Courses
Learn and practice design thinking and human-centered design with our "DTX" courses
SCD uses our research to develop content for our courses, and creates unique offerings in partnership with instructors and colleges. Our own "DTX" course code stands for "Design Thinking & X", meaning any discipline could combine with human-centered design.
Our DTX courses range from an introduction to Design Thinking to specialty capstones. These courses allow students to take a deeper dive into the key principles and mindsets of Design Thinking and learn how they can apply this to their specific fields. To enhance the connection to real-world situations, many of our adjunct instructors are primarily brought in from industry.
Our Certificates offer ways to combine Design Thinking with programs across campus.
Fall 2025 Courses
DTX 180 | Exercising Empathy
This course emphasizes the role that empathy can play in everything we do. Understanding empathy throughout our lives enables us to live a full and intentional life. How do we become compassionate people? When we approach trying to solve problems in our world, how do we ensure that we consider others, their perspectives and their needs? Students will be introduced to six core values to form a foundational understanding of empathy: collaboration, open-mindedness, empiricism, human factors, context, and reflection.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Fall 2025 for: Social & Beh Sci - Beh Sci
DTX 451 | Introduction to Design Thinking
Provides a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design. Students review, analyze, and reflect on completed design challenges employing the human-centered design (HCD) approach. Students experience HCD while working collaboratively on a semester-long project. Students learn methods to perform initial research, project scoping, conduct interviews, create journey maps and wireframes, brainstorm and propose ideas, and plan for prototyping. Students also learn to implement and develop storytelling and critiquing skills.
This course is offered in two section: a live online synchronous section and an in-person section.
DTX 495 | Special Topics in Design Thinking
An exploration of questions at the intersection of ethics and human centered technology design. We will be focusing on the “empathize” component within human centered learning principles, to best serve others in designing products that serve others. As well as observing subjects through an empathetic and ethical lens, such as; data, environmental stability, artificial intelligence, apps and social media, content truth/validity, physical and mental health, and equity/inclusion. How do we design a humane world?
2nd 8 Weeks (Pot B)
Online asynchronous
Student-Centered App Design is an 8-week, project-based course that focuses on using Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles to examine the needs of students at the University of Illinois and reimagine a student-centered app experience. During this course, you will work in teams to identify opportunities, brainstorm ideas, create wireframes, test prototypes, and refine your app concepts. By the end of the course, you will develop a more thorough understanding of HCD methodologies and gain iterative experience in app design, preparing you for future projects in the field.
Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to enroll, as no prior programming or design experience is required, but DTX495: Introduction to UX Theory and Tools is recommended as a precursor for students interested in more practical hands-on training with popular UX design tools like Figma.
2nd 8 Weeks (Pot B)
Introduction to UX Theory and Tools is a foundational course aimed at providing students with an initial grasp of the theoretical principles fundamental to User Experience (UX) Design, along with practical hands-on training in essential UX tools. The curriculum delves into key concepts of UX, encompassing user psychology, interaction design, information architecture, and usability principles. Moreover, the course offers interactive sessions to familiarize students with popular UX design tools like Figma, with a focus on wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration functionalities. Through a blend of lectures, workshops, and project-based tasks, students will develop beginner-level proficiency in utilizing these tools to create and assess effective user interfaces. Upon completion, students will have acquired introductory knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the usability of digital products and create functional prototypes. Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to enroll in this hands-on course, as no prior programming or design experience is required. This course is recommended as a precursor for DTX 495: Student-Centered App Design, and other similar courses on campus.
This is a 16 week course
Online synchronous
Spring 2025 Courses
DTX 495 | Special Topics in Design Thinking
Design Thinking & Health Innovation
Introduces learners to human-centered design and design thinking within the context of health innovation. Explore the landscape of health innovations and then utilize design thinking to develop innovative solutions to design challenges relating to the topic. This course will be offered in an online synchronous format. This is a 16-week course.
Design Thinking & Immersive Experiences
Discover the intersection of human-centered design and immersive environments in this comprehensive, project-based course. Learners will first explore the landscape of how human-centered design is currently being applied to various aspects of immersive experiences as well as develop speculative frameworks around the future of human-centered design in this context. Then, they will utilize design thinking to develop innovative solutions tailored to the challenges of immersive experiences spanning diverse industries. This course will be offered in an online synchronous format.
This is a 16-week course.
This course provides an overview of human-centered design (HCD) as it connects to responsive teaching practices and instructional design (Teaching With HCD) and exploring disciplinary content through design (Teaching Through HCD). You will learn about human-centered design and the processes and practices that will help you to teach with a humanizing and responsive pedagogical approach. By the end of the course, you will have practical experience using the practices of HCD to design culturally responsive and sustaining curriculum that takes into consideration the holistic needs of your students. You’ll also learn about how to design instructional experiences for students that engage them in discipline-based design challenges and the HCD approach. By the end of the course, you will have a plan for teaching students about HCD and then using that knowledge to design a discipline-based design challenge and implementing it in your classroom.
This is a 16-week course
Intro to UX Theory and Tools (8 weeks, Pot A and Pot B)
Introduction to UX Theory and Tools is a foundational course aimed at providing students with an initial grasp of the theoretical principles fundamental to User Experience (UX) Design, along with practical hands-on training in essential UX tools. The curriculum delves into key concepts of UX, encompassing user psychology, interaction design, information architecture, and usability principles. Moreover, the course offers interactive sessions to familiarize students with popular UX design tools like Figma, with a focus on wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration functionalities. Through a blend of lectures, workshops, and project-based tasks, students will develop beginner-level proficiency in utilizing these tools to create and assess effective user interfaces. Upon completion, students will have acquired introductory knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate the usability of digital products and create functional prototypes. Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to enroll in this hands-on course, as no prior programming or design experience is required. This course is recommended as a precursor for DTX 495: Design Thinking and Immersive Experiences and other similar courses on campus.
This is an 8 week course with sections offered in both the first and second 8 weeks.
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Social Design
For students interested in combining human-centeredness with social impact design
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Health Innovation
For students interested in the concepts, mindsets, and processes they need to innovate sustainable and human-centered solutions to complex problems within the health industry.
Interdisciplinary Certificate in Immersive Experience Design
For students interested in using Human-Centered Design to connect deeply with audiences when designing everything from augmented and mixed reality to real environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take more than one section of DTX 495 in one semester?
Yes! Please send your request an UIN to amber@illinois.edu.
DTX 499: Innovation Studio is intended for those who have a significant foundation in Human-Centered Design. Please email amber@illinois.edu with a list of courses, workshops, projects, and other instances you have engaged with Human-Centered Design. When describing a project, describe each step of the process where you used HCD. If it is determined that you have the foundation required, you will receive an email indicating that you are able to register.
If the classroom is not listed in Course Explorer, your instructor will email you prior to the first day of class with the location.
When you register for the course, make sure you choose 4 credits. The system will automatically assign you 3 credits if you don’t make a choice.
Check out our website page that shares more information. For additional questions, email sidneys4@illinois.edu.
The class that I’m interested in taking is full. Is there any chance I could be added to the course?
Sadly, we must limit enrollment in our courses to ensure an ideal learning environment. As such, we will not permit overrides to add additional students to the courses.
How do I become a Teaching Assistant or Classroom Support for a SCD course?
Those roles are selected from our pool of summer interns, so we highly recommend applying to the SCD Summer Internship Program. Details will be on the website in mid-spring.