By: Caroline Surret
In my early time with OpenDesign+, I have become acutely aware of the possibility that comes with the uncertainty of the current moment. Through taking advantage of this moment, I am hopeful that our teams will make responsible and well-informed design choices that positively impact Duke students. Additionally, with equity at the center of so many of our team’s conversations over the last week and a half, I am hopeful that the solutions we design will be rooted in equity and justice–issues that, in an educational context, have been exacerbated by distance and online learning.
While the possibility to make a substantial change in a higher education context is exciting, it’s also intimidating as I understand the responsibility that comes with designing for human beings. Open Design principles of inviting stakeholders to the table and designing with a focus on user outcomes will help to mitigate the risk of designing a solution that is ineffective or, at worst, harmful.
I am excited to continue the work of reimagining learning through an open design lens in the coming weeks, as I see a clear need for changes in higher education that will allow students to feel empowered and fulfilled as learners–particularly as learners who are navigating a new digital education landscape. In the next phase of our work, I am confident that our team will remain united around our collective goals and make progress toward improving education for Duke students.
