Design thinking

Kristiāna Roth

Design thinking has gained huge popularity among the most successful companies in the world. Google, Apple, Siemens, Lufthansa and General Electric are only some of the companies which use this approach for the development of both new products and services, as well as the improvement of internal processes. 

Even though design thinking comes from the design field, it is not necessary to be a skillful artist or designer to apply it successfully in the business environment. During this course you will find out about the design thinking process and some of the methods within it.  

Aim: to provide an insight into design thinking through a small design project, during which new product and services solutions will be developed.

Benefits:

• an insight into one of the most popular innovation management approaches;
• practical skills for applying design thinking methods;
• more satisfied customers;
• more motivated employees;
• more successful innovations in the market;
• improved company internal processes.

Duration: 1 day, 6 hours. 

Working method: a structured practice-based interactive working method. A new challenge will be chosen during the learning process, for which solutions with design thinking will be sought in a structured fashion during the day. Therefore, during the course of the day there will be many practical exercises and tasks. The presenter will also share examples from her personal experience and from world practice. 

Target audience:  company and team managers, process managers, product managers or people who are responsible for the introduction of new products, services and processes within a company.

Programme

1. Introduction to design thinking 

• Design thinking process.
• Basic principles of design thinking.
• Ways of applying design thinking.

2. Research

• The importance of empathy in the creation of innovation (products and services).
• Methods for finding out customer needs.

3. Defining the problem

• Researching methods for the collation and analysis of data.
• Defining the challenge.

4. Generation of ideas

• Methods for the generation of ideas for different types of teams.
• Selecting ideas.

5. Prototyping and testing

• Creating a prototype with a low level of detail.
• Planning test interviews.

Venue: TRIVIUMS training rooms, 4th floor, Blaumaņa Street 11/13-12, Rīga.

The cost of participation includes materials for distribution, coffee breaks and lunch.

If this is required at the corporate level, the programme can be adapted to the specific nature and needs of the company.