In this module, you’ll explore how design can be used to respond to some of the most pressing challenges facing society and the environment. Rather than focusing only on the design of products, you’ll examine the many ways design thinking can help people understand complexity, work collaboratively, generate new opportunities and create positive change. Throughout the module, you’ll engage with the work of designers who use creative methods and tools to address social, technological and ecological issues, and you’ll begin to see how these approaches might connect with your own interests and ambitions.
The module opens with a short introduction that sets the scene and introduces the idea of design for impact. From there, you’ll move through four blocks of study and practice, each exploring a different role that design can play in the world. Together, these blocks build your understanding step by step, while also helping you develop your own practical and reflective approach to design.
Block 1: Design as sense-making
You’ll begin by exploring how design can help us understand situations more deeply. You’ll learn to use design thinking approaches to investigate challenges, notice patterns, develop insights and frame opportunities for action. This block introduces ways of looking closely at people, contexts and experiences, and shows how design can turn observation and interpretation into meaningful ideas.
Block 2: Design as collaboration-making
Design often depends on bringing people together, and in this block, you’ll explore how collaborative approaches can help respond to complex challenges. You’ll learn how design can support participation, dialogue and shared understanding, and how working with others can open up new possibilities for change. As the block unfolds, you’ll see how collaboration can be carefully designed, just like any product or service.
Block 3: Design as venture-making
In this block, the focus shifts towards innovation and enterprise. You’ll explore how design thinking can be used to develop ventures, initiatives and ideas that aim to create value and positive impact. You’ll consider what makes an innovation meaningful, viable and relevant, and begin to understand how designers shape possibilities into purposeful action.
Block 4: Design as systemic change-making
The final block broadens the view once more, examining the role design can play in shaping systems and supporting longer-term change. You’ll explore how designers can work with complexity, interconnection and wider patterns of influence, and how design methods can contribute to more systemic responses to social and ecological issues. This brings together much of what you have learned across the module while encouraging you to think more broadly about the reach and responsibility of design.
By the end of the module, you’ll have developed a richer understanding of design as a creative, critical and practical discipline. You’ll also have built experience in applying design thinking across a range of contexts, preparing you work in areas where design can make a difference.
This module will enable you to:
This module develops design skills that are valuable across a wide range of careers and sectors, whether you work independently or within organisations in the private, public or third sector. You’ll build critical, creative and practical capabilities that can be applied in areas such as technology, health and wellbeing, education, social innovation and environmental work.
As well as developing your understanding of design thinking, you’ll strengthen your ability to frame opportunities, work with others, understand users and support innovation. You’ll also use a capability framework to recognise and develop your own strengths, helping you apply your design skills with confidence across different roles, teams and career paths.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
Additionally, the website includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
T240 is a compulsory module in our:
T240 is an option module in our:
Design for impact (T240) starts once a year – in October.
It will next start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2033.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
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If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
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Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
