The CEDER design team takes on independent design projects in which we drive the entire process, but when possible, we prefer to work as a collaborative partner in order to better meet the needs of our partners/clients.  We generally follow an adapted version of the IDEO design process with the following iterative phases¹:

Discovery

• Explore project background
• Develop design goals and projected outcomes
• Conduct background research into relevant educational research, content expectations or standards and curricular connections, existing materials, etc.  (will vary depending upon project)
• Conduct research into content

Interpretation

• Identify connections between project content and educational context
• Consider audience and purpose for design in the context of what was learned in discovery
• Outline design possibilities and options based upon discovery process

Ideation

• Generate initial design ideas
• Obtain and process feedback on initial ideas

Initial design

• Build a prototype based on ideation process
• Refine with feedback
  • This process will vary depending upon nature of project. In ideal (although rare) scenarios, the initial design will be implemented or shared with stakeholders and/or end-users and refined based on feedback.

Evaluation and Evolution

This process will vary depending upon timeline, budget, etc., but when possible, design products will be collaboratively evaluated and developed further.  

¹ This design process may happen multiple times at different levels of depth and is not linear.