Design Thinking

Course Overview

This training course introduces participants to the principles, frameworks, and practical applications of Design Thinking—a human-centered problem-solving approach. Participants will engage in hands-on activities to foster creativity, empathy, and innovation in tackling real-world challenges.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

1. Understand the core principles and five phases of Design Thinking.
2. Develop empathy and gain deeper insights into user needs.
3. Learn ideation techniques to generate creative and innovative solutions.
4. Prototype and test ideas quickly and effectively.
5. Cultivate a problem-solving mindset adaptable to different industries.
6. Apply Design Thinking to real-world challenges through hands-on activities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the significance and value of Design Thinking in innovation and problem-solving.
• Apply empathy-based research methods to uncover user needs and pain points.
• Utilize brainstorming and ideation techniques to generate diverse ideas.
• Develop and refine low-fidelity prototypes for user testing.
• Iterate solutions based on feedback and real-world insights.
• Integrate Design Thinking principles into workplace projects and decision-making.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Design Thinking

• Definition and importance of Design Thinking
• Historical background and evolution
• Case studies of successful Design Thinking applications

Module 2: Empathize – Understanding User Needs

• The role of empathy in problem-solving
• Conducting user research: interviews, observations, and surveys
• Developing empathy maps and personas

Module 3: Define – Framing the Problem

• Synthesizing research findings
• Identifying user pain points
• Crafting a problem statement (Point of View - POV)

Module 4: Ideate – Generating Innovative Solutions

• Brainstorming techniques: SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, and Crazy 8s
• Encouraging creativity and divergent thinking
• Selecting and refining promising ideas

Module 5: Prototype – Building to Think

• Importance of rapid prototyping
• Low-fidelity vs. high-fidelity prototypes
• Hands-on prototyping session (e.g., sketches, storyboards, mock-ups)

Module 6: Test – Iterating for Improvement

• Conducting user testing and gathering feedback
• Analyzing test results and making iterations
• Refining solutions for real-world implementation

Module 7: Applying Design Thinking in Work and Life

• Integrating Design Thinking in business and innovation strategies
• Real-world industry applications and success stories
• Capstone project: Applying Design Thinking to a real problem

Training Methodology

This course employs an interactive and experiential learning approach, including:
✅ Hands-on Workshops – Engaging activities to practice each Design Thinking phase.
✅ Case Studies – Analyzing real-world Design Thinking applications.
✅ Group Collaboration – Team exercises to encourage idea-sharing and problem-solving.
✅ Role-Playing – Empathy-building exercises to understand user perspectives.
✅ Rapid Prototyping – Building quick models and testing solutions.
✅ Real-World Challenge – Participants apply their knowledge to a problem from their industry.