Liberatory Design Process

Over the course of the Fall 2025 semester, I applied both the ADDIE and Liberatory Design frameworks to ideate, develop, and launch a solution that addresses a key training need within the academic advising community at Michigan State University: a design that is flexible, relevant to advisors’ daily work, and adaptable to time constraints. Outlined below are the steps I took in this design process, from needs analysis through implementation. Explore each phase and interact with the elements created throughout the process.

Liberatory Design Zine

Before jumping in and to familiarize you with Liberatory Design framework, I created a Liberatory Design Zine that explores each phase of this model. A zine is a small, self-published, often handmade booklet or publication that focuses around a specific topic or idea. Use the tabs below to explore each phase of Liberatory Design before moving on to the details of my design process.

Empathy Maps

To initiate the design process that eventually informed my prototype and final design, I asked two academic advisors to share their challenges and experiences with a recent learning environment. I transferred their feedback into Empathy Maps, capturing what each person said, thought, did, and felt during that particular learning experience.

An empathy map is a collaborative tool used to better understand the learner for whom the solution is being designed. In this project, it served as both the Analysis phase of ADDIE and the Empathize, Define, and Inquire phase of Liberatory Design.

From the empathy mapping process, several overlapping themes emerged:

• Scenarios were most helpful when advisors could apply learning directly to their work.

• Addressing the purpose of the learning experience was important for motivation.

• A variety of content delivery methods led to higher engagement.

• Training sessions perceived as lengthy felt overwhelming.

  
  

Below are images of both Empathy Maps and the information gathered:

Image of Empathy Map 1, which includes notes on what the person Says, Thinks, Does, and Feels.

Image of Empathy Map 2, which includes notes on what the person Says, Thinks, Does, and Feels.

Co-Design Brainstorm

As I moved into the Design phase of ADDIE and the Imagine phase of Liberatory Design, I collaborated with a colleague who is not only an expert in instructional design but also a current doctoral student. Together, we brainstormed ways to address a key problem identified through the Empathy Map:

Learners need access to flexible learning environments that offer multiple modalities and provide content directly applicable to their job responsibilities in order to overcome time constraints and increase engagement.

We began by exploring the dimensions of this problem and generating a wide range of potential solutions. From there, we narrowed the options by identifying the most promising and high-impact ideas. Ultimately, we determined that developing a mentoring program for academic advisors was the most effective solution. This idea offers individualized and flexible learning, can be delivered in any modality preferred by the advisor, and directly supports their work in academic advising.

Click on the right side of the slides below to flip through each stage of our design brainstorm.

Prototype

With a more focused solution on the development of a mentoring program for academic advisors, I moved into the Development and Implementation phases of the ADDIE model and the Prototype and Try stage of Liberatory Design. Using Figma, I designed several key elements of the program, including:

• A dedicated webpage within the Advisor Resources and Engagement site to house all mentoring tools and resources. This page outlines program benefits, key dates and events, the onboarding process, FAQs, and downloadable materials.

• Application forms for both mentors and mentees.

• Mentor/Mentee Onboarding guides, summarizing initial tasks and steps to begin the mentoring relationship.

• Mentor/Mentee Agreements to establish shared expectations and commitments.

• Suggested meeting topic ideas to support monthly mentor/mentee sessions.

Experience the Figma board below:

After implementing the Figma board, I received feedback on its design and areas for improvement. This input helped shape the development of a live onboarding session for the Academic Advisor Mentoring Program. The session includes a comprehensive presentation detailing program expectations and procedures, opportunities for mentors and mentees to connect through small-group breakout discussions, and dedicated time for participants to ask questions directly to program facilitators.

Summary

Through feedback and collaborative brainstorming, a mentoring program for academic advisors emerged as the most effective solution for three key problems: flexibility, time constraints, and job application. By applying the phases of both ADDIE and Liberatory Design, I was able to refine the program’s components and implement and take gradual steps in implementing the solution. Feedback on the prototype guided design enhancements and informed the creation of a live onboarding session, improving both support and clarity for participants. This project demonstrates how empathy and learner-centered design can create effective solutions for professional growth.