certain communications may be
POLICY time-critical. It is recommended that e-mail be checked daily, but at a minimum, twice per week.

It is the responsibility of every student to keep the University and instructor informed of changes in
his or her official e-mail address (do so at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/utdirect/bio/address_change.
WBX). Consequently, e-mail returned to the University with “User Unknown” is not an acceptable
excuse for missed communication. Similarly, undeliverable messages returned because of a full inbox
or use of a spam filter will be considered delivered without further action required of the University or
instructor.
(see http://www.utexas.edu/cio/policies/university-electronic-mail-student-notification-policy)
IMPORTANT If you have concerns about the safety or behavior of fellow students, TAs or professors, contact BCCAL
SAFETY (the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line) at https://safety.utexas.edu/behavior-concerns-
INFORMATION advice-line or by calling 512-232-5050. Confidentiality will be maintained as much as possible,
however the university may be required to release some information to appropriate parties.
The following are recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of Campus Safety
and Security, 512-471-5767
• Students should sign up for Campus Emergency Text Alerts at the page linked above.
• Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus must evacuate buildings when a
fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside.
• Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember
that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
• Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first
week of class.
• In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors. Do not re-enter a
building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at
Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.

COVID GUIDANCE To help preserve our in-person learning environment, the university recommends the following.
• Adhere to university mask guidance. Masks are strongly recommended, but optional, inside
university buildings for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except when alone in a private office
or single-occupant cubicle.
• Vaccinations are widely available, free and not billed to health insurance. The vaccine will help
protect against the transmission of the virus to others and reduce serious symptoms in those who are
vaccinated.
• Proactive Community Testing remains an important part of the university’s efforts to protect our
community.
• We encourage the use of the Protect Texas App each day prior to coming to campus.
• If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or feel sick, stay home and contact the University Health
Services’ Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877. If you need to be absent from class, contact Student
Emergency Services and they will notify your professors. In addition, to help understand what to do if
you have been had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, see this University
Health Services link.
• Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line (BCCAL) remains available as the primary tool to
address questions or concerns from the university community about COVID-19.
• Students who test positive should contact BCCAL or self-report (if tested off campus) to University
Health Services.
•Visit Protect Texas Together for more information.

CAMPUS CARRY Texas’ Open Carry law expressly prohibits a licensed to carry (LTC) holder from carrying a handgun
openly on the campus of an institution of higher education such as UT Austin. Students in this class
should be aware of the following university policies:
• Students in this class who hold a license to carry are asked to review the university policy regarding
campus carry.
• Individuals who hold a license to carry are eligible to carry a concealed handgun on campus,
including in most outdoor areas, buildings and spaces that are accessible to the public, and in
classrooms.
• It is the responsibility of concealed-carry license holders to carry their handguns on or about their
person at all times while on campus. Open carry is NOT permitted, meaning that a license holder may
not carry a partially or wholly visible handgun on campus premises or on any university driveway, street,
sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
• Per my right, I prohibit carrying of handguns in my personal office. Note that this information will
also be conveyed to all students verbally during the first week of class. This written notice is intended to
reinforce the verbal notification, and is not a “legally effective” means of notification in its own right.
STUDENT Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
SUPPORT The university is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive learning environment consistent
SERVICES with university policy and federal and state law. Please let me know if you experience any barriers to
learning so I can work with you to ensure you have equal opportunity to participate fully in this course.
If you are a student with a disability, or think you may have a disability, and need accommodations
please contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Please refer to SSD’s website for contact
and more information: http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/. If you are already registered with SSD,
please deliver your Accommodation Letter to me as early as possible in the semester so we can discuss
your approved accommodations and needs in this course.

Fine Arts Career Services

(512-232-7333, utexas.edu/finearts/careers) provides a full range
of services and resources to support students and alumni.

The Sanger Learning Center

Did you know that more than one-third of UT undergraduate students use the Sanger Learning Center
each year to improve their academic performance? All students are welcome to take advantage of Sanger
Center’s classes and workshops, private learning specialist appointments, peer academic coaching,
and tutoring for more than 70 courses in 15 different subject areas. For more information, please visit
https://ugs.utexas.edu/slc or call 512-471-3614 (JES A332).”

University Health Services

Your physical health and wellness are a priority. University Health Services is an on-campus high-
quality medical facility providing care to all UT students. Services offered by UHS include general
medicine, urgent care, a 24/7 nurse advice line, women’s health, sports medicine, physical therapy,
lab and radiology services, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and much more. For additional
information, visit https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu or call 512-471-4955.

Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)

All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. Know you are not alone. If you or anyone you
know is experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, academic concerns, loneliness, difficulty
sleeping, or any other concern impacting your wellbeing – you are strongly encouraged to connect with
CMHC. The Counseling and Mental Health Center provides a wide variety of mental health services to
all UT students including crisis services, counseling services with immediate support and well-being
resources. Additionally, CARE Counselors are located within the academic schools and colleges. These
counselors get to know the concerns that are unique to their college’s students. For more information
on CMHC, visit https://cmhc.utexas.edu or call 512-471-3515.

Student Emergency Services (SES)

Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students helps students and their families
during difficult or emergency situations. Assistance includes outreach, advocacy, intervention, support,
and referrals to relevant campus and community resources. If you need to be absent from class due
to a family emergency, medical or mental health concern, or academic difficulty due to crisis or an
emergency situation, you can work with Student Emergency Services. SES will document your situation
and notify your professors. Additional information is available at
https://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/ or by calling 512-471-5017.

BeVocal
BeVocal is a university-wide initiative to promote the idea that individual Longhorns have the power
to prevent high-risk behavior and harm. At UT Austin all Longhorns have the power to intervene and
reduce harm. To learn more about BeVocal and how you can help to build a culture of care on campus,
go to: https://wellnessnetwork.utexas.edu/BeVocal.

Undergraduate Writing Center: http://uwc.utexas.edu/

ACADEMIC The University’s Honor Code states that “As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall
INTEGRITY abide by the core values of the University and uphold academic integrity.” You are expected to
maintain absolute integrity and a high standard of individual honor in scholastic work undertaken at the
University. At a minimum, you should complete any assignments, exams, and other scholastic endeavors
with the utmost honesty, which requires you to: Acknowledge the contributions of other sources to
your scholastic efforts; Complete your assignments independently unless expressly authorized to seek
or obtain assistance in preparing them; follow instructions for assignments and exams, and observe the
standards of your academic discipline; and avoid engaging in any form of academic dishonesty on behalf
of yourself or another student (adapted from http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php)

ACADEMIC In promoting a high standard of academic integrity, the University broadly defines academic dishonesty
DISHONESTY as including any act designed to give an unfair or undeserved academic advantage, such as:
Cheating, Plagiarism, Unauthorized Collaboration / Collusion, Falsifying Academic Records,
Misrepresenting Facts (e.g., providing false information to postpone an exam, obtain an
extended deadline for an assignment, or even gain an unearned financial benefit), Multiple submissions
(submitting essentially the same written assignment for two courses without authorization to do so),
Any other acts (or attempted acts) that violate the basic standard of academic integrity
(adapted from http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acadint_whatis.php)

Plagiarism is taken very seriously at UT and is subject to academic disciplinary action, including
failure of the course. To learn more about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, see the Avoiding
Plagiarism tutorial developed by the UT Libraries in partnership with the Writing Flag program and
Student Judicial Services.

Students who violate University rules on academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties,
including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University.
For further information, please visit the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity website at: http://
deanofstudents.utexas.edu/conduct.

TITLE IX Beginning January 1, 2020, Texas Senate Bill 212 requires all employees of Texas universities,
DISCLOSURE including faculty, to report any information to the Title IX Office regarding sexual harassment, sexual
assault, dating violence and stalking that is disclosed to them. Texas law requires that all employees who
witness or receive any information of this type (including,
but not limited to, writing assignments, class discussions, or one-on-one conversations) must be report
it. If you would like to speak with someone who can provide support or remedies without making an
official report to the university, please email [email protected]. For more information about
reporting options and resources, visit http://www.titleix.utexas.edu/, contact the Title IX Office via
email at [email protected], or call 512-471-0419.
Although graduate teaching and research assistants are not subject to Texas Senate Bill 212, they
are still mandatory reporters under Federal Title IX laws and are required to report a wide range of
behaviors we refer to as sexual misconduct, including the types of sexual misconduct covered under
Texas Senate Bill 212.The Title IX office has developed supportive ways to respond to a survivor and
compiled campus resources to support survivors.

Faculty members and certain staff members are considered “Responsible Employees” or “Mandatory
Reporters,” which means that they are required to report violations of Title IX to the Title IX
Coordinator. I am a Responsible Employee and must report any Title IX-related incidents that are
disclosed in writing, discussion, or one-on-one. Before talking with me or with any faculty or staff
member about a Title IX-related incident, be sure to ask whether they are a
responsible employee. If you want to speak with someone for support or remedies without making
an official report to the university, email [email protected] For more information about
reporting options and resources, visit the Title IX Office or email [email protected].