Design at Work: Stories, Sprints, and Signals from 2025
If you only read (or listen to) one post all year, this is the best way to catch up on what I’ve been working on so far
👋 Howdy! 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.
Why it matters: Across the last 18 months I've had the privilege of working with educators, employers, students, and leaders to explore the question:
What happens when we use design to drive human-centered change in education to prepare students, administrators, and institutions for the future?
July 2nd was officially the halfway point in the year. Crazy, right? I promised I’d share my work in progress here, and what better excuse than the halfway point to check in on how things are going?
Through sprints, sessions, stories, and shared reflection, this week I’m looking back on the signals of what’s possible.
Consider this a mid-year review to assess impact—a snapshot of what we’re learning, building, and testing together, and what it means for the future of education and work.
Go deeper:
Stories & Signals: Real People, Real Change 🛜
Signal #1: Learners need Community and Connection as much as Career Prep
I watched students come alive in design sessions and interviews and watched and felt the difference in how they responded to lecture vs design-driven events and project-based learning. Heartening, it seems everyone wants this new approach for education, and employers are looking for these skills in successful, career-ready graduates. But there are challenges holding institutions back: community, partnerships, bandwidth, and working within antiquated structures.
Stories & posts to go deeper:
Insights from an online Community College project in CA about the negative emotions that drive challenges in the student experience and how they can help us prioritize and align stakeholders around what really matters
Reminders of what I’ve known for years about “what works” in the Service Jam brought to life through this year’s Jammers: The secret to great learning? Jammers show us how
Perspectives from a few students I work with at UCSD after a designathon. Learning from a student's POV: "fun, stressful, but exciting. I feel confident”
Overcoming the "syllabus gap" at work as a summary from early insights (and some concepts in the works) from faculty, staff, and employers
Signal #2: Institutions Are Ready to Rethink How they Work and Approach Change
The University leaders I’ve been talking to know they need to work, think, and behave in new ways to be more nimble and responsive to stakeholders, especially amongst disruption. They know the dangers of “imitation” and the importance of bringing key people along in the process of driving change.
Stories & posts to go deeper:
Here’s why higher education needs design thinking now and why this moment is so important
I say it often, but design is catalyzing change and the tools from design can be powerful fuel to build momentum and drive it forward, especially by creating a connection to the challenge and making the problem “real” (although it’s often best to start your investigation with “hard” data) and include observation in your approach to “Getting Curious” as well
We’re in a tough moment in higher education, but I think there’s a human way through using design
Signal #3: Human Skills Matter More Than Ever in an AI-Driven World
From insights from educators, employers, and experts, everyone seems to be in agreement about the ways that human skills will enable success in our tech-enabled future.
Stories & posts to go deeper:
Designing for the human edge and other insights from Future Talent Council in Stockholm
Insights from 40+ educators at ASU+GSV on the future of learning…
The human-first, tech enabled balance that higher ed needs to strike on an AI-enabled student experience
By the Numbers: Live Sessions and Events 🎤💺
Highlights:
10+ Design events and sprints | ~500 total people with many more teams, meetings, and interviews fueling the work | impact across 7+ edu institutions
4 Fellows are 50% complete in 8-week Edu x Design Fellowship
Taking on the role of coach, mentor, trainer, designer-in-residence, and even “judge” for the Jacob’s Institute Teen Innovation Challenge
Helping drive innovation and design strategy as a sub-committee member to the Board of Directors for the largest YMCA association in the nation, here in SD!
Sitting as a guest for 2 podcast interviews on human-centered design for change and student learning
24,000+ miles traveled (according to ChatGPT) through 10 domestic and international airports
Numbers are great, but what are people saying?
Recurring words in the post-event surveys—empowering, resourceful, energizing, challenging—mirror what I hear across every project: design lowers the barrier to entry to collaborate while raising the ceiling for possibility (and addressing real needs)
Stories & posts to go deeper:
An example from relaunching the Educators Alliance to share how I think about driving community, engagement, and feedback using events
Some of how I approach planning a design session
Catch up on these podcasts on your commute or late Summer vacation (if you’re willing to invite me along):
Live at The AI Show: Designing the Future of Education with Empathy and AI with Dustin Ramsdell of The HigherEd Geek Podcast
Design Thinking & Experiential Learning with Dr. Stacy Neier Beran and Julia Allworth hosted by Bill Heinrich on the Mindset in Motion Podcast
By the Numbers: Newsletter & Social 👨🏻💻📬
Since January 2025:
26 posts sent from 4 states & 2 countries | 36,000+ words | 15k+ total views
+195 new Substack subscribers (343 total) 47% average open rate on Substack for 7,400 email opens
+639 LinkedIn newsletter subscribers 55% average open rate on LinkedIn for 2,815 article views on LinkedIn
21 “Insights from the Field” from University Presidents, Higher Education Design Leaders, Deans, Practitioners, Consultants, Edtech Innovators and Beyond
+1,100 new LinkedIn followers (Let’s Connect if we’re not already) and +106 followers on the Learning, Designed company page
Also, a quick story about “fascinating” discoveries from “failed” experiments (and why I have both Linkedin and Substack newsletters).
Looking Ahead: The Mission Continues 🚀
I put my "Missions for 2025" post front and center on Substack as a reminder of what I hope to do with this platform and work this year.
I have a screenshot of that post as my phone background. I think about it when I evaluate new projects and partners.
Missions Criteria for 2025: What will target projects achieve?
Enable professionals interested in bringing human-centered design into their practice, whether for service and curriculum delivery, especially educators
Prepare educators to enable students to succeed in the future of work by ensuring real-world relevance in student experiences
Connect with education leaders who are working to address challenges their institution is facing and adapt to new ways of working that make them more relevant and successful through small experiments
These missions aren’t abstract—they’re the throughline that connects every session, sprint, and story shared above. And they’ll continue to guide where I focus in across the rest of the year: more design-driven change, more capacity-building, more connection between education and meaningful work.
I share my work in progress because I’ve learned something important: creating creates serendipity and it matters how you share what you’re looking for.
And when you share what you’re working on and offer for others to author into what you’re working on with a posture of curiosity, you build momentum (and engagement)
A few personal notes:
Grace has read (and reread) all 36k words of this newsletter this year (and beyond) as my biggest “stealth” fan (we joke because it doesn’t show up in my analytics), been to all of my local events (including setting up chairs and serving as "wine and wayfinding,” helping attendees make connections while she served beer and wine), listened to keynote dry runs, and always encouraged me to find a way and “go for it.”
I’m grateful for many aspects of this adventure that I’m on, but nothing will compare to doing it with the full support of my partner in “good trouble.” Thanks, Grace ❤️
Did I mention that I’ve also convinced her to rappel down a building with me?
This summer, we’re going Over the Edge.
Literally. I’m rappelling 29 stories down the Grand Hyatt San Diego to raise money for Reality Changers—an incredible organization that helps San Diego youth become first-generation college graduates and agents of change in their communities.
This cause is personal. As a first-gen college grad, I’ve lived the power of education and I’ve seen how a single opportunity can change everything— it’s connected me to the cause. That’s why I’m proud to support and to invite you to join me.
My goal is to raise $1,000. Support provides free tutoring, mentorship, college readiness training, and professional development for underrepresented students and families.
😲 I’m already 25% of the way there thanks to Ginny, Judy, Lisa, Lynly, and Rebecca. I’m humbled and grateful for your support!
Our team name? Mission: Possible. I’m not Tom Cruise. But we can create opportunity for first-gen students to successfully launch into their future.
👉 Donate to help us reach our goal—and help more students start their journey with support that will help them be successful.
A peek into our fundraising efforts
We have a Yard Sale coming up in our neighborhood and we’re planning to “Sell” Lemons (still growing) from our VERY abundant Lemon tree in exchange for donations 🍋 Now that’s making Lemonade out of Lemons!
No shortage of fun this Summer
🦖 This summer I co-starred as a T-Rex in a kids YouTube Video 🎥🤩
My friend Kyle has spent nights and weekends building Baba Blast, a Kids YouTube channel with over 150k subscribers focused on helping kids (3-7) build empathy and resilience through animals, discovery, and fun! When Grace and I found out he would be recording some upcoming episodes on our visit this summer, we had to join.
If you’ve got young kids and want to use their screen time for meaningful, positive, empowering, fun, and catchy content, check out what Kyle is working on, building on his background as a mental health advocate and animal trainer.
🦖😎🚤 Call your kids over & watch “Dinosaur Summer”: https://lnkd.in/g7vbjfJp (and tell them you know the Brown T-Rex = instant cool points) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Let me know what’s resonating with you 📣
I’d love to hear how you’ve been using what I’ve shared in your work.
If my work is influencing how you’re approaching change in your institution, inspiring your next adventure, or just serving as an entertaining peek into what I’ve been up to, please reach out and let me know 📬 (brian@learning-designed.com).
I can’t wait to hear from you!