Design Thinking Mini Bootcamp

A 4-week hands-on workshop series focused on real-world problem solving — not software, not theory, not fluff.

Great ideas fail every day because people rush to solutions without fully understanding the problem. This mini bootcamp teaches you how professional designers and innovators slow down just enough to uncover the right problem — so what you build actually matters.

Hosted by The Design Library, this series introduces the Double Diamond framework through practical, notebook-friendly exercises you can use immediately in school, work, startups, or personal projects.

All participants receive access to a curated Design Toolkit used throughout the workshop. These are the same types of simple, repeatable tools used by designers and innovation teams to move from research to ideas to prototypes.

The toolkit includes:

• Observation and insight grids for capturing real user needs
• Guided interview prompts and reflection exercises
• Problem-framing templates and journey map sketches
• Structured ideation tools like Crazy 8s and SCAMPER Lite
• Feedback and testing grids for rapid iteration

All tools are notebook-friendly, beginner-accessible, and reusable for future projects.

Tuesdays | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST

• February 24, 2026
• March 3, 2026
• March 10, 2026
• March 17, 2026

📍 Format: Live, instructor-led (virtual or in-person — adjust as needed)

• Beginners curious about design thinking
• Entrepreneurs and founders refining an idea
• Students exploring innovation and problem-solving
• Professionals who want better frameworks for tackling messy problems
• Anyone who wants to think more clearly before building

No design background or software experience required.

By the end of this series, you will:

• Understand and apply the Double Diamond design process
• Learn how to observe people and uncover real needs
• Turn research into a clear, actionable problem statement
• Generate stronger ideas through structured creativity
• Prototype and test ideas quickly using simple materials
• Leave with repeatable tools you can use again and again

• No advanced software
• No design jargon
• No pressure to “be creative”

Everything is taught using simple notebook-based tools, group discussion, and hands-on exercises used by global innovation teams.

Understanding people, needs, and the real problem

Learn how innovators observe, listen, and capture insights without jumping to solutions.

You’ll practice:

• Short user interviews
• Observation and insight capture
• Identifying early pain points and opportunities

Deliverable:
Insight notes + 1–2 opportunity areas

Turning insights into a problem worth solving

Transform research into a clear, focused problem statement that guides better ideas.

You’ll practice:

• Journey mapping (quick sketch format)
• Problem framing and reframing
• Group feedback and refinement

Deliverable:
One refined problem statement + journey map sketch

Generating ideas and choosing a direction

Explore multiple solutions quickly and visually — even if you don’t consider yourself “artistic.”

You’ll practice:

• Crazy 8s sketching
• SCAMPER Lite ideation
• Concept selection using guided criteria

Deliverable:
Selected solution concept + early sketches

Prototyping, testing, and iteration

Make your idea tangible, test it, and refine it based on real feedback.

You’ll practice:

• Paper and low-fidelity prototyping
• Structured peer testing
• Communicating your idea clearly

Deliverable:
Low-fidelity prototype + feedback notes + final iteration

• A complete end-to-end design thinking experience
• Practical tools you can reuse for future ideas
• Increased confidence in tackling ambiguous problems
• A clearer understanding of what to build — and why

Do I need design experience?
No. This workshop is built for beginners and non-designers.

Do I need special software or tools?
No. Everything can be done with a notebook, pen, and basic household materials, however a laptop is recommended.

Is this interactive?
Yes. This is a working session series — not a lecture.

Can I miss a session?
You’ll get the most value by attending all four, as each week builds on the last.

Info: Understanding people before defining solutions:
This week focuses on learning how innovators uncover real problems by observing people in context. Participants practice slowing down, asking better questions, and documenting what they see and hear without jumping to conclusions. The emphasis is on curiosity, listening, and recognizing patterns in human behavior.
Exercises & Tools Emphasized:
Short paired user interviews using guided prompts
Observation note-taking with a simple Insight Grid
“5 Whys” questioning to dig beneath surface-level complaints
Key Learnings:
How to identify unmet needs rather than assumed problems
How insights emerge from patterns, not single comments
Why strong solutions always start with human understanding
Outcome:
Participants leave with documented insights and 1–2 opportunity areas grounded in real observations.

Info: Turning research into a clear problem worth solving:
In Week 2, participants transform raw research into structure and clarity. The focus is on synthesizing insights, mapping the user experience, and writing a problem statement that sets strong boundaries for ideation. Participants learn how narrowing focus actually increases creative potential.
Exercises & Tools Emphasized:
Quick, hand-drawn journey mapping
Problem statement writing using a proven formula
Group critique using the “Stronger or Weaker?” feedback method
Key Learnings:
How to move from observations to meaningful themes
How framing influences the quality of ideas that follow
How to recognize weak vs. strong problem definitions
Outcome:
Each participant produces a refined problem statement and a simple journey map that guides future decisions.

Info: Exploring ideas through structured creativity
This week emphasizes creative exploration and visual thinking. Participants learn how to generate a high quantity of ideas quickly, visualize them through simple sketches, and evaluate directions without overthinking. The goal is to reduce fear around creativity and make ideas tangible early.
Exercises & Tools Emphasized:
Crazy 8s rapid sketching
SCAMPER Lite for expanding and remixing ideas
Dot voting to select a direction based on clear criteria
Key Learnings:
Why quantity leads to quality in ideation
How sketching is a thinking tool, not an art skill
How to choose ideas based on insight, not personal bias
Outcome:
Participants leave with a selected concept and early sketches ready for prototyping.

Info: Making ideas real, testing, and iterating:
The final week focuses on learning through making. Participants build low-fidelity prototypes using paper or household materials, test them with peers, and refine their ideas based on feedback. The emphasis is on speed, learning, and communication — not perfection.
Exercises & Tools Emphasized:
Low-fidelity paper prototyping
Peer testing using a Like / Wish / Wonder feedback grid
Simple test scripts to guide conversations
Key Learnings:
How prototyping reduces risk and uncertainty
How feedback improves ideas when structured correctly
How to communicate an idea clearly and confidently
Outcome:
Participants finish with a tested prototype, feedback insights, and a clearer path forward for their idea.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Thomas Clifton