Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Introduction to Socially Engaged Design
What You'll Learn
- Learn how the Socially Engaged Design model can increase understanding of the design processes.
- Assess societal connections to inform broader, inclusive, and sustainable design solutions
- Apply socially engaged design principles to real-world projects
5 Modules
30 Hours
6 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Introduction to Socially Engaged Design
Engineering courses often focus on technical skills and processes, leaving students with few examples of how to apply these skills in the real world. With "Introduction to Socially Engaged Design," you'll learn about this essential engineering and design framework, strengthening the connection between your work and its impact on individuals, societies, and the environment.
Developed by expert faculty at the University of Michigan, the Socially Engaged Design model shows engineers and designers to explore the broader societal implications, outcomes, and potential unintended consequences early in the product design process. You'll learn to explore, develop, and iterate on your solutions to make equitable, evidence-based decisions. You will better understand how your experiences shape your work and explore how power, privilege, identities, and cultural contexts can shape your approach and impact. The course draws heavily on real-world examples of product design solutions that enhanced and deterred the progress of individuals and communities. In addition to these concepts, you'll learn how to effectively work with stakeholders to bring a design solution to life.
By understanding design solutions' economic, social, and environmental impacts, you can develop better product and engineering design solutions for current and future generations.
Skills You'll Gain
- Community Advocacy
- Community-Based Participatory Research
- Community Organizing
- Design Strategies
- Social Justice
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Introduction to Socially Engaged Design, a course that introduces principles and practices for addressing complex societal challenges through equitable, collaborative design. You will learn how to connect technical work to its real-world impacts by examining context, power, identity, and stakeholder relationships. Using real-world case studies, this course helps you make evidence-based, socially responsible design decisions that account for people, communities, and the environment.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: Introduction to the Socially Engaged Design Process Model
- Video: Welcome to the Course
- Reading: Meet Your Instructors
- Reading: Course Syllabus
- Discussion Prompt: Meet Your Fellow Learners
- Reading: Help Us Learn About You
- Video: PlayPump Introduction
- Discussion Prompt: What were the unintended consequences?
- Reading: PlayPump Instructor Reflection
- Video: Sociotechnical Thinking
- Video: What is a Process Model?
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 1 Assessment
- Video: What is Socially Engaged Design?
- Reading: The Socially Engaged Design Process Model
- Discussion Prompt: What are the key differences?
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 2 Assessment
- Reading: "How We Survive" Podcast Episode
- Discussion Prompt: Podcast Reflection
- Video: Roundtable Discussion on Lithium Mining
- Reading: Module Recap
- Discussion Prompt: How might you apply the undercurrents of the SED model to your own work?
- Graded: Module 1 Assessment
Module 2: Explore
- Video: Entering the Explore Stage
- Reading: The Explore Stage
- Reading: The #GlobalPOV Project: "Can Experts Solve Poverty?"
- Discussion Prompt: "Can Experts Solve Poverty?" Learner Reflections
- Reading: Undercurrent: Analyze Dimensions of Equity, Power, Identity, & Motivations
- Video: Equity, Power, Identity, and Motivations
- Reading: Social Identity Categories
- Graded Assignment: Social Identity Categories Activity
- Discussion Prompt: Social Identities Activity Reflection
- Video: Designer Positionality
- Reading: What is positionality and why does it matter in design?
- Reading: Undercurrent: Account for Contextual Factors & Stakeholder Perspectives
- Video: Contextual Factors
- Discussion Prompt: What contextual factors were considered?
- Reading: Undercurrent: Account for Contextual Factors & Stakeholder Perspectives
- Video: Who is involved? Identifying Participants and Stakeholders
- Reading: "White Gold" Podcast Stakeholder Mapping Activity, Part 1
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 4 Assessment
- Reading: Undercurrent: Gather & Synthesize Information
- Video: Forms of Engagement: Gathering Information in "Explore"
- Reading: Interviews and Observations in Socially Engaged Design
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 5 Assessment
- Reading: Nido de Vida
- Discussion Prompt: Nido de Vida Discussion
- Reading: Module Recap: The Explore Stage
- Graded: Lesson 2 Assessment
- Graded: Module 2 Assessment
- Graded: "White Gold" Podcast Stakeholder Mapping Activity, Part 2
Module 3: Define
- Video: Introduction to the Define Stage
- Reading: Key Decision Point & The Define Stage
- Reading: Revisiting Context for Define Stage
- Video: Contextual Factors in Define
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 1 Assessment
- Video: Need Statements
- Reading: Researching and Drafting Needs
- Discussion Prompt: What are some of the potential consequences of a need statement that is not well-articulated?
- Video: Requirement and Specifications
- Reading: The Quality of Requirements Matters
- Reading: Undercurrent: Prototype, Sketch, and Test Questions & Ideas
- Video: Using Prototyping as a Tool Across Stages
- Reading: Utilizing Prototypes to Engage Stakeholders
- Graded Assignment: Pelvic Exam Table
- Discussion Prompt: Defining stakeholder requirements and engineering specifications
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 3 Assessment
- Reading: Content Notice
- Video: Case Study: Traditional Adult Male Circumcision
- Reading: Case Study: Design Ethnography as an Engineering Tool (ASME)
- Discussion Prompt: Case Study: Design Ethnography
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 4 Assessment
- Reading: Module Recap
- Discussion Prompt: Goals of the Define Stage
- Graded: Module 3 Assessment
Module 4: Ideate
- Video: Introduction to Ideate
- Reading: Key Decision Point & The Ideate Stage
- Reading: Review Cases of Concept Generation
- Video: Cases of Concept Generation
- Discussion Prompt: What practices have you used in the past?
- Reading: Ideation Practices
- Reading: Ideation Techniques
- Graded Assignment: Create 15 Ideas
- Discussion Prompt: Share your ideas
- Video: Socially Engaged Ideation
- Reading: Explore Socially Engaged Ideation Strategies
- Discussion Prompt: How does your identity impact your ideation?
- Video: Challenges in Stakeholder Participation in Ideation
- Reading: Idea Screening
- Discussion Prompt: How is idea screening different?
- Video: Module Recap: Ideation Synthesis
- Graded: Module 4 Assessment
Module 5: Develop and Realize
- Video: Introduction to the Develop Stage
- Reading: Key Decision Point & The Develop Stage
- Discussion Prompt: Develop Reflection on Personal Project
- Reading: Key Takeaways from Introduction to the Develop Stage
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 1 Assessment
- Video: Develop Stage: Analysis Lenses
- Reading: Key Takeaways: Analysis Lenses in the Develop Stage
- Video: Develop Stage: Example Analysis Tools
- Reading: Key Takeaways: Develop Stage Example Analysis Tools
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 2 Assessment
- Reading: Introduction to Case Study
- Video: Develop Stage: Case Study Part 1
- Reading: Develop Stage: Case Study Part 2
- Video: Develop Stage: Case Study Part 2
- Discussion Prompt: Sustainable Metalworking Fluid Case Discussion
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 3 Assessment
- Reading: Key Decision Point & The Realize Stage
- Video: Introduction to the Realize Stage: Case Study Part 3
- Reading: Key Takeaways from the Realize Stage
- Graded Assignment: Lesson 4 Assessment
- Reading: Course Wrap-Up
- Video: Course Wrap-Up
- Reading: Post-course Survey
- Graded: Module 5 Assessment
Grading Policy
Course materials and assessments are self-paced and remain open throughout the course. Learners must earn an overall grade of 80% to pass and receive a certificate. There are six quizzes worth between 5% and 20% of your final grade, and one final assignment worth 5% of your grade.
Managing Director, Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Mechanical Engineering Program Director, Design Science
Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
In order to apply course concepts to their work, learners should have experience with basic engineering or user experience design concepts.
Course Video
What Learners Are Saying
In order to solve big problems that our societies and planet are facing, [engineers] have to integrate factors other than technical considerations.
Charlie Michaels Managing Director and Lecturer, Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design
