What is this?
Overview
Welcome to the d.school Starter Kit! If you were looking for the Virtual Crash Course Video, you’re in the right place. This is our new introductory curriculum.
In this online intro to design you’ll get exposed to a medley of design abilities, methods, and mindsets. You’ll watch videos and learn what design looks like in the real world, as well as discover ‘what design is’ by doing partner activities and discussions. In three hours you’ll learn over 20 concepts and tools that will help you apply human-centered design to your own work.
Originally designed to be used in-person, this virtual interactive workshop was especially adapted to be delivered over Zoom to help us learn together, even from a distance. It is specially made for people who want to introduce design to students in their classes or colleagues in their workplace.
The workshop is co-facilitated by you alongside d.school instructors Laura McBain & Louie Montoya via video. You don’t need to be an expert to run this workshop—you just need to be what we call a “lead learner.” It’s your job to lead the experience but it is also designed to allow you to learn along with everyone else if you so desire.
Your participants only need a computer with wifi, Zoom, a pen, and a few sheets of paper to join.
As the co-facilitator, in order to host the workshop, you need a Zoom Pro, Business, or Enterprise plan (for breakout rooms and unlimited time ). Everything else you need is in the Google slides. Follow the steps below to get started!
Preview of the Starter Kit Google Slides (click to access)
Where can I give feedback?
We’d love your feedback! Please fill out this Google form.
Get to know your material
If you’re new to facilitating a workshop, give yourself a few hours to prepare. Co-facilitating a virtual workshop takes the same amount of prep time as an in-person workshop, and sometimes more.
In the slides, you’ll find everything you need: from Zoom set up directions to facilitator’s notes. We recommend going through each slide on your own before you facilitate with the group.
- Watch the videos
- Practice the activities
- Read though the question and answer slides
*This resource is specially designed for facilitators. If you’re using this solo, then just know some of these steps may not apply to you, however you can still view all the materials in the slide deck at your own pace.
Assemble your team
Design work is meant to be collaborative, and this workshop is built for people to work together in pairs.
We suggest no more than 40 participants. It becomes incredibly difficult to manage at that number even if you are a Zoom facilitator pro. We’ve found the sweet spot to be 20 participants. Since the activities need partners to work, people can’t come late or leave early, as it will negatively impact the learning experience. In the slide deck, you’ll find text you can copy and paste into an email to invite your participants.
We suggest 3 facilitators run the workshop. 1 person leads the activities. The 2nd is on tech and makes sure Zoom is working. The 3rd can partner up with someone if you have an odd number.
Set up Zoom
The gray slides have specific tips, tricks and techniques to optimize your setup for virtual facilitation.
You’ll find a few quick links to help you get the most out of Zoom so this all runs relatively smoothly.
The Kick-off
Remember, you don’t need to be an expert to run this workshop—you just need to be what we call, “lead learners.” It’s your job to lead the experience but it is also designed to allow you to learn alongside everyone else if you so desire!
Credits
Seamus Yu Harte
With:
Tyler Winick, Scott Doorley, Vicky Chung
Featured d.school instructors in video:
Laura McBain and Louie Montoya
And special thanks to everyone that took the time to fill out the survey from the original Virtual Crash Course, and the many folks that provided valued feedback along the way.