Introduction to Design Thinking – Solving Problems the Human Way

Overview

Design Thinking is a structured, human-centred approach to solving complex problems by deeply understanding people before designing solutions. This one-hour webinar introduces Design Thinking as a practical framework that blends empathy, creativity, and experimentation to help teams design solutions that people genuinely want and use.

Participants will explore what Design Thinking is, where it came from, the mindset that underpins it, and the five-stage process that turns empathy into action. Through real-world examples, learners will see how Design Thinking can be applied across products, services, and experiences.

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge is required.

Target audience

This webinar is designed for a broad, introductory audience, including:

• Individuals involved in designing products, services, or experiences
• Team members and leaders working on problem-solving or change initiatives
• Product, service, learning, and delivery professionals
• Anyone wanting a practical introduction to human-centred problem solving

Objectives

By the end of this webinar, learners will be able to:

• Explain what Design Thinking is and why it matters
• Describe the origins and evolution of Design Thinking
• Understand the mindset and principles that underpin Design Thinking
• Explain the five-stage Design Thinking process and how the stages connect
• Recognise how Design Thinking is applied in real-world contexts

Outline

What is Design Thinking?

• Common misconceptions about Design Thinking
• Design Thinking as a human-centred, evidence-informed approach
• Balancing creativity with rigour

Origins of Design Thinking

• Roots in design practice and human-centred design
• Influence of IDEO and the Stanford d.school
• Adoption across business, education, and public services

Principles and Mindset

• Human-centred thinking and empathy
• Collaboration and diverse perspectives
• Experimentation, iteration, and learning
• Reframing problems and holistic thinking

The Design Thinking Process

• Empathise – understanding people and context
• Define – reframing insights into clear problem statements
• Ideate – generating and exploring possibilities
• Prototype – making ideas tangible to learn quickly
• Test – gathering feedback and iterating based on evidence

Design Thinking in Action

• Real-world case study illustrating empathy-driven innovation
• Translating insights into meaningful outcomes

Q&A and Reflection

• Facilitated discussion and learner questions

Exams and assessments

This webinar does not include an exam or formal assessment.

Hands-on learning

Learning is supported through:

• Facilitated discussion and real-world examples
• Reflection on participants’ own problem-solving approaches