Design Thinking- Fundamentals

Course objectives: 

• Introduction to Design Thinking and its use across industries 
• Identify the benefits of Design Thinking and its importance in solutions  
• Understand the importance of the customer to Design Thinking 
• Understand the tools utilized in Design Thinking and how to apply them 
• Practice the Design Thinking process to deeply understand the approach 
• Ability to apply specific Design Thinking steps and tools into practice 

Day 1: 

1. Design Thinking introduction 

1. What is Design Thinking and its genesis 

2. The principles of Design Thinking 

3. The steps of Design Thinking 

2. Importance of iterative methods like Design Thinking in today’s rapidly changing environment 

1. Essence of benefits of Design Thinking for businesses 

2. The executive aspect of balanced use of Design Thinking in business 

3. Examples of Design Thinking using across selected business sectors (note: case studies will be selected based on client interest) 

3. The customer understanding comes first 

1. The importance of empathy in Design Thinking 

2. How to understand problems by understanding deeply customers behavior 

3. Tools and scenarios for effective problem discovery interviews and research mapping 

4. Problem reframing and definition – key to new, game-changing points of view 

1. Personas map – looking from the user/customer/stakeholders perspective 

2. “How might we” and value proposition model – effective pains and gains framing 

3. Customer journey – visual methodology to find opportunity areas for outstanding service experience 

Day 2 

5. Ideation – the secret of creative geniuses thinking 

1. Common understanding and addressing the key opportunity areas  

2. Idea generation methods 

1. Lighting talks 

2. Crazy eights – visual ideation 

3. Prioritization techniques  

1. Heat map 

2. Idea priority map 

6. Solution visualization/prototyping and testing 

1. Selection of the proper visualization/prototyping strategy 

2. Methodology for rapid facade prototyping of solution or service  

3. Prototype testing and remote customer interview tools and script 

4. Agile and iterative adaptation of feedback after testing 

7. Pitching of validated solution idea 

1. Killer pitch elements 

2. Building your pitch from a customer/stakeholder perspective 

3. Golden rules for pitch delivery and feedback collection 

8. Summary 

1. Design Thinking process, key principles 

2. Rules and key aspects of practical application in business 

3. The essence of experiment loop and agile improvement in Design Thinking 

4. Participant conclusions 

5. Q&A session