Innovate with Purpose – An Introduction to Human-Centered Design

What happens when nonprofit leaders need a spark of new ideas and strategies to adapt to the current times? What if you could tap into the expertise of your staff, leadership, community members, and other stakeholders to unlock powerful ideas with high impact potential? Imagine how workflows could evolve when planning and delivery is rooted in empathy.

This session brings Design Thinking to nonprofit leaders, a powerful framework that propels a human-centered approach to innovation.

This full-day interactive training invites participants to reimagine how they solve problems, make decisions, and design programs by putting empathy and collaboration at the center of their process. Through real-world examples, peer learning, and hands-on exercises, participants will explore how design thinking can spark creativity, strengthen community connections, and create systems-level change.

Drawing on frameworks from the Stanford d.school and led by Dramatic Results®, this session blends play, storytelling, and teamwork to help attendees connect creativity with strategy in ways that feel both practical and inspiring.

We invite participants to dress comfortably, be prepared to think on their feet, and approach complex problems in innovative ways.

• Creative Warm-Ups: Use quick stoke activities like the Metaphor Generator to spark fresh thinking and prepare for deeper design work.
• Lead with Empathy: Learn how to connect with individuals and communities through empathy interviews and reflective questioning to uncover deeper insights.

• Define Problems Clearly: Practice building problem statements (POVs) that are specific, actionable, and free from pre-embedded solutions.

• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Explore structured frameworks that promote teamwork, creativity, and rapid idea testing.

• Practical Application: Leave with tools, resources, and real-world exercises you can immediately apply to your professional context.

This training is designed for nonprofit leaders, organizational decision-makers, and cross-functional teams who want to bring creativity and collaboration into their work. Human-centered design is most powerful when those at the top are equipped to lead with empathy and adaptability, setting the tone for cultures of innovation, inclusivity, and trust.

While open to all experience levels, it will be particularly valuable for:

• Leadership teams seeking to strengthen organization-wide collaboration through Design Thinking principles.

• Program and operations managers aiming to spark innovation and think outside the box by taking a feedback-oriented approach to problem solving.

• Program teams interested in practicing behaviors that lead to equitable involvement and creative engagement.

• General Admission: $250
• Read CNM's Refund Policy

If you are a CNM Scholarship Recipient, please send an email to [email protected] to receive your discount code.

Ryan Nuckolls-Rosa (she/her), Executive Director - Dramatic Results®

As Executive Director of Dramatic Results® , Ryan brings design thinking into the heart of leadership, aligning creativity with strategy to drive meaningful change. With more than 15 years in nonprofit management and federal grant leadership, she has secured and directed $12 million in U.S. Department of Education awards, ensuring compliance, accountability, and measurable impact. Ryan has guided large-scale initiatives including the Art of Building a City Project and the SEED (STEAM Ecosystem Expansion Demonstration) Project, a $7.9 million grant, anchoring design-centered strategies in operational transformation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable growth. Recognized for her ability to implement systems-level change quickly and effectively, she has cultivated multi-sector partnerships that expand access to the arts in high-need communities. Her career spans work with artists and institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia, with several years of experience in China, where she collaborated on exhibitions, community programming, and cross-cultural projects that continue to inform her global perspective.

Tori-Ann Hampton (she/her), Curriculum Manager - Dramatic Results®

Tori-Ann Hampton is an educator, artist, and design strategist who leads the design team at Dramatic Results®. She drives the creation of innovative learning experiences, professional development programs, and systems that help communities better understand and solve complex challenges. With the power of a listening ear, a curious mind, and the courage to take creative risks, she approaches design as an iterative journey—where feedback serves as a pilot for discovery and growth. As part of the federally funded SEED (STEAM Ecosystem Expansion Demonstration) Project, Tori-Ann led curriculum design across communities, utilizing human-centered design to build equity-driven learning that empowers educators, inspires program designers, and engages learners. With 20 years of experience in education, she has worked within school districts, private educational companies, and nonprofits to drive meaningful change. Her work blends artistry and strategy, transforming bold ideas into systems and practices that create lasting impact.

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