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Event Description: 

Design thinking provides a collaborative approach for deeply understanding service recipients’ needs. It arose to provide human-centered solutions through a deep focus on user needs and empathy. This unique facilitation process also provides a powerful method for transforming service delivery. 

As organizations respond to ongoing turbulence, design thinking offers a structure for purposeful designing for the user. You can use it to help stakeholders imagine services from the perspective of the person who experiences the services.

In this basic introduction, we’ll give you a foundational knowledge of design thinking processes and hands-on experience with empathy-based understanding. We use a modified version of the Designing for Growth model:

1. What Challenge?
   - Scope the Problem or Opportunity
2. What Is?
   - Research the Space
   - Empathize with Users
3. What If?
   - Brainstorm Solutions
   - Develop Concepts for Consideration
4. What Wows?
   - Test Assumptions
   - Prototype Rapidly
5. What Works?
   - Co-Create with Users
   - Launch a Learning Experiment

For the What Is? cycle, you’ll practice developing a human-centered perspective using empathy-based interviewing. In addition, we provide an overview and discussion about the other parts of the Design Thinking process.

Rod Githens, PhD - Rod has led innovation processes for the last 15 years as an internal and external facilitator.  He began using design thinking in 2015 and successfully led the creation of a new set of academic programs using design thinking as a core methodology.  Eventually, he became Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Innovation, facilitating these processes throughout his school at University of the Pacific.  Currently, he teaches innovation and organization change as the Alexandra Greene Ottesen Endowed Chair.  Rod has also owned a consulting business since 2011, Githens and Associates. With a team of colleagues, he helps organizations serve their customers at levels they did not realize were possible through innovation, design, and strategy.

Shelby Pierce - Shelby helps groups and organizations that traditionally met in-person to create meaningful and productive online experiences. Prior to becoming a full-time facilitator, she had 10 years of experience in the financial services and healthcare sectors. Shelby has a rich background in community organizing and serves on the executive committee for several nonprofit boards. Since the start of the pandemic, she has worked with over 40 different groups around the world, ranging from local community initiatives and nonprofits to nationwide groups including healthcare, government, education, and international development.