This free online course explores the history and application of design thinking, a creative approach to problem solving.

Did you know that David Kelly was the founder of the global design and innovation company IDEO? The course discusses the contributions of different people to the field of design thinking, including Bryan Lawson, Nigel Cross and others. We identify the characteristics of ‘wicked problems’, which are complex and often considered to be intractable, and explain how to apply design thinking to them in order to solve them. We examine the features, sources and types of innovation before looking at the role of innovation and creativity in an organisation.

The course then outlines the factors that influence organisational innovation and describes their benefits. We discuss the need for creativity in teams and the methods used to promote it to boost motivation and collaboration. We cover design as a mindset proposed by pioneers of design thinking, which include the Stanford d.school and IDEO. We highlight the principles, processes and benefits of implementing a design sprint. We provide examples of wicked problems and explain the ‘thirteen musical notes for design’ mindset.

Finally, the course examines the elements and principles of design thinking used to address a problem. We compare poor and good design and provide examples, including real-life examples of great design. We go through outside-in and inside-out design strategies, illustrating various design approaches based on the design philosophies. This fascinating course equips you with the skills and mindsets of design thinking. Sign up to learn how to harness design thinking to boost your productivity, revenues and customer satisfaction.