Design Thinking & Innovation Specialist

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Design Thinking & Innovation Specialist

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course develops practical design thinking and innovation skills for workplace, startup and service-improvement situations. Learners begin with a human-centred innovation mindset and then build capability in empathy, user research and problem definition. The curriculum progresses through ideation, creative collaboration, prioritisation and concept selection before introducing low-cost prototypes, experimentation, testing and iteration. Later modules focus on communicating innovation ideas, leading innovation within teams and turning learning into a personal innovation portfolio and 30-60-90 action plan. Tools such as empathy maps, problem-clarity formulas, SCAMPER triggers, value-effort-risk lenses, riskiest-assumption tests and feedback decision trees are paired with realistic cases. The course is designed to help learners move from vague complaints to clearer problems, evidence-based ideas and small tests that make innovation more practical and easier to communicate.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Apply a human-centred mindset to workplace and customer problems.
Use empathy and user-research tools to understand needs and context.
Reframe complaints into clearer problem statements and How Might We questions.
Generate diverse ideas using structured creativity and collaboration methods.
Prioritise concepts using value, effort and risk considerations.
Build low-cost prototypes around the riskiest assumption.
Capture feedback and decide whether to improve, pivot or stop.
Present innovation ideas using clear, audience-focused storytelling.
Lead team innovation behaviours and build a personal evidence portfolio.

Solve user problems through empathy, experimentation and clear innovation storytelling

CURRICULUM

Design Thinking Mindset and Innovation at Work

Topics Covered:

This module develops practical capability in Design Thinking Mindset and Innovation at Work. Learners work with Human-Centred Innovation Loop and Innovation Mindset in Action to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Rohan Reduces Onboarding Friction provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Design Thinking Mindset and Innovation at Work
Agenda
Human-Centred Innovation Loop
Innovation Mindset in Action
Case: Rohan Reduces Onboarding Friction
Summary Activity

Empathy and User Research Basics

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Empathy and User Research Basics. Learners work with Empathy Map: Neha's Training Attendance Case and Interview Funnel: 10-Minute Research Toolkit to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Neha Studies Training Attendance provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Empathy and User Research Basics
Agenda
Empathy Map: Neha's Training Attendance Case
Interview Funnel: 10-Minute Research Toolkit
Case: Neha Studies Training Attendance
Summary Activity

Defining the Right Problem

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Defining the Right Problem. Learners work with Problem Clarity Formula and From Complaint to HMW: Worked Transformation to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Ishita Reframes Low Attendance provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Defining the Right Problem
Agenda
Problem Clarity Formula
From Complaint to HMW: Worked Transformation
Case: Ishita Reframes Low Attendance
Summary Activity

Ideation and Creative Collaboration

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Ideation and Creative Collaboration. Learners work with Diverge–Build–Converge Flow and SCAMPER Idea Triggers: One Problem, Seven Options to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Startup Improves Delivery Updates provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Ideation and Creative Collaboration
Agenda
Diverge–Build–Converge Flow
SCAMPER Idea Triggers: One Problem, Seven Options
Case: Startup Improves Delivery Updates
Summary Activity

Prioritisation and Concept Selection

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Prioritisation and Concept Selection. Learners work with Value–Effort–Risk Lens and Case: Freelancer Chooses Service Improvement to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Concept Note Canvas: Filled Mini Example provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Prioritisation and Concept Selection
Agenda
Value–Effort–Risk Lens
Concept Note Canvas: Filled Mini Example
Case: Freelancer Chooses Service Improvement
Summary Activity

Prototyping and Experimentation

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Prototyping and Experimentation. Learners work with Riskiest Assumption Test and Low-Cost Prototype Menu to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Founder Tests Pricing Page provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Prototyping and Experimentation
Agenda
Riskiest Assumption Test
Low-Cost Prototype Menu
Case: Founder Tests Pricing Page
Summary Activity

Testing, Feedback and Iteration

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Testing, Feedback and Iteration. Learners work with Feedback Decision Tree: Improve, Pivot or Stop and Feedback Capture Board to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: App Team Tests Support Chatbot provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Testing, Feedback and Iteration
Agenda
Feedback Decision Tree: Improve, Pivot or Stop
Feedback Capture Board
Case: App Team Tests Support Chatbot
Summary Activity

Innovation Communication and Storytelling

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Innovation Communication and Storytelling. Learners work with 60-Second Innovation Pitch: Worked Sample and Clear Innovation Message to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Team Lead Pitches Process Change provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Innovation Communication and Storytelling
Agenda
60-Second Innovation Pitch: Worked Sample
Clear Innovation Message
Case: Team Lead Pitches Process Change
Summary Activity

Leading Innovation in Teams and Startups

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Leading Innovation in Teams and Startups. Learners work with Innovation Leadership Behaviours and Team Innovation Routine to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Early Team Lead Creates Safety provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Leading Innovation in Teams and Startups
Agenda
Innovation Leadership Behaviours
Team Innovation Routine
Case: Early Team Lead Creates Safety
Summary Activity

Personal Innovation Action Plan and Portfolio

Topics Covered

This module develops practical capability in Personal Innovation Action Plan and Portfolio. Learners work with Career Innovation Portfolio: Filled Evidence Page and 30–60–90 Action Plan to connect the topic with a structured application approach. The supplied Case: Freelancer Builds Proof of Skill provides a realistic context for applying the ideas and examining the decision process. The module closes with the source-defined recap, activity or reflection to convert learning into a concrete next step.

Personal Innovation Action Plan and Portfolio
Agenda
Career Innovation Portfolio: Filled Evidence Page
30–60–90 Action Plan
Case: Freelancer Builds Proof of Skill
Course Recap: From One Complaint to Career Evidence