This course is aimed at any information professional interested in learning how they can improve library services and programs through a process called design thinking.
As a participant, you will learn how to solve problems facing your library by working through different phases of design thinking, including:
- Inspiration: Identifying your challenge and deciding how to approach it.
- Ideation: Generating ideas, then interpreting and expressing them through prototypes.
- Iteration: Experimenting and soliciting user feedback to improve your prototypes.
While it may sound intimidating at first, design thinking is simply a way of reframing challenges and finding creative, pragmatic solutions to existing issues. Ultimately, design thinking can lead to increased benefits for libraries in the long run.
At a glance
A pass/fail grade will be based on reading the freely available assigned readings, participating in online discussions, and working through three hands-on design thinking exercises.
Brianna Marshall is the director of research services at the University of California-Riverside. She received her Master of Information Science and Master of Library Science in 2014 from Indiana University. Learn more about Brianna at briannamarshall.com.