What You'll Learn
Week 1: Introduction
Week 1: Introduction
Watch a sneak peek
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Designing for Change—sneak peek of the class
3 Video Lessons
- Getting Started—Change is beautiful
- Designing for Change—Dr. Reddy’s case study
- Circle of Purpose—A look inside human systems
1 Assignment
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Craft your Change Statement—Sketch and complete the sentence: "I want to change (present state) in order to (desired outcome)."
1 Discussion
- When has change led to something beautiful in your life?
Week 2: Mobilizing People
Week 2: Mobilizing People
3 Video Lessons
- The Potential for Change—Start with people
- Framing the Change—Why your change matters
- Forming Your Coalition—Organize people for action
1 Assignment
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Mobilizing People—Frame your change in order to build your coalition.
2 Discussions
- Have you ever felt like you were swimming upstream trying to change something?
- Share a frame that got you excited or, even better, inspired you toward action.
Week 3: Taking Action
2 Video Lessons
- Beacons for Change—People support what they create
- How to Build a Beacon—Start small, start now
1 Assignment
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Taking Action—Let's get our hands dirty and start building a beacon.
1 Discussion
- When have you seen a symbol of change that made you want to join in?
Week 4: Growing Change
Week 4: Growing Change
3 Video Lessons
- Redesigning Conditions—Change can’t happen without friction
- The Power of Storytelling—How to recruit more believers
- The Snowball Effect—Institutionalizing change
1 Assignment
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Growing Change—Write the story of your beacon for change prototype
2 Discussions
- When was a time you experienced friction?
- When was a time that a story really inspired you?
Week 5: Conclusion
Week 5: Conclusion
1 Video Lesson
- Final Remarks—Change is a journey
1 Assignment
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Final Reflection—Reflect on where you are now and dream of where you want to go to help you set intention and direction.
1 Discussion
- What will you take away from this course to design for change?
Meet Your Instructors
Bryan Yuji Walker
Partner and Managing Director at IDEO San Francisco
Bryan leads the Design for Change studio, helping leaders transform their organizations in pursuit of innovation, adaptability, and impact. His work has won design awards and recognitions, and he lectures at several universities. Bryan has degrees in anthropology and design from Oxford and Cornell.
Bryan Yuji Walker
Partner and Managing Director at IDEO San Francisco
Bryan leads the Design for Change studio, helping leaders transform their organizations’ cultures and businesses in pursuit of innovation, adaptability, and impact.
Bryan is curious about the future of work and how design can affect and support change within complex human systems. Together with his clients, he’s exploring what corporate leaders can learn from entrepreneurs and venture capitalists; how technology, a new generation of employees, and a shifting marketplace is redefining the workplace experience; and how leaders can drive change by movement as opposed to mandates.
Bryan earned a master’s degree in social anthropology from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree in design and environmental analysis from Cornell. Outside the office, he can be found chasing the perfect wave.
Collaborate with a Global Community
Work with Expert Coaches
Our teaching team has extensive applied industry knowledge. They'll help deepen your understanding and application of the course content by facilitating written discussions, live video moments, and assignment feedback.
Expand Your Network
Join breakout discussion groups for deeper conversation, reflection, and connection. Participate in optional virtual live conversations led by teaching team members and available twice weekly.
Receive Feedback
Gain tips, techniques, and a downloadable feedback guide; and share and receive feedback on assignments from peers.
Loved by Learners Across the Globe
Designing for Change
Cohort Course“This course gives you a vision of the power to change things. With a little order, structure, and know-how to disseminate an idea well, you can change an entire organization. You can also implement these methods in your own life, with your own challenges.”
Designing for Change
Cohort Course“Love the way IDEO sets up the course and encourages dialogue. I learn as much from my fellow participants as I do from the course content...double bonus!”
Designing for Change
Cohort Course“The learning experience has been delightful, the information is clear, the pace is just right, the material and resources are on point and guide you to conclusions effectively. I learned something new every week.”
Designing for Change
Cohort Course“I love the human-centered approach to problem solving that permeates throughout IDEO. The problem-solving techniques I've taken from this course fit perfectly with any technical or social problem I can imagine and any of my team or fellow problem solvers will benefit. Top quality course. Loved it!”
Go Deeper with Certificate Programs
Take your leadership skills further with a certificate program:
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Enroll As a Team
The practice and application of design thinking, innovation, and creativity is highly collaborative and team based—which is why we believe that learning is better together. Take a course as a team and develop new skills and mindsets, have deeper discussion during course kickoff and debrief sessions, and build a shared understanding.