Design Thinking: A Human-Centred Approach to Problem Solving

Abstract

In this course, students get to know Design Thinking, which is an innovation method that can be applied to solve a broad range of problems from product development to social innovation. The students will engage in collaborative team exercises to learn about and directly apply the five typical design thinking steps – empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test – by solving a real-world challenge.

Objective

During the course, students will... ...get to know the design thinking process working on a specific real-world challenge ...learn when to apply design thinking methodology ...learn how to empathize with users, how to formulate a clear problem statement, develop ideas, prototype as well as test them with potential users

Content

During the course, students will... ...get to know the design thinking process as: - - a methodology to develop ideas and concepts – typically in the early phase of the innovation process (the fuzzy-front end) - - a methodology used for product, service and business model innovation - - a methodology used for organizational development: process improvements, redesign of organizational structures, etc. ...learn how to apply the design thinking methodology or parts of it ...learn how to empathize with users: simple interview techniques, observation, etc. ...learn how to formulate a clear problem statement ...learn how to develop ideas: potentially alternative brainstorming techniques ...learn how to prototype ideas with simple means ...learn how to test them with potential users: simple test structures What the students should learn from the course: - Students will be able to assess whether Design Thinking is useful methodology to solve challenges they face in their daily business activities - Students will be able to use elements (i.e. a novel brainstorming technique, a novel feedback method, etc.) in their daily business activities What the students will NOT learn: - This 3-day training is by not extensive enough to provide a full-scale design thinking training that enables students to design, organize and run their own design thinking workshops and projects. For this, further courses, trainings and self-guided learning is necessary. References to institutes, books and other material will be provided.

Resources