Design thinking refers to the cognitive, strategic and practical processes by which design concepts (prototypes for new products, buildings, machines, communications, etc.) are conceived, developed and delivered. It involves continually re-framing problems, challenging assumptions and integrating broad perspectives into solutions.
What is Design Thinking?
- Empathizing and Defining the Problem Space – Using techniques like interviews, contextual observations and mental mapping, designers deeply engage with target users, beneficiaries or customers to uncover and define their true needs, pain points and constraints. This empathic mindset leads to authentic framing of the problem to be solved.
- Ideating Creative Solutions – Designers leverage creative exercises like rapid prototyping, brainstorming and deferring visual judgement to devise wide solution possibilities unconstrained initially by resources, systems or mental models. A culture of leaning into creativity nurtures non-obvious, human-centric and delightful solutions.
- Experimenting & Iterating Rapidly – Using tactics like low-fidelity early prototypes, designers test solution ideas frequently with users, gather rapid feedback, iterate and improve cycles quickly through evidence-based learning. This relies on ongoing trial-and-error thinking and staying flexible.
Design thinking requires adopting an empathic lens to understand people’s lives, prioritizing experimentation over excessive planning to ideate original solutions, and embracing creative, iterative processes to drive transformational designs tailored to human needs. The core ethos enables problem (re)framing and solving for maximum impact.
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Professional Certificate in Innovation and Design Thinking
Blended Learning – Mix of Classroom & Online, Business Course by Griffith College Dublin (GCD) – Dublin City South, Co. DublinInnovate your way to success through design thinking. This blended course is delivered at Griffith College Dublin over three Saturdays in person and two mid-week evenings online. Design thinking is a vital innovation methodology that encourages user-centric solutions, enhances adaptability in a rapidly changing world, and helps create a valuable competitive edge in problem-solving. Don’t…
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Certificate in Design Thinking
Blended Learning – Mix of Classroom & Online Course by IADT – Dun Laoghaire, Co. DublinDesign Thinking can transform the way organisations develop products, services, processes and strategy. Many companies now deploy design thinking methodologies to help them overcome key business challenges ever present in today’s fast-paced technology and data driven environment. Design thinking can be used as an innovative approach: for problem solving and management strategy; to create customer-centric…
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Tangent at Trinity – Masterclass in Design Thinking for Strategy and Change Management
Online Learning, Continual Process Improvement Course by Trinity College Dublin – Dublin City South, Co. DublinImplementing effective change at an organisational level can be challenging. Ensuring each change considers and engages the people it impacts is essential. Design Thinking is a process whereby managers can design user-centred solutions to organisational challenges. It involves analysis and imagination and works effectively at the individual, team, and organisational levels. It explores solutions based…
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Tangent at Trinity – Masterclass in Introduction to Design Thinking
Online Learning, Continual Process Improvement Course by Trinity College Dublin – Dublin City South, Co. DublinOrganisations, institutions, and societies face challenges often referred to as ‘wicked problems’ and, as such, require multidimensional solutions. Design Thinking has its roots in industrial design and engineering and borrows from psychology, computer science, and ethnography. It provides an excellent framework to explore user-centred solutions to challenges in an iterative manner. Rather than being problem-focused,…
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