A Human Way Through
Designing through disruption—with people, on purpose
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This week’s post feels a bit more like a manifesto than my average story of what I’m up to and insights to drive change in education using design. But it wrote itself as I prepared for a keynote and following several great conversations with designers and innovators from across the country. I hope it’s a good reminder for this moment and that it inspires and empowers the change you’re capable of.
I’m writing because education wasn't designed around students but we can improve the learner experience through design. I share stories, tips, and work in progress weekly.
Innovation thrives in disruption. When problems are messy, complicated, and ambiguous, those are the times you anchor in your understanding of the stakeholders and problems, explore solutions based on their needs, and test in deliberate, iterative ways based on what you learn.
This approach keeps you nimble, sensitive to your context and your stakeholders, and responsive. It makes you work in draft, regularly incorporate feedback, launch small and grow, and engage the people who are going to help make your work successful by letting them author into it while it’s in progress. It starts with getting curious to understand what’s happening today, who’s involved, and where the challenges are.
From an understanding of stakeholder needs, design is driven by what’s possible— confronting big, complex problems, and on missions and values that drive the assumptions the work is built on. And those assumptions are tested against reality, not based on opinions or the highest paid person’s perspective, but grounded in the needs of the people you’re trying to design with, and for. Your stakeholders: students, staff, faculty, community members, employers— are the experts.
To facilitate this process is to drive change. To develop solutions to problems with stakeholders involved is to create.
We are all creators, designers, and have influence to drive change. If you make decisions, big or small, you’re designing an outcome that will impact someone else.
You’re a designer. And there’s power, and responsibility in that realization.
You’re empowered to test it, to surface your assumptions and challenge them by putting concepts in front of users and getting their reactions and feedback. This process will improve your ideas— because what you build doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be flexible and responsive to what stakeholders are telling you they need.
Design is a choice. To be human-centered in driving change is deliberate. And design will result in change. If it’s done well, it probably won’t all happen at once (because it will start small, test assumptions, and incorporate ongoing feedback), but you’ll bring along the people you need to do it and accomplish it with them… and the journey is lovely, messy, and community-driven.
If you’re impacted by recent changes or struggling in a bit of chaos, take heart. You are a designer of experiences, and you have influence over the ones your stakeholders encounter.
Look for the opportunities to drive your own change, and gather and build relationships with the people who’s experiences you are trying to improve, and invite their stories. Learn what they need. Involve them in considering how you might offer a response. And then show them something small, in progress, that build momentum and invites their feedback. And then keep building small, better versions.
Test assumptions, not pilots. Use paper, not programs. Build confidence through learning, not ego. Learn from your stakeholders, and let them fix your first draft.
Do that over and over until you have something they’re delighted by that solves their problem. And then do it again with another problem. And don’t stop.
🪄 Once you learn the magic of co-creation with those you’re designing for (and with), you won’t want to work any other way. You’ll realize the only thing you need to be an expert in is a new way of thinking and solving problems and you can flexibly adapt to most things to learn, grow, change, and build together. Even better, you’ll empower others to do the same— and they’ll thank you for being part of it. ✨
Insights from the Field
Bringing you voices from across education to answer:
What advice would you give to someone driving change in education?
“To drive meaningful change in education it starts with care. It’s not just about systems and strategies; it’s about making decisions with empathy and intention. Consider who is impacted, what barriers they face, and how your work truly supports them.
We have to stay committed to growth. Change requires a mindset of constant learning. The moment you become stagnant, you risk creating solutions that no longer fit the evolving needs of students and communities. Most importantly, listen, really listen. Not just to check a box but to understand. Create space for student voices and elevate those perspectives into the decisions that shape their experience. The people closest to the problems often hold the clearest insights. Driving change isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to co-create something better, together.”
David Morales, Projects Manager, South Texas College
Learning is better when it’s social.
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