My compilation of favorite design thinking tools, resources, & literature.

This curated collection of resources continues to grow as I’ve grown as a design thinking practitioner. I’ve been amazed and humbled by the generosity of the design thinking community and the willingness to share best practices. I strive to do the same, sharing best-of-the-best design thinking tools from both leading institutions and practitioners.

I’m always on the lookout for new design thinking tools & resources as I continue to practice and teach design thinking. Please feel free to recommend others!

Last Updated – 6/23/18 – (new items are in red font)

Free Online Resources

Stanford d.School Resources & Tools (https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources-collections/)

frog design’s 43 page Collective Action Toolkit (https://www.frogdesign.com/work/frog-collective-action-toolkit)

SessionLab Brainstorming Facilitation Tools (https://www.sessionlab.com/library)

45 Design Thinking Resources for Educators (http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/45-design-thinking-resources-for-educators/#ixzz2bnMyQLfC)

IDEO.org Field Guide to Human Centered Design (http://www.designkit.org/resources/1)

Design Thinking for Educators Toolkit co-developed by IDEO (https://designthinkingforeducators.com/)

Google Design Sprint Kit (https://designsprintkit.withgoogle.com/)

IBM Design Thinking Field Guide (https://www-356.ibm.com/partnerworld/IBM)

Alexandar Cowan Venture Design (great tools/templates for Empathy, Ideation, & Agile) (https://www.alexandercowan.com/venture-design/)

Public Design Vault (500 design and design thinking tools, all in one spot!) (Link to the design vault)



Online Training

Stanford d.School Virtual Crash Course (https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources-collections/a-virtual-crash-course-in-design-thinking) – Free

University of Virginia (via Coursera) – Design Thinking for Innovation (https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking-innovation) – Free videos, $ for certificate

University of Virginia (via Coursera) – Design Thinking for the Great Good: Innovation in the Social Sector (https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-design-thinking-social-sector) – Free videos, $ for certificate

University of Virginia (via Coursera) – Agile Meets Design Thinking (https://www.coursera.org/learn/uva-darden-getting-started-agile) – Free videos, $ for certificate

Cooper Hewitt (via EDX) – Design in the Classroom – Free online class, $ for certificate (https://www.edx.org/course/design-classroom-cooper-hewitt-smithsonianx-eddesign1-1x#!)

IDEO U (https://www.ideou.com/) – $

Acumen & IDEO.org – Introduction to Human Centered Design – Free online class on how to use HCD for social innovation (https://www.plusacumen.org/courses/introduction-human-centered-design)

(https://www.plusacumen.org/courses/introduction-human-centered-design) Acumen & IDEO.org – Facilitator’s Guide to Human Centered Design – Free online class on leading others through the HCD process (https://www.plusacumen.org/courses/facilitator%E2%80%99s-guide-human-centered-design)

Design Thinking Playbooks & Toolkits

Design Thinking Conferences & Connection

Design Thinking Business Case Building

‘The Total Economic Impact of IBM’s Design Thinking Practice’ by Forrester (Impressive research supporting business case and ROI for design thinking)



Design Sprint Resources

Books

Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation (by Tim Brown)

Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Tool Kit for Managers (by Jeanne Liedtka)

Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All (by Tom Kelley & David Kelley)

The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life (by Bernard Roth)

The Design Gym Design Thinking Reading List (quite comprehensive!) (http://www.thedesigngym.com/the-never-ending-design-thinking-reading-list/)

Design for Strengths: Applying Design Thinking to Individual and Team Strengths (by John Coyle, a design thinker with a very interesting background and story!)

Videos

Onopia by Peter Keates (https://tv.onopia.com/henry-ford-hfli-design-thinking-designthinking-learning/)

Tom Kelley (from IDEO) makes the case for design thinking in a 1 hour interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1pBhHjGKvI)

Design Thinking = Method, Not Magic (Stanford University webinar) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSuK2C89yjA)

Essential Design Thinking Videos & Methods by Interaction Design Foundation (Link to videos)

Case Studies

Articles