Dave Evans

Dave Evans is a lecturer at Stanford University's Design Program and co-founder of the Stanford Life Design Lab. He previously worked as a startup founder and executive at companies including Electronic Arts and Apple, where he led the mouse team and introduced laser printing to the masses. Together with Bill Burnett, Evans co-authored the #1 New York Times bestseller "Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life" (2016), which applies design thinking principles to life and career planning. The book emerged from their popular Stanford course of the same name, which has helped thousands of students approach life decisions through a designer's mindset. Evans' work focuses on helping people apply design thinking methodologies to personal and professional development. His teachings emphasize prototyping life choices, reframing problems, and taking action through small experiments rather than trying to plan everything in advance. Beyond his academic work, Evans is a public speaker and workshop leader who has presented at organizations and conferences worldwide. He holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and a graduate diploma in Contemplative Studies from Naropa University.

Readers appreciate Evans' practical, action-oriented approach to life design and career planning. Many highlight the concrete exercises and frameworks that help translate design thinking into personal decision-making. What readers liked: - Clear explanation of design concepts for non-designers - Actionable steps and exercises - Balance of theory with real-world examples - Focus on experimentation over perfect planning What readers disliked: - Some found concepts repetitive - Corporate/privileged perspective - Too focused on career aspects vs. other life areas - Exercises can feel basic for experienced professionals Ratings: Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,800+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.0/5 (32,000+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Finally, a framework for making life decisions without overthinking" - Amazon reviewer "Changed how I approach problems, but wished for more depth" - Goodreads review "Great for students/early career, less useful mid-career" - Goodreads review "The worksheets alone are worth the price" - Amazon reviewer

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life (2016) Co-authored with Bill Burnett, this book outlines a design thinking approach to career and life planning, based on the authors' Stanford University course methodology and frameworks.

Tim Brown As CEO of IDEO and author of "Change by Design," Brown explores design thinking methodologies for business innovation and organizational change. His work parallels Evans' focus on applying design principles to solve complex problems, with an emphasis on human-centered approaches.

Carol Dweck Her research on growth mindset aligns with Evans' emphasis on prototyping and learning through experimentation. Dweck's work in "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" provides psychological frameworks for approaching personal development and career changes.

Clayton Christensen His book "How Will You Measure Your Life?" applies business theories to personal development and life planning. Christensen shares Evans' background as both a business leader and educator, bringing management principles to individual decision-making.

David Kelley As founder of IDEO and Stanford's d.school, Kelley developed many of the design thinking concepts that Evans teaches. His work focuses on building creative confidence and applying design methodology to various challenges.

Daniel Pink Pink's books examine motivation, timing, and career development through a research-based lens similar to Evans' approach. His work in "Drive" and "When" connects behavioral science to practical career and life decisions.