How do you design for social impact with confidence?

1 Know your why

Before you start designing, you need to have a clear vision of why you are doing it and what you want to achieve. What is the problem you are trying to solve, and who are you solving it for? What are your goals and objectives, and how will you know if you are successful? Having a strong why will help you stay focused and motivated, and communicate your value proposition to others.

2 Do your research

Designing for social impact requires a deep understanding of the people and the context you are working with. You need to do your research, both primary and secondary, to gather insights and data that will inform your design decisions. You can use methods like interviews, surveys, observations, ethnography, and participatory design to learn about the needs, preferences, behaviors, and challenges of your target users and stakeholders. You can also use methods like literature review, benchmarking, and trend analysis to learn about the existing solutions, best practices, and emerging opportunities in your field.

3 Co-create with others

Designing for social impact is not a solo activity. You need to collaborate and co-create with others who have different perspectives, skills, and experiences. You can involve your users, partners, experts, and beneficiaries in the design process, from ideation to implementation, to ensure that your solution is relevant, feasible, and desirable. You can also seek feedback and validation from your peers, mentors, and potential funders to improve your solution and build trust and support.

4 Prototype and test

Designing for social impact is an iterative and experimental process. You need to prototype and test your solution with real users and in real situations, to learn what works and what doesn't, and to refine and improve your solution accordingly. You can use methods like sketches, mockups, storyboards, wireframes, and minimum viable products (MVPs) to create low-fidelity or high-fidelity prototypes that demonstrate your solution's features and functions. You can also use methods like usability testing, user feedback, A/B testing, and impact evaluation to measure your solution's performance, usability, and impact.

5 Reflect and learn

Designing for social impact is a continuous and reflective process. You need to reflect and learn from your successes and failures, and from the feedback and data you collect along the way. You can use methods like journals, portfolios, case studies, and reports to document your process, outcomes, and impact. You can also use methods like debriefs, retrospectives, and peer reviews to share your learnings, challenges, and recommendations with others. By reflecting and learning, you can improve your design skills, grow your confidence, and contribute to the social impact community.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?