Design Thinking Foundations

Abstract

In this workshop, participants 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. Participants 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.

Learning Objectives

During the workshop, participants 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) used for product, service and business model innovation, for organizational development (process improvements, redesign of organizational structures, etc.).

Participants will learn how to:

• apply the design thinking methodology or parts of it
• empathize with users: simple interview techniques, observation, etc.
• formulate a clear problem statement
• develop ideas through brainstorming techniques
• prototype ideas with simple means
• test ideas with potential users through simple test structures.

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

• assess whether design thinking is a useful methodology to solve the challenges they face at university or work.
• use elements (i.e. a novel brainstorming technique, a novel feedback method, etc.) in their daily projects. 

Content

In this workshop, participants 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. Participants 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.

Location

• ETH Zentrum
  PBLabs RZ D8?
• ETH Hönggerberg
  PBLabs HIT E23?

Target audience

Language

Comment

Please note: This 2-day training is not extensive enough to provide full-scale design thinking training that enables participants to design, organize and run their own design thinking workshops and projects. For this, further courses, training and self-guided learning are necessary. References to institutes, books and other materials will be provided.

Information about the room for this training will be shared in summer 2026.