Designing Your Life
Designing Your Life (DYL) is a personal development brand and methodology created by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, both Stanford University educators and New York Times bestselling authors. The core philosophy is simple yet powerful: "Don't search for meaning. Design it."
The brand offers a comprehensive ecosystem for life design, including bestselling books, workshops, coaching programs, and certifications. Their approach applies design thinking principles to help individuals create more meaningful, purposeful lives.
Key Offerings
Books
- How to Live a Meaningful Life - Their newest release addressing how to find purpose in a world of societal shifts and isolation
- Designing Your Life - The original bestselling book
- Designing Your New Work Life - Focused on career and work design
- Designing Your Life Workbook - Practical exercises and tools
Programs & Services
- 5-Day Meaning Design Experiment - A free introductory program with daily mindset practices
- DYL Workshops - In-person and virtual workshop experiences
- Coaching - Access to certified DYL coaches
- Certifications - Programs to become a certified DYL coach or workshop provider
- Newsletter - Weekly insights delivered every Tuesday at 9am
The methodology emphasizes finding more flow, joy, and purpose through practical design thinking approaches rather than traditional goal-setting methods.
Target Audience
Individuals seeking more meaning and purpose in life, professionals feeling stuck in their careers, life coaches seeking certification, organizations looking for team development programs, educators interested in design thinking approaches
Key Features
- 5-Day Meaning Design Experiment
- Life design methodology based on design thinking
- Certified coaching network
- Workshop programs for individuals and organizations
- Weekly newsletter with actionable insights
- Certification programs for coaches and workshop providers
- Corporate and organizational programs
- DYL for Women specialized program
- Global provider network
Use Cases
- Personal life redesign and meaning-making
- Career transitions and work-life design
- Overcoming feeling stuck or unfulfilled
- Organizational team development
- Becoming a certified life design coach
- Finding more flow, joy, and purpose in daily life
- Professional development for educators and coaches
Pros
- Created by Stanford educators with academic credibility
- New York Times bestselling authors
- Practical design thinking approach to life challenges
- Comprehensive ecosystem (books, coaching, workshops, certifications)
- Free introductory 5-day experiment available
- Global network of certified coaches and providers
Cons
- Premium programs and certifications likely require significant investment
- Methodology may not resonate with everyone
- Effectiveness depends on individual commitment to the process
Pricing
Free 5-Day Meaning Design Experiment available; books available for purchase; coaching, workshops, and certification programs have separate pricing (not specified on homepage)
