Design Thinking: A Human-Centred Approach to Problem Solving
Workshops
Problem-solving
Cooperation and Teamwork
Customer Orientation 
Creative Thinking
Critical Thinking 
Default image: workshopsAbstract
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
Using a real-world challenge related to the university, participants will work through the five-step design thinking process. Every step is briefly introduced and followed by group work and reflection.
There is no script. Slides will be made available and a list with recommended reading will be provided.
Academic Semester
Spring Semester 2024Location
- ETH Zentrum
PBLabs RZ (RZ D8, Clausiusstrasse 59)
Audience Size
21-50 peopleTarget audience
Bachelor students
Master students
Doctoral students
Postdocs
Language
EnglishComment
The workshop starts on Friday 19 April 2024 in the afternoon and continues on Saturday 20 April for the full day (exact times TBC).
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.