1-Day Design Thinking Workshop

This course offers an introduction to the principles and process of Design Thinking, a human-centered approach to problem-solving and innovation. Participants will learn how to empathize with users, define problem statements, generate creative ideas, prototype solutions, and test them with users. Through a combination of interactive lectures, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, participants will gain practical skills and learn how to adopt a Design Thinking mindset, apply it to their workplace and solve problems innovatively!

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Explain the five stages of the Design Thinking process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.
• Develop empathy for users and gain insights into their needs and challenges.
• Define problem statements and frame design challenges effectively.
• Generate creative ideas through brainstorming and ideation sessions.
• Develop Prototypes based on the problem statements and ideas in the earlier phases
• Compare Testing Techniques and use them for to get appropriate user feedback

• The history of Design Thinking
• Why is Design thinking so popular?
• Solving problems in an innovative way with Design thinking 
• The 5 stages of the Design thinking process 

• The importance of Empathy in Design Thinking
• Building empathy with your target group
• Techniques to build empathy with your users
• • Activity - The what-how-why method

•  The goal of the Define Phase
• Analysis and Synthesis
• User Personas – How to create engaging personas
• Activity - Creating a problem statement – POV Statements, How Might We Statements and the 5 whys
• Activity - User Personas
• Activity - Customer Journey Maps

• Why is Ideation so important?
• Activity - Brainstorming Technique
• Activity - SCAMPER Technique
• Useful tips to overcome Ideation barriers

• Why Prototype? 
• The benefits of Prototyping
• Low-fi Prototype activites and examples
• Common pitfalls in prototyping
• Activity – Buidling your prototype!

• What are we measuring when we conduct these tests? 
• Guidelines for conducting a usability test
• Types of Tests you can conduct 
• Activity - Guerilla Testing

Q&A (30 mins)

This course outline provides a structured approach to introducing participants to the principles and process of Design Thinking over a 5-hour timeframe, allowing ample time for hands-on activities and reflection. Adjustments can be made based on the specific needs and level of expertise of the audience.s

This course is suitable for anyone who wants to understand Design thinking. It is particularly valuable for:

• Managers, executives and stakeholders involved in innovation, change management, product development and management, operations management, problem-solving and digital transformation in any corporate industry
• Entrepreneurs and startup owners interested building the best experience and innovation ideas for business
• Mid-career professionals who want to pivot career to provide consultation / problem-solve in any industry
• Freelancers or design students who are starting out in business-related industry

No experience is required to take on this Design Thinking workshop

The role of a design thinker involves employing a user-centric approach to solve complex problems and drive innovation in any industry. Design thinkers play a critical role in bridging the gap between user needs and business goals, driving innovation, and creating solutions that are both effective and user-friendly.

Design thinking professionals need a diverse set of skills, including empathy to understand user needs, creativity to generate and prototype innovative solutions, and analytical abilities to test and iterate on ideas. They must be proficient in communication and collaboration to work effectively with cross-functional teams, and possess strong facilitation skills to guide the design process. Additionally, they should be adaptable, open-minded, and resilient, with a good grasp of design tools, UX principles, and business acumen to align solutions with strategic objectives. Effective project management and a user-centric mindset are also crucial for success.

Host or Publisher Design X Institute