Before taking this design for behavioral change course, I believed it could serve as a preparatory course for product managers, especially beneficial for students who want to become tech product managers in the future, as the course covers content related to the theory and practice of human-computer interaction design. Before the course started, I also consulted some students who had taken CS247B and CS147, and they all said the course was very interesting and useful, and recommended it to me. With these expectations, I completed the entire course.
During the course, I also found that it is highly suitable for undergraduate students. Many reading materials in the course are closely related to daily life, such as topics about designing and nudging one’s own behavior, such as controlling the frequency of mobile phone use, which are very practical. I think it would be an excellent choice if offered as a large-enrollment undergraduate course.
The course also invited many experts from other fields to share their expertise and work. Two of them left a very deep impression on me. One instructor taught us to draw simple sketches. Following her guidance, I felt as if I had returned to my childhood. The whole process was extremely relaxing and fun, and I also learned how to express my ideas through brush strokes. Of course, the weekly studio sessions also gave me the chance to practice, and I am grateful for all the TAs’s, especially Ryan’s, help and support. Another instructor shared content on career development planning, explaining the career decision-making process in detail, with clear logic and great practicality, and also recommended many useful websites and resources to us. Meeting so many outstanding and capable people also made me seriously think about my future development direction and possibilities.
My favorite part of this course was the complete process of discussing and co-designing products together. During the course, I read many materials related to behavioral design, such as how to guide user behavior, how to consider ethical issues, and content related to tech products and environmental protection. These readings were very interesting, and I especially enjoyed visualizing my thoughts through simple sketches, a way to make thinking visible. My assignment scores gradually improved from just over 60 points at the beginning to 100 points. I truly understood that the process of drawing is actually turning abstract ideas into clear, visible forms.
In this course, I also learned many tools and methods, such as web programming tools, Figma, Balsamiq, Google AI Studio and other Vibe coding tools, and other interface design tools. There was a wide variety of tools, and using them was very interesting, which also gave me a deeper understanding of product design. Although tools like Figma help us learn design quickly, I also realized that personal aesthetic taste is equally important, and so is the system path of a product. We need to develop independent thinking instead of being replaced by AI products. I also gained a lot from discussing with my classmates.
One thing I did not expect: the final project I worked on was a tool about late-night eating. I have always wondered whether asking people to pre-order their evening food is really a good method. Making decisions in the morning seems reasonable, but things often change by night.
During the project, I also identified areas where I can improve. I found that I am not very good at team communication and hesitate to proactively express my ideas. However, through collaborating with classmates, I saw their outstanding strengths, especially during discussions and idea exchanges. This made me realize that proactive expression and communication are skills I need to strengthen in the future.
This course is also strongly connected to my other research work at Stanford. I am engaged in education research, and whether it is education research, behavioral design, or my late-night eating project, they are all essentially related to human behavior and emphasize people-centeredness. I am considering pursuing a career as an education product manager in the future, so this course helped me familiarize myself with many principles of behavioral design, ethical thinking, teamwork, and product design. I find it extremely meaningful.
If asked what I will remember ten years from now, first of all, I will definitely remember my team. Everyone was highly motivated, intelligent, caring toward each other, and talented. I once heard a saying: The greatest thing about Stanford is its students. Through communicating with everyone, I truly saw the shining points in each person, and I was deeply touched by the understanding and tolerance among us.
In addition, I will remember the complete design process from generating an idea to finally turning it into a product, including baseline study, intervention study, and assumption test. Another point that impressed me deeply is the ethical considerations of technology’s impact on the environment and equity, which left a strong impression through readings and discussions.
On ethical reflections in the course, the first question is: What mechanisms did the project use to guide or change user behavior? I believe we used several different mechanisms, such as peer influence to see if it could change user behavior; there were also gentle prompts and reminders, such as sending a message in the morning to remind you that you can pre-order evening food and think about whether to do so. Meanwhile, creating a supportive group environment also helps influence behavior. I believe these are all acceptable forms of guidance, not manipulation.
Regarding user privacy, I believe that during user registration, relevant privacy issues should be clearly stated to maintain transparency, so that users do not face privacy risks without their knowledge. I think this is extremely important.
Overall, I gained a great deal from this course. Whether it is knowledge, tools, ways of thinking, or the experience of collaborating with peers, I have benefited immensely.
