Equinet Academy > All Courses > Design Thinking Course

Design Thinking · 1 Module · 8 Hours

Develop User-Centred Solutions that Work

Design Thinking Course

Learn practical problem-solving frameworks to unlock innovation, align teams, and build user-centred solutions that actually work.

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What's included
  • 8 hours of instructor-led hands-on training
  • Industry practitioner trainer
  • Alumni community access
  • Post-training mentoring and support

Course Overview

What is This Course About?

Design thinking is a structured, human-centred approach to problem-solving that organisations use to innovate, improve processes, and build products and services that people actually want.

This 1-day course introduces the principles, tools, and practical applications of design thinking in the workplace. Learners will explore the 5-stage design thinking framework, apply it to real work scenarios, and develop low-fidelity prototypes to test and validate ideas. Through hands-on, collaborative activities, participants will practise user research, empathy mapping, problem framing, ideation, prototyping, usability testing, and strategies for embedding design thinking within their organisations.

Target Audience

Who This Course Is For

Suitable for working professionals, managers, executives, and team leaders seeking to drive innovation, improve problem-solving approaches, and build user-centred thinking in their organisations. Relevant across all industries. Also suitable for anyone involved in developing products, services, or internal processes who wants a practical grounding in human-centred design.

Prerequisites

What You’ll Need to Get Started

No prior experience with design thinking, UX, or design tools is required. The course starts with foundational concepts and progressively builds skills through exercises and team activities.

What You Will Learn

What You’ll Learn

  • Understand the principles, stages, and key tools of the design thinking process
  • Apply design thinking frameworks to define real workplace problems and generate ideas
  • Conduct user research and build empathy maps to surface genuine user needs
  • Collaborate on ideation activities to generate and prioritise innovative solutions
  • Build and test low-fidelity prototypes to validate ideas with real user feedback
  • Explore strategies to embed design thinking as an ongoing capability in your organisation
  • Examine case studies of organisations applying design thinking successfully
  • Present design outcomes and communicate solutions effectively to stakeholders

Course Objectives

What You’ll Take Away

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the principles, purpose, and process of design thinking within an organisational context
  • Demonstrate how to apply design thinking tools and methodologies to define problems and generate ideas
  • Demonstrate prototyping techniques to communicate and test design ideas effectively
  • Illustrate strategies to embed design thinking across organisational functions and evaluate impact

Skills Gained

Design Thinking Framework

Navigate the 5-stage design thinking process and select the right tool for each stage

User-Centred Problem Definition

Conduct empathy mapping and user research to frame problems from the user perspective

Ideation and Brainstorming

Facilitate and participate in structured ideation sessions using collaborative methods

Prototyping and Testing

Build low-fidelity prototypes and conduct usability tests to validate design ideas

Innovation Culture Implementation

Develop strategies to embed design thinking practices across teams and organisational functions

Stakeholder Communication

Present design outcomes and communicate design rationale clearly and persuasively

Certification Pathway

Get Certified

This course is part of the Certified UX Designer (CUXD) 2.0 Programme.

Certification of Completion by Equinet Academy will be awarded to candidates who have demonstrated competency in the Design Thinking course assessment and achieved at least 75% attendance.

DESIGN THINKING COURSE Certificate Sample

Course Outline

Inside The Course

This course follows the complete design thinking process as a single-day journey. Every session involves practical activity applied to a real or simulated workplace scenario.

1
Introduction to Design Thinking
Instructor-Led • Interactive presentation • Discussions • Case studies
  • What is Design Thinking and Why It Matters – definition and purpose, comparison with traditional problem-solving, the 5-stage process, traits of effective design thinkers, and where design thinking produces the most organisational value
  • Design Thinking Frameworks and Applications – Stanford d.school model, Double Diamond, and IDEO approach; tools mapped to each stage; case study analysis of two real-world organisational applications
2
User Research and Problem Definition
Instructor-Led • Demonstrations / Modelling • Drill and Practice • Brainstorming • Discussions
  • User Research and Empathy Mapping – observation, interview, and survey methods; empathy map framework (Says, Thinks, Does, Feels); structured interview practice; user persona construction; introduction to customer journey mapping
  • Problem Framing and Ideation – POV and HMW statements; reframing user research into design opportunities; problem framing drill; rapid brainstorming and dot voting for idea prioritisation
3
Prototyping and Testing
Instructor-Led • Demonstrations / Modelling • Drill and Practice • Reflection
  • Prototyping Methods and Tools – prototyping mindset (build to learn); fidelity spectrum; thumbnail sketching, storyboarding, and paper prototyping; trainer demonstration; hands-on prototype build activity
  • Testing, Feedback, and Iteration – usability testing protocol; think-aloud technique; observation; feedback categorisation (critical issues, usability issues, nice-to-haves); peer usability test; benchmarking against success criteria
4
Embedding Design Thinking in Organisations
Instructor-Led • Interactive presentation • Discussions • Brainstorming • Case studies
  • Implementation Strategies and Knowledge Transfer – four embedding strategies; 90-minute internal session facilitation guide; linking design thinking to agile and lean; group activity applying strategies to a real workplace problem; cultural barriers discussion
  • Presenting Design Outcomes and Evaluating Impact – stakeholder presentation structure; communicating user insight, design rationale, and test findings; impact evaluation metrics; case study review of measurable design thinking outcomes

Trainers

Meet Your Educators

Founder of UNGRUMP.CO Digital Marketing Agency10+ Years of Industry ExperienceCertified Adult Educator with WSQ Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance (ACLP)

Course Fee

Fund Your Brain Gain

Gain practical skills and resources you can apply immediately at work.

ModuleincludesInvestment
Design Thinking

S$499.00

S$299.00

Course Schedule

Mark Your Calendar!

Discover course schedules crafted with you in mind, structured for balance, driven by your goals, ready for action.

Learning Mode Course Dates Duration Trainer
In-Person 21 Jul 2026
Tue
9.00am - 6.00pm
In-Person 3 Sep 2026
Thu
9.00am - 6.00pm
In-Person 22 Oct 2026
Thu
9.00am - 6.00pm

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Need-to-Know Stuff, Fast

Everything you need to know about the course. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please contact our friendly team.

This course is suitable for working professionals, managers, team leaders, and innovators looking to improve problem-solving and drive user-centred innovation within their organisations.

No prior experience is required. The course starts with fundamental concepts and progressively builds practical skills through exercises and team activities.

Yes. You will apply design thinking frameworks to real or simulated workplace challenges, developing and testing solutions during the course.

Absolutely. The course includes collaborative workshops, prototyping sessions, and group discussions to ensure practical application.

Yes. The course covers prototyping methodologies and tools, enabling participants to build and test simple prototypes.

You’ll learn to embed a culture of innovation, apply structured problem-solving techniques, and deliver solutions that align with user needs and business goals.

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