d.school Book Club

A series of monthly talks with authors on taking creative action.

Become part of the d.school’s creative community—join our Book Club! 

Each month for the entire year, we’ll be hosting a thought-provoking conversation using one of the books in our recent series as a jumping off point.

Together, we’ll explore the methods and mindsets of design, from perspectives on tackling uncertainty, reflecting on your work, and expanding your creative potential to tools like prototyping and facilitating creative team activities.

As a Book Club member, you or your gift recipient will be invited to join a monthly, live, one-hour online conversation with that month’s authors and special guests. The monthly gatherings are created for you by the d.school to learn, connect, and create with purpose.

You can purchase a bundle of all twelve d.school books (or the books you don’t have yet!) from our friends at Shop at MATTER.

Our gift to you: 20% off (the discounted prices are reflected below).

How do I join?

1. Sign up for our virtual monthly gatherings* $179 OR Sign up for a virtual single session. $39

2. Order all 12 books at a discount $199**

*You will be prompted to create an account with CardinalPay.

**Shipping costs vary for orders outside of the contiguous United States.

FAQ 

What books and authors are part of the Book Club?

Assembling Tomorrow by Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter

Creative Acts for Curious People by Sarah Stein Greenberg

Creative Hustle by Olatunde Sobomehin and sam seidel

Design for Belonging by Susie Wise

Design Social Change by Lesley-Ann Noel

Drawing on Courage by Ashish Goel

Experiments in Reflection by Leticia Britos Cavagnaro

Make Possibilities Happen by Grace Hawthorne

Navigating Ambiguity by Andrea Small and Kelly Schmutte

The Secret Language of Maps by Carissa Carter

This Is a Prototype by Scott Witthoft

You Need a Manifesto by Charlotte Burgess-Auburn

With some special guests and collaborators!

Which books will be covered in which month?

We’ve organized your reading journey into four transformative phases:

1) Dream Big & Know Your Foundations
Discover where you stand and how to include your team and community as you begin.

January: Make Possibilities Happen, by Grace Hawthorne

February: Design for Belonging, by Susie Wise

March: You Need a Manifesto, by Charlotte Burgess-Auburn

2) Dive Into Design Practices
Explore the d.school's essential tools and activities. From navigating ambiguity to creating prototypes, this phase is all about turning ideas into action.

April: Creative Acts for Curious People, by Sarah Stein Greenberg

May: Navigating Ambiguity, by Andrea Small and Kelly Schmutte

June: The Secret Language of Maps, by Carissa Carter

July: This Is a Prototype, by Scott Witthoft

3) Bolster Your Confidence & Share Your Voice
Strengthen your voice, refine your work, and prepare to share your ideas with the world.

August: Creative Hustle, by Olatunde Sobomehin and sam seidel

September: Drawing on Courage, by Ashish Goel

4) Create the Future
Reflect on your journey and expand your impact — from individual practice to societal transformation.

October: Assembling Tomorrow, by Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter

November: Experiments in Reflection, by Leticia Britos Cavagnaro

December: Design Social Change, by Lesley-Ann Noel

When do the monthly, online author & community gatherings take place?

We will meet on the second Tuesday of each month, from 10-11am Pacific time. Check out this site to find out what time that is where you live. The exact dates are:

January 14
February 11
March 11
April 8
May 13
June 10
July 8
August 12
September 9
October 14
November 11
December 9

I’m not sure I can make all the monthly gatherings. Will they be recorded?

Yes, we will share the recording within a few days after each gathering.

Can I buy the monthly gatherings only?

Sure thing! Buy access here. You will first be prompted to create a CardinalPay account.

Can I buy access to the monthly gatherings individually?

At this time, joining the gatherings is only available as a bundle of all twelve calls. We may make gatherings available on an individual basis in the future, but the best deal will be to join for the full year!

I want all 12 books in addition to joining the monthly gatherings. How do I order the books?

We’re excited to be collaborating with Shop at MATTER, an independent, Black- & woman-owned bookstore. They will fulfill all book orders, manage the shipping, and answer any book order questions you may have. You can click here to join the monthly gatherings with the d.school, and here to order the books through Matter separately.

I already have some of the d.school books. Can I buy some individually?

Yes, you can sign up for individual sessions here. (Though the best deal is to join the full Book Club).

Can I purchase this as a gift?

Absolutely, and what a thoughtful gift it is. :) If you want to keep it a surprise, we recommend using your own email address when signing up. Once you share the gift with them, let us know their name and email by writing to bookclub@dschool.stanford.edu. We will update the contact info so that they will receive all the book club messages and reminders. 

Do you offer refunds on monthly gatherings?

We are not able to offer refunds. But we are confident you will find value and inspiration in the books and gatherings!

Who can I contact with other questions or ideas?

Please drop us a line at bookclub@dschool.stanford.edu.