Design Thinking

This short course is an introduction to Design Thinking an interactive thought process which enables students to understand their end user better, in order to create innovative products and services. On the course, they learn how this approach can help solve problems creatively in a range of different industries, from both the public and private sectors, prior to formulating students' final ideas with clarity and flair. Taught via a mixture of case studies, lively class discussions, and hands-on assignments, students receive personalised feedback on each of their assignments from an industry specialist. The course covers: framing problems, creating a bank of ideas, and finally developing a prototype which focuses on the demographic you desire to design for. This course provides a variety of tools, activities and real examples with the aim of boosting your design thinking abilities. An emphasis on the consumer's perspective is present throughout. Students become familiar with different ways in which to approach a variety of briefs. By the end of the course students will have the tools to; • Identify and assess opportunities through customer needs analysis. • Create a clear set of product specifications based on customer needs that are desirable, feasible, and viable. • Implement a proven 4-step method for planning and executing a prototype for a product, service, or business idea. • Use observational techniques to gain a deeper understanding of end-user insights. • Generate ideas while determining which ones are likely to produce specific, desired outcomes. • Defined your minimum viable product. • Develop a prototype in line with your chosen demographics needs. • Provide a user-friendly experience. • Created a portfolio of options. • Deliver a project from an idea to a prototype.