Design Thinking in 3 Steps from Udemy

In this course, you’ll learn design thinking from the people who helped invent it. Designit is a global strategic design firm, and our designers help organizations across the globe learn and adopt a human-centered approach to innovation.

This course is taught by Alan Cooper, Sanskriti Ayyar, and Teresa Brazen, team members from Cooper Professional Education (CPE) — a team at Designit.

Through this interactive course, you’ll learn a different approach to strategic problem solving so that you can create experiences customers love. You’ll practice design thinking on a real-life project and equip yourself with a powerful set of tools to become more collaborative, innovative, and effective.

You’ll learn:

how to understand the problem from your customer's perspective;
how to effectively brainstorm innovative ideas;
and how to create prototypes to test your new ideas before investing a lot of time and money.

We designed this class for people who’ve heard about design thinking but who don’t know exactly what it is or how it works. If you want to start learning about design thinking while working on a real project that you can add to your portfolio, this is the course for you.

This class is geared to a wide range of professionals, whether you’re a business leader wanting to better understand what the designers at your company do, or a generalist wanting to break out of solving problems in the same old way.

Music used throughout the course: Just Smile by LiQWYD | find on Instagram @liqwyd. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply the design thinking framework to solve problems more creatively
Create prototypes to test your idea early, before making a big investment of time and money
Understand problems from the customer's perspective
Guide groups to effectively brainstorm innovative ideas

Plan and conduct effective design research, including user interviews
Make and use a storyboard to communicate your design ideas
Identify your design research objectives
Make a plan to iterate your idea forward

Apply the design thinking framework to solve problems more creatively
Create prototypes to test your idea early, before making a big investment of time and money
Understand problems from the customer's perspective
Guide groups to effectively brainstorm innovative ideas
Plan and conduct effective design research, including user interviews
Make and use a storyboard to communicate your design ideas
Identify your design research objectives
Make a plan to iterate your idea forward

Syllabus

Understand what you'll get from the course and how the course is set up.

Learn more at www.designit.com

You'll be able to explain the steps of Design Thinking, and the goal of each step. You'll also be able to share a story of how design thinking had an impact on a real project.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the foundational principles of design thinking

Taught by industry leaders in design thinking from the company Designit

Develops skills in understanding the customer's perspective and creating innovative solutions

Provides hands-on experience through a real-life project

Suitable for both beginners and experienced professionals in various fields

Utilizes a mix of interactive materials, including videos, readings, and discussions

Reviews summary

Practical introduction to design thinking basics

According to learners, this course provides a clear and practical introduction to Design Thinking in 3 Steps, making complex concepts accessible for beginners. Students particularly appreciate the hands-on activities and the opportunity to work on a real-life project that can be added to a portfolio. The structured modules on understanding users, envisioning solutions, and prototyping ideas are frequently highlighted as strengths. While highly beneficial for those new to the methodology, some learners seeking advanced deep dives may find the coverage to be a foundational overview rather than an exhaustive exploration.

Taught by experienced professionals.

"The instructors clearly have deep industry experience, which lent a lot of credibility to the lessons."

"I felt the insights from Designit team members were authentic and highly relevant to professional practice."

"Their explanations were clear, and their real-world examples were very insightful."

Well-organized into logical, actionable steps.

"The breakdown into 'Understand, Envision, Prototype' made the entire design thinking process very clear and easy to grasp."

"The syllabus is perfectly structured, guiding me through each step with purpose."

"I found the step-by-step approach incredibly helpful for internalizing the methodology."

Emphasizes real-world project work.

"The hands-on activities and the focus on a real-life project were invaluable for applying what I learned immediately."

"I really valued the practical tools and strategies provided; I could use them in my job right away."

"The project allowed me to build something tangible for my portfolio, which is a huge plus."

Excellent for newcomers to design thinking.

"As someone completely new to design thinking, I found this course incredibly easy to follow and understand the core principles."

"It perfectly covers the basics for anyone who has heard about design thinking but doesn't know where to start."

"I appreciated how it breaks down complex concepts into manageable, bite-sized lessons, making it less intimidating."

Provides an overview, not exhaustive detail.

"While excellent for an introduction, I felt it didn't go deep enough into advanced techniques or complex scenarios."

"If you're already familiar with the basics of design thinking, this course might feel a bit too high-level."

"It's a great starting point, but I'll need to seek additional resources for more in-depth exploration of certain topics."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Design Thinking in 3 Steps with these activities:

Explore additional design thinking resources

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Expand your knowledge by exploring online tutorials and resources related to design thinking, deepening your understanding of its principles and methodologies.

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Identify reputable websites, blogs, or online courses that offer design thinking content.
Review tutorials and articles on different aspects of design thinking, such as empathy, ideation, and prototyping.
Apply what you learn to your own projects or case studies.

Participate in peer review sessions

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Engage with peers to share and critique design thinking ideas, providing valuable perspectives and fostering collaboration.

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Find a peer group or online community focused on design thinking.
Present your design thinking project to the group for feedback.
Actively participate in discussions and provide constructive criticism to others.

Attend a design thinking workshop

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Immerse yourself in a hands-on workshop environment where you can apply design thinking principles under the guidance of experienced practitioners.

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Research and identify design thinking workshops that align with your interests.
Register for a workshop and participate actively in all sessions.
Collaborate with other participants and industry experts to develop innovative solutions.

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Practice design thinking exercises

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Apply design thinking principles through hands-on exercises to enhance your understanding and problem-solving abilities.

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Identify a real-world problem to solve using design thinking.
Brainstorm innovative ideas to address the problem.
Create a prototype to test your solution.
Gather feedback and iterate on your design.

Participate in design thinking challenges

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Put your design thinking skills to the test by participating in competitions or challenges, showcasing your abilities and expanding your knowledge.

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Identify design thinking challenges or competitions that pique your interest.
Form a team or work individually to develop innovative solutions.
Present your ideas to a panel of judges or the public.

Mentor junior designers or students

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Share your design thinking knowledge and skills by mentoring others, reinforcing your understanding while fostering the growth of aspiring designers.

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Identify opportunities to mentor junior designers or students.
Provide guidance and support on design thinking projects or assignments.
Share your experiences and insights to inspire and empower your mentees.

Develop a design thinking case study

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Create a comprehensive case study that showcases your application of design thinking to a real-world challenge, demonstrating your understanding and problem-solving abilities.

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Identify a company or organization facing a design challenge.
Conduct user research to understand their needs and pain points.
Apply design thinking principles to develop innovative solutions.
Present your findings and recommendations in a written case study.

Contribute to open-source design thinking projects

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Engage in open-source initiatives related to design thinking, actively contributing to the community while enhancing your skills and knowledge.

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Identify open-source design thinking projects or initiatives.
Review the project documentation and contribute ideas or code.
Collaborate with other contributors and seek feedback to improve your contributions.

Career center

Learners who complete Design Thinking in 3 Steps will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Design Lead

Design Leads are the creative force behind developing and executing user-centric designs for a company's products or services. To help their teams succeed, Design Leads need a firm grasp of how to apply design thinking in order to solve problems for and improve the experience of a company's target audience. This course teaches the Design Thinking process in three steps: Understand, Envision, and Prototype, and provides activities and interviews that can be directly applied to real-world situations in order to create a prototype.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Lead

User Researcher

User Researchers study the behavior and preferences of a product's end users, and this course will help prepare you to conduct effective research, analyze data, and make informed recommendations to your team. The course will teach you how to conduct user interviews, build a research guide, and create a proto-persona, which are all essential skills for User Researchers.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall vision and strategy for a product, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their customers and develop products that meet those needs. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and develop innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Product Designer

Product Designers are responsible for the design of a product's user interface, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their customers and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

UX Researcher

UX Researchers study the user experience of a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and make recommendations to improve the user experience. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your users and make recommendations that will improve their experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Researcher

UX Designer

UX Designers are responsible for the user experience of a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your users and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers are responsible for the design of a product's user interface, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Visual Designer

Visual Designers are responsible for the visual design of a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Information Architect

Information Architects are responsible for organizing and structuring the content of a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Experience Designer

Experience Designers are responsible for the overall experience of a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Experience Designer

Service Designer

Service Designers are responsible for the design of a product or service's user experience, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Service Designer

Design Strategist

Design Strategists are responsible for developing and executing the design strategy for a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Strategist

Creative Director

Creative Directors are responsible for the overall creative vision of a product or service, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Innovation Manager

Innovation Managers are responsible for developing and executing the innovation strategy for a company, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their users and create designs that are both user-friendly and visually appealing. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Manager

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are responsible for starting and running their own businesses, and they need to be able to understand the needs of their customers and create products or services that meet those needs. This course will teach you how to apply design thinking to understand your customers and create innovative products that they will love.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur