Design for Good
Design for Good
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AIGA Design For Good: Design Thinking Series
Tuesday evenings from October 6 – November 10, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Virtual on Zoom
Free and open to AIGA members and non-members. All are welcome.
Register now. Only 25 spots available!
Facilitators: Kelly Pederson, Tina Rafiq, & Jill Weflen
We are delighted you can join us for this 6-Week Virtual Cohort!
Creatives are thinkers and innovators. We ask questions, examine the status quo, and use our creative minds and voices to design a new world…and Design It For Good.
Experience tools, techniques, and processes that facilitate the practice of design thinking. This is a virtual and interactive series of six 90-minute sessions, each one building off the last. Attendance to all sessions is not required but is recommended. We will draw upon the creativity of each participant, and bring together many ideas in a collaborative and innovative way. This series is open to members and non-members. All are welcome.
You will walk away with an understanding of:
Design Thinking tools and practices
How to ideate using divergent and convergent thinking methods
The importance of asking questions and incorporating play into our work
The thinking behind the human experience in your own work
Expectations - PLEASE READ
Session Time: 70 minutes (6:30pm–7:40pm)
Q&A and Discussion: 20 minutes (7:40pm–8:00pm)
We are creating a fun, creative and inviting atmosphere. Please come ready to share ideas and collaborate!
Be camera ready. The event is a virtual meeting on Zoom. Please be prepared to turn your camera ON so we can see one another!
Please bring a notepad, markers, and pens to each registered session. We will be taking notes, sketching, etc.
We will collaborate using Miro. You can create an account ahead of time here.
Please be respectful of the event creator's time planned for the event as we have a lot to get through in a short time. The hosts will have a Q&A at the end of the session for discussion.
We welcome and are open to diverse views and perspectives shared in respectful ways. You are expected to follow our AIGA Code of Conduct.
The hosts reserve the right to select an idea to ideate on that is not politically-charged or a topic of controversy.
At the end of each session we will take a screen grab of the participants to capture a fun moment of our ideation session!
The Zoom sessions will NOT be recorded as to allow privacy and creativity for thought discussion.
While use of AI is welcomed for the homework sessions, AI note taking apps during the live session is prohibited.
If you have any questions or comments you can email the Design for Good Team: designforgood@aigaminnesota.org or the committee leader: Vice President of AIGA MN, Kelly Pederson: vicepresident@aigaminnesota.org
By attending this event, you agree to be photographed, filmed, or recorded. You give permission for your image and likeness to be used in future promotional materials, marketing, and website content without payment or notification.
SESSION FORMAT
Introductions
Icebreaker
Presentation
Thinking Exercise
Voting
Homework Reveal
Group Photo
Open Discussion and Q&A
WEEK 1 - How design solves problems
How Design solves problems
Discussion of a creatives role in innovation
Special Guest Presentation: Jen Shaffer
Homework: Notice areas where design can solve problems.
WEEK 2 - Framing the questions
Presentation: The importance of asking questions
Share what you noticed in the past week & problems to solve
Vote on a problem to solve for the rest of the session as a group
Framing the problem in a “How Might We” framework
Homework: Ask questions where normally you would assume the answer.
WEEK 3 - Divergent & convergent thinking overview and practice
Presentation: Explain Divergent & Convergent Thinking
Hosts will share research on the subject chosen
Explain Ambiguity
Divergent & Convergent Thinking Session
Homework: Daydream about possibilities longer than you normally would.
WEEK 4 - Discuss desirability, viability, & feasibility of our solution
Presentation: Discuss the desirability, viability, & feasibility of our solution
Hosts will share more research on the subject chosen
Divergent & Convergent Thinking Session
Homework: Take a Field Trip to get inspiration on the problem we’re solving for.
WEEK 5 - Discuss play and joy in our work
Presentation: Explain the importance of including joy and play in our work
Hosts will share more research on the subject chosen
Divergent & Convergent Thinking Session
Discuss Results
Homework: Experiment with incorporating play and joy into your work this week.
WEEK 6 - Relationship and team building in our work
Presentation: The Importance of Relationships, Team Building, and Acknowledgement
Hosts will share more research on the subject chosen
Team Building Exercise
Divergent & Convergent Thinking Session
Discuss Results and Provide Feedback
Homework: Make a written commitment to use the practices learned in this event series within the next six months, including: Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design, asking deeper questions, incorporating joy, play, and wild creativity into your work.