Designing for students Rich Prowse and Rich West

This week Rich Prowse and Rich West talk to Professor Radka Newton from Lancaster University Management School. Radka cofounded the Service Design and Education Network, and is the editor of an upcoming book Service Design for Higher Education.

In this episode Radka discusses using service design to improve student experience and course outcomes. She also talks about how design can help bridge the silo between colleagues, departments and improve collaboration.

Topic discussed in this episode

Her background and route to service design [01:38]
Service design and ‘intentional transformation’ in higher education [03:41]
Focussing on the human experience, and bringing joy to problem solving [07:09]
University staff developing a design mindset [13:08]
Diverse voices and persona co-creation [17:37]
Designing for the whole person [22:36]
Moving beyond student satisfaction surveys [29:28]
Building the confidence of academics in using design approaches [33:21]
Improving student outcomes and building belonging [35:35]

In this episode Rich Prowse and Rich West chat to Michael Fearne, LEGO Serious Play (LSP) expert. Michael talks about how you can use LSP to hold better conversations and create a space where people feel safe to share their ideas and explore them in a creative and productive way.

Topics discussed in this episode

What is Lego Serious Play? [2:23]
Change the process, change the outcome [3:24]
Getting the best from everyone [5:04]
How LSP works [7:31]
Getting people comfortable using Lego [10:22]
The role of Design thinking [12:46]
Separating the idea from the person [13:58]
Tapping into people's creativity [15:59]
A reliable method [18:44]
Science behind LSP [20:05]
LSP in higher education [23:24]
Accessibility of LSP [25:32]
Translating outputs to outcomes [27:09]
Empowering people [31:00]
Getting start with LSP [33:18]
What Lego to use [36:40]
One thing your future self would tell your past self [37:59]

Join "Rich Squared" for this extended episode as they chat with Dr Lateesha Osbourne, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant. In this deep dive, Lateesha talks about the challenges of inclusion, how to involve underrepresented groups, and the benefits of DEI.

Topics discussed in this episode

Identity and belonging [02:49]
Creating a sense of belonging - taking the first step [06:17]
Taking the next step [09:35]
Defining identity and belonging [0:14:34]
Recognising othering [0:15:21]
Preventing othering [0:18:55]
Institutional freeze [0:27:07]
Individual anxiety [0:33:15]
Impact of cultural norms on teaching [38:35]
Institutional complacency [0:42:51]
Institutional narratives [45:08]
Overrepresentation in research and its impact [47:38]
Anxiety over language [58:25]
DEI challenges [1:02:13]
Why inclusion benefits everyone [1:06:01]
One thing your future self would tell your past self [1:14:45]

Rich Prowse and Rich West speak to Ayala Gordon, associate director of digital user experience at the University of Southampton. In this episode, they explore leadership, digital transformation, and principle-based work.

Topics discussed in this episode

What is OneWeb [4:21]
The importance of user research [7:58]
Managing expectations [8:41]
Setting the conditions for success [13:15]
Digital principles [16.55]
Inclusive design and accessibility [19:17]
Environmental sustainability [20:35]
Improving the student experience [29:07]
Challenges facing higher education [35:02]
One thing your future self would tell your past self [38:56]