Design thinking has become a buzzword for effective problem-solving methodologies in the corporate world. It is an innovative mindset—an approach that meets human needs, defines problems, designs solutions, and delivers outcomes. Even companies such as Airbnb, Apple, IBM, GE Health Care, and Microsoft use design thinking to resolve complex problems in an effective and efficient manner. In short, it provides contemporary solutions to modern-day problems.
Now, the question arises: how can one acquire this distinctive skill? Well, Sri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP) has a solution for this query. The University’s Sri BUILD department offers a free online Design Thinking course on IIMB SWAYAM platform/portal. Through this course, you will be able to develop a problem-solving mindset and the ability to approach challenges from a human-centred perspective. These skills help build solutions that are not only functional but also transformational. In fact, it goes beyond technical expertise—the ability to empathise, ideate, prototype, and iterate. Design thinking is an iterative cycle that equips you with the necessary skills that lead to solutions according to the needs of the user.
The Six-Week Learning
With the Design Thinking course at SBUP, you will embark on a six-week journey that will transform theory into practice. You will learn to envision the entire ecosystem around the user, whether it's your employee at work, a student at the University or your customer. This course is for everyone who believes in innovation and creativity to create a better world.
Week 1: You will begin by understanding the user and identifying the problems and their complexities. In this entire week, you will learn how design thinking is important in the business ecosystem.
Week 2&3: For two weeks, you will engage with the first stage of design thinking—empathy. Immerse yourself in the empathy phase, wherein tools like, stakeholder maps, jobs-to-be-done, and empathy maps will provide clarity on user perspectives.
Week 4: In the fourth week, you will learn about the define stage, using tools like customer journey maps and personas to ensure clarity and focus.
Week 5: The fifth week is dedicated to ideation. You will explore the double diamond approach, brainstorming, and unconventional thinking (even the worst possible ideas) that lead to innovative solutions. During this period, you will also learn about prototyping and testing by distinguishing between high-fidelity and low-fidelity prototypes to refine ideas.
Week 6: The last stage of your learning is dedicated to business cases and success stories of Indian companies. Here, you will be able to ground your learning with real-world applications. You will also learn how design thinking has driven concrete results and transformed businesses.
Moreover, throughout the course, interactive videos, additional reading resources, a vibrant discussion forum, and weekly quizzes will enrich your learning experience and provide you with a deeper understanding of the process of design thinking.
Design thinking is the journey of transforming theory into practice and creating an amazing learning experience that will shape not only your career but also your approach to innovation and problem-solving.