Design for the 21st Century with Don Norman
How This Course Will Help Your Career
What You’ll Learn
How designers can improve the world and solve global problems
Why designers are so special and how we can democratize design
How to apply human-centered design principles to solve global problems
How to use systems thinking to investigate the entire system
How to tackle major problems by muddling through
How today's methods for designing and measuring success are wrong
How to move up in a company and address bigger design challenges
How to communicate clearly and gain interest
The critical skills for 21st century designers
In this course, taught by your instructor, Don Norman, you’ll learn how designers can improve the world, how you can apply human-centered design to solve complex global challenges, and what 21st century skills you’ll need to make a difference in the world. Each lesson will build upon another to expand your knowledge of human-centered design and provide you with practical skills to make a difference in the world.
“The challenge is to use the principles of human-centered design to produce positive results, products that enhance lives and add to our pleasure and enjoyment. The goal is to produce a great product, one that is successful, and that customers love. It can be done.”
— Don Norman
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In the first lesson, you’ll learn how designers can improve the world. You’ll also learn how designers can use the principles of human-centered design to solve complex global challenges. We’ll also explore why we evolved from user-centered design to people-centered design on our journey with instructor Don Norman. Don is the co-founder and Principal Emeritus of Nielsen Norman Group. He will explain why designers are so special and how to democratize design.
In the second lesson, you’ll learn how to apply human-centered design insights to the 21st century’s challenges. You’ll also learn how to focus on people when you solve complex global challenges. We’ll also learn how to solve real problems and not just symptoms from your instructor, Don Norman. Don will teach you how you can muddle through by starting out solving just a little part of the root problem.
In the final lesson, you’ll learn about the new skills that designers must develop and how to navigate the journey to mastering those skills. You’ll also learn how to increase your influence as a designer. We’ll also learn how today's methods for designing and measuring success are wrong. Don will teach you how to communicate clearly to gain people’s interest.
Throughout the course, we’ll supply you with templates and step-by-step guides so you can go right out and use what you learn in your everyday practice.
In the “Build Your Portfolio Project: Make A Difference,” you’ll be able to apply the principles of human-centered design to make your local community a better place. If you want to complete these optional exercises, you will get hands-on experience with the methods you learn and in the process you’ll create a case study for your portfolio which you can show your future employer or freelance customers.
You can also learn with your fellow course-takers and use the discussion forums to get feedback and inspire other people who are learning alongside you. You and your fellow course-takers have a huge knowledge and experience base between you, so we think you should take advantage of it whenever possible.
Lessons in This Course
- Each week, one lesson becomes available.
- There's no time limit to finish a course. Lessons have no deadlines.
- Estimated learning time: 12 hours 39 mins spread over 6 weeks .
Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction
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0.1: Welcome and Introduction (23 mins)
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0.2: Build Your Portfolio: Make a Difference (9 mins)
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0.3: Let our community help you (1 min)
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0.4: How to Earn Your Course Certificate (16 mins)
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0.5: Expand Your Network and Grow Your Skills in Our Online Forums (5 mins)
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0.6: Meet and learn from design professionals in your area (1 min)
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0.7: Gain Timeless Skills Through Courses from the Interaction Design Foundation (21 mins)
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0.8: Mandatory vs. Optional Lesson Items (7 mins)
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0.9: A Mix Between Video-Based and Text-Based Lesson Content (6 mins)
Lesson 1: How Designers Can Improve the World
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1.1: Welcome and Introduction (7 mins)
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1.2: 21st Century Design: Let’s Use Human-Centered Design to Solve Major Global Challenges (29 mins)
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1.3: Why We Have Evolved From User-Centered Design to People-, Human- and Humanity-Centered Design (1 hour 3 mins)
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1.4: What’s So Special about Designers? (31 mins)
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1.5: Discussion Exercise (6 mins)
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1.6: Let’s Democratize Design (23 mins)
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1.7: What is the Difference Between Wicked Problems and Complex Socio-Technical Systems? (14 mins)
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1.8: Congratulations and Recap (6 mins)
Lesson 2: How You Can Apply Human-Centered Design Insights and Processes When You Aim to Solve Complex Global Problems
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2.1: Welcome and Introduction (7 mins)
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2.2: Human-Centered Design: How to Focus on People When You Solve Complex Global Challenges (23 mins)
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2.3: Discussion Exercise (7 mins)
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2.4: Everything is a System: What Is a Feedback Loop and Why is it so Important to Humans? (55 mins)
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2.5: Implement Systems Thinking and Solve the Root Causes of Problems (30 mins)
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2.6: The 5 Whys Method: How to Identify the Root Causes of a Problem by Investigating the Entire System (27 mins)
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2.7: How to Tackle Major Problems? Muddle Through by Taking Small Incremental Steps (20 mins)
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2.8: Congratulations and Recap (6 mins)
Lesson 3: What Are the Design Skills You Will Need to Make a Difference in the 21st Century?
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3.1: Welcome and Introduction (3 mins)
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3.2: Don Norman: The Way We Measure Success Today is Wrong! (16 mins)
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3.3: Don Norman: The Way We Design Today is Wrong! (23 mins)
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3.4: How You Can Gain More Power as a UX Designer (27 mins)
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3.5: Don Norman on How to Move Up in a Company: Think Big! (10 mins)
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3.6: If You Don’t Fail, You’re Not Trying Hard Enough (23 mins)
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3.7: How to Communicate Clearly and Gain People’s Interest (16 mins)
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3.8: Community-based learning and networking (8 mins)
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3.9: What’s the Secret of Don Norman’s Success? (43 mins)
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3.10: Designer: Leverage the Power of Being a Generalist (55 mins)
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3.11: Which Skills Does a 21st Century Designer Need to Possess? (50 mins)
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3.12: How Can You as a Lone Designer Start Improving the World? (22 mins)
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3.13: How Design Educators Can Help Designers in the 21st Century (30 mins)
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3.14: Build Your Portfolio: Make a Difference (9 mins)
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3.15: Congratulations and Recap (2 mins)
Lesson 4: Course Certificate, Final Networking, and Course Wrap-up
Learning Paths
This course is part of 7 learning paths:
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UX Designer Learning Path22 courses in 4 parts
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Interaction Designer Learning Path18 courses in 4 parts
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Visual Designer Learning Path17 courses in 4 parts
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Product Manager Learning Path17 courses in 4 parts
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Marketer Learning Path12 courses in 3 parts
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User Researcher Learning Path13 courses in 3 parts
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Executive Learning Path10 courses in 3 parts
How Others Have Benefited
Nicholas J Schroeder, United States
“It was a marvelous course that challenged me to think about my career and how to define myself in a rapidly changing and complex socio-technical environment.”
Susan Winer, United States
“Mr. Norman draws on great breadth and depth of knowledge and experience, and although he's describing Big Ideas, he breaks them down in a straightforward, common-sense approach. The material is organized progressively, each lesson building on the previous. His video presentation feels very human and accessible as if we were conversing over dinner.”
Milena Valcheva, Bulgaria
“Don Norman speaks extremely convincingly and with emotion, with which he manages to captivate the listener. This course changed my way of thinking, not just from a design perspective, but completely.”
How It Works
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