Most design processes focus relentlessly on the immediate problem. But great design –whether for a space capsule, a building, a product, or a service – isn’t just about solving problems. It's about understanding people and what they need. Not just the obvious needs that drive design but the deeper, often hidden, needs that come from how our brains work and what we need from our environments to perform at our best. 
In this hands-on workshop, we will take insights from cognitive science, environmental psychology, and my own NASA research to develop, explore, and apply a framework for thinking about people's implicit needs.  

 

CURRICULUM SNAPSHOT

1. What do people really need? 
The difference between success and failure in design often lies in whether people’s implicit needs are supported or ignored. What are these needs? How do unmet needs lead to design failures? What do supportive environments and design look like? 
2. Digesting concepts 
Working in teams, you will make new concepts your own and push your understanding of some of the most fundamental human needs. How can we help meet people’s need to understand their world through building and using mental models? What is mental bandwidth and how can design help maintain it? Why is meaningful engagement important and what does design have to do with it? 
3. Diving deeper 
You will dive deeper into exploring implicit needs through a real-world case study. How might design be subtly blocking people’s needs? What are the consequences? How could things be redesigned to better support people?   

 4. Switching brain gears – thinking beyond traditional reflection 
What do these new ideas mean for you? How can you apply them at work or in everyday life? Lasting impact requires mental consolidation and integration. We give your brain a head-start by bringing out the art materials and reflecting on what we’ve learned through creative exercises that alternate between directed and associative “mind-wandering” thinking.  
5. Networking unplugged 
We finish the workshop with food, drinks, and a relaxed vibe – the perfect environment to meet our need to connect with fellow humans.  
6. The giveback decision 
We expand the workshop impact beyond our own circle as participants choose where to donate 5% of the course revenue. 
7. Consolidation continues 
A one-month online follow-up session gives you an opportunity to ask more questions, share insights, and talk about what has changed.