Intro to the Disruptive Design Method

Discover how to activate positive social change through creative interventions with this introduction to the Disruptive Design Method. Through this course, you will develop the mental tools to activate positive change by loving and unpacking problems, employing a divergent array of research approaches, moving through systems analysis, and then ideating opportunities for systems interventions that amplify positive impact through a given micro or macro problem arena.

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Course overview

3-Part Method

This introductory class provides the foundation for using the Disruptive Design Method, a unique three-part approach of mining, landscaping, and building to leverage positive change outcomes. A holistic approach to complex problem solving that combines sociological inquiry methods with systems and design thinking approaches, the Disruptive Design Method helps you to develop systems interventions that are smart, effective, thoughtful, and sustainable. Through this course, you will be introduced to the disruptive and creative mental tools to activate positive change.
  • The framework of the Disruptive Design Method (DDM): Mining, Landscaping, Building
  • The importance of developing critical thinking and a 3-dimensional thinking framework
  • The difference between innovation and disruption
  • The difference between design thinking and the Disruptive Design Method
  • What sustainability and change mean within the DDM

Curriculum

What’s inside this course

This short introductory class on the Disruptive Design Method is about introducing the tools and actions you can ally to develop the core techniques of the DDM. This is designed to help you get started using this approach in your daily professional activities in helping to bring about a sustainable future.

Advance your learning

Ready for the next level?

Consider taking the Systems Thinking course. Overcome linear thinking and unravel the interconnectedness of our world. This 5-part course will get your head around systems thinking and give you the tools you need to understand the complex social, industrial, and environmental systems at play.

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Alumni Feedback

Activate your agency!

“Being part of the UnSchool is not just about finding a connection with a global group of individuals eager to do good. It’s about finding a way to activate your own agency, knowing that that’s the only real way to change your world.”

— Zoe Palmer

Read alumni stories

Highly Recommend

“Provided me with a set of useful tools I can utilize to affect change in my workplace and profession and also led me to be more observant of how design affects our everyday lives. I have also become more cognizant about how much impact simple actions have on the entire system. I highly recommend the course.”

Megan Gabriel

Mind Blowing

“A mind-blowing experience that I would recommend to everybody. I really feel empowered to support my community in making positive social change.”

Drew Robinson
Dr. Leyla Acaroglu

World renowned expert training

Your instructor

Sustainability provocateur, award-winning designer, UNEP Champion of the Earth, and creative changemaker pioneer, Dr. Leyla Acaroglu challenges people to think differently about how the world works. Leyla’s main-stage TED talk on sustainability has been viewed over a million times, she is the founder of the UnSchool and creator of the Disruptive Design Method. As as a renowned international expert on systems thinking and sustainability, she runs workshops around the world and designs unique educational experiences that help equip people with the tools to intervene and change systems to make the status quo obsolete. Leyla is sought after for her unique approach to activating positive social change by design.

Options and Pricing

Three payment options: 

  1. Full price: This pricing level is for those who have the resources to contribute the full price in one or two split payments. Your full price payment helps support those who otherwise would have a hard time accessing the course.
  2. Supported price: This pricing level is for those who can contribute to the course cost, but not at the full level, however are still relatively comfortable with the cost. The supported price is equivalent to approximately half price.
  3. Emerging price: This price level is for those who have either currency conversions that are distinctly unfavourable, are students, or are experiencing other hardships or circumstances that are impacting their ability to pay the full or supported fee.

What you get

  • Introduces the tools and actions you can apply to develop the core techniques of the DDM
  • Learn how to use this approach in your daily professional activities to help bring about a sustainable future
  • Apply the three-part process of mining, landscaping, and building for activated change-making

Regular Price

$25 USD

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Payment Plan: $12.50/m x 2 months

$12.50 USD x 2 months

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Supported Price

$10 USD

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Emerging Price

$5 USD

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Course FAQs

Find out if you are eligible for our Equity Access Scholarships

As part of our goal to make our programs equitable, we offer both partial scholarships and payment plans. Our limited number of scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated need to certain select courses and programs. We fund these to promote equitable access to our programs. We are committed to offering our scholarships to community members who would otherwise be unable to access a program at all.

Learn more about Equity Access

Looking for team training?

Sign up any number of members for your team at the checkout, or get in touch if you would like to commission a custom workshop or learning package.

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FAQs

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