Overview

Human-centered design (HCD) is an approach to navigating complex problems and strategically shaping experiences to meet people’s real needs.  

This three-day, fast-paced course will introduce the theory and practice of HCD in public sector contexts. It will provide you with a foundational understanding of the approach and its applied value within and across your organization by learning about and practicing key methods and principles within a collaborative, interactive environment.  

Through presentations, case studies, discussions, and breakout activities, this course will help you: 

  • Find the right frame for a complex problem.
  • Adapt ethnographic research methods to understand more about those problems.
  • Use qualitative data analysis techniques to uncover insights.
  • Shape responses to problems with actionable ideas.
  • Prototype ideas to evaluate their effectiveness.

How You Will Benefit

You will leave this course with a basic set of HCD tools and techniques and an understanding of how, when, and why to apply them to your work.  

After this course, many alumni apply HCD in their own work. Some even start HCD projects at their own agency and/ or collaborate with the Lab at OPM. 

Who Should Attend

While anyone and everyone are welcome, this is an introductory level course designed for public sector employees.  

Additional Information

Online courses use Zoom for Government for audio and screen sharing and Mural as a collaborative, online workspace. You do not need to create accounts or download any programs in order to access these technologies. More information and instructions will be shared one week before the course begins.  

This course was formerly known as “Human-Centered Design Fundamentals.” 

Length 3 days
Contact Hours 12 hours

OPM Leadership Competencies Emphasized
• Collaboration
• Continual Learning
• Emotional Intelligence
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Oral Communications
• Public Service Motivation
• Written Communication

Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | July 23-25, 2024

Status: Open
Location:     Online
Tuition: $2,500
Class ID: 26797


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | May 7-9, 2024

Status: Open
Location:     Online
Tuition: $2,500
Class ID: 26796


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | January 23-25, 2024

Status: FULL
Location:     Online
Tuition: $2,000
Class ID: 26795


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | November 14-16, 2023

Status: FULL
Location:     Online
Tuition: $2,000
Class ID: 26794


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | October 24-26, 2023

Status: Canceled
Location:     Online
Tuition: $2,000
Class ID: 26793


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | July 18 - 20, 2023

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$2,000
Class ID:26273


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | May 9 - 11, 2023

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$2,000
Class ID:26272


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | January 24 - 26 2023

Status:FULL
Location:    Online
Tuition:$2,000
Class ID:26271


Design in Government: Introduction to Human-Centered Design | October 18 - 20, 2022

Status:Open
Location:    Online
Tuition:$2,000
Class ID:26270


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | August 29 - September 1, 2022

Status:Cancelled
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25939


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | July 26, 28, August 2, 4, 2022

Status:Limited
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25938


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | June 27 - 30, 2022

Status:Cancelled
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25937


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | May 17, 19, 24, 26, 2022

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25936

Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | April 26 - 29, 2022

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25935


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | March 22, 24, 29, 31, 2022

Status:Cancelled
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25934


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | February 22 - 25, 2022

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25933


Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | November 15 - 18, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25684

Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | October 18, 21, 25, 28, 2021

Status:Cancelled
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25683

Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | August 16, 18, 23, 25, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25682

Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | July 26 - 29, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25681

Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | June 15 - 25, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25361

Human-Centered Design Fundamentals | May 18 - 27, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25360

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | April 19 - 29, 2021

Status:Open
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25359

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | March 22 - 25, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25358

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | February 9 - 18, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25357

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | January 25 - 28, 2021

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25356

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | November 9 - 19, 2020

Status:Full
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25355

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | October 19 - 29, 2020

Status:FULL
Location:    Online
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:25354

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | September 22 - September 24, 2020

Status:Full
Location: Online (was Washington DC)
Facility:OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:24927


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | August 11 - August 13, 2020

Status:Full
Location: Online (was Washington D.C.)
Facility:OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:24926


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design

Status:Cancelled
Location: Ted Weiss Federal Building
290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:24925

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design

Status:Cancelled
Location: Theodore Roosevelt Building
1900 E Street NW
Washington D.C.
Facility:OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:24924

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | April 28 - April 30, 2020

Status:Open
Location: Theodore Roosevelt Building
1900 E Street NW
Washington D.C.
Facility:OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition:$1,900
Class ID:24923

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design

Status: Cancelled
Location: Ted Weiss Federal Building
290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007
Tuition: $1,900
Class ID: 24921

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | March 03 - March 05, 2020

Status: Open
Location: Theodore Roosevelt Building
1900 E Street NW
Washington D.C.
Facility: OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition: $1,900
Class ID: 24920

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | February 04 - 06 2020

Status: Full
Location: Theodore Roosevelt Building
1900 E Street NW
Washington D.C.
Facility: OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition: $1,900
Class ID: 24762

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | December 10 - 12 2019

Status: Cancelled
Location: San Francisco, CA
Facility: TBA
Tuition: $1,900
Class ID: 24760

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design | November 19 - 21 2019

Status: Cancelled
Location: Theodore Roosevelt Building
1900 E Street NW
Washington D.C.
Facility: OPM Innovation Lab
Tuition: $1,900
Class ID: 24752

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | September 17 - 19, 2019

Status: Open

Date: September 17 - 19, 2019

Location: 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24564


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | August 20 - 22, 2019

Status: Open

Date: August 20 - 22, 2019

Facility: OPM Innovation Lab

Location: OPM 1900 E Street NW, SBH 22, Washington, DC 20415

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24562


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | May 14 - 16, 2019

Status: Open

Date: May 14-16, 2019

Facility: OPM Innovation Lab

Location: OPM 1900 E Street NW, SBH 22, Washington, DC 20415

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24386


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | April 9 - 11, 2019

Date: April 9-11, 2019

Facility: OPM Innovation Lab

Location: OPM 1900 E Street NW, SBH 22, Washington, DC 20415

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24385


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | February 5 - 7, 2019

Date: February 5-7, 2019

Facility: OPM Innovation Lab

Location: OPM 1900 E Street NW, SBH 22, Washington, DC 20415

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24387


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | September 25 - 27, 2018

   Facility:  The OPM Innovation Lab

Location:   Washington, DC

       Cost:   $1900

 Class ID:   23583


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | August 28 - 30, 2018

   Facility:  The OPM Innovation Lab

Location:   Washington, DC

       Cost:   $1900

 Class ID:   23582


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | July 24 - 26, 2018

   Facility:  The OPM Innovation Lab

Location:   Washington, DC

       Cost:   $1900

 Class ID:   23581


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop

              COURSE CANCELLED

Status: Open

Facility: OPM's Innovation Lab

Location: Washington D.C.

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24163

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | November 27-29, 2018

Status: Open

Facility: OPM's Innovation Lab

Location: Washington D.C.

Cost: $1900

Course ID: 24164


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design / June 26 - 28, 2018

Facility: WMDC
Location: Denver, CO
Tuition: $1,900
Class ID: 23941

Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | May 22 - 24, 2018

   Facility:  The OPM Innovation Lab

Location:   Washington, DC

       Cost:   $1900

 Class ID:   23580


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | February 27 - March 01, 2018

   Facility:  The OPM Innovation Lab

Location:   Washington, DC

       Cost:   $1900

 Class ID:   23578


Fundamentals of Human-Centered Design Workshop | January 23 - 25, 2018

   Facility:  The OPM Innovation Lab

Location:   Washington, DC

       Cost:   $1900

 Class ID:   23577

Fundamentals of Human Centered Design Workshop | September 26 - 28, 2017

Dates: September 26 - 28, 2017

Location: OPM Innovation Lab - Washington, DC

Course ID: 22993