Design Thinking
Our experience-based course in Design Thinking provides business developers, developers and visual designers with knowledge about methods and tools for achieving more user-centric product development. By identifying the users' actual underlying problems, we increase our problem-solving ability and, ultimately, enable ourselves to create products and services of greater value to users and business alike. Here, you will learn methods for data collection, user studies, analysis, prototyping and validation. This course is part of our special series within user experience, and it also provides practical knowledge of new methodologies within the SAFe 5.0 framework.
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is an umbrella term for problem-solving methods and tools centred on the customer. When developing a product or software, the focus is often on obvious and distinct problems. Unfortunately, the chosen solution seldom addresses the underlying reasons for these problems. Design Thinking helps us to focus on user needs and behaviours before initiating development work, to gain a better understanding of what the problem entails and whether a specific solution would address it effectively. In this way, the product or service being developed creates greater value for both business and users.
Who is this course for?
The course is aimed at anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of user needs and the tools available for better combining business and user benefits when developing new products. Prospective course participants likely include visual designers, product owners, developers and SAFe agilists.
After the course
This course will teach you about Design Thinking and customer-centric product development, as well as how to apply them in your work to ensure both business and user benefits. After completing the course, you have knowledge about:
- How Design Thinking can be used to benefit both users and business
- What user experience (UX) is and the focus areas within the field
- Applying Design Thinking / UX methodology, both inside and outside the SAFe 5.0 framework, to create a suitable product for the customer/user
Course structure and content
Design Thinking is a two-day course. To provide good insights and lasting knowledge, the course is largely experience-based. The content also offers practical knowledge of the methodologies developed within the SAFe 5.0 framework. Our Design Thinking course is part of Zington's special series within user experience and is comprised of the following components:
Empathise:
- Observations of and contextual interviews with users in their everyday environments to collect relevant data
Define:
- Empathy maps (to gain insights into user perspectives), Personas (to gain insights into user goals and needs), User Journeys (to gain insights into user behaviour and problems)
Ideate:
- User story mapping (to see the big picture) and sketching techniques
Prototype:
- Low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototyping using digital tools
Test:
- User validation
Prior knowledge
Knowledge of product development work is desirable, otherwise no prior knowledge is necessary.
Want to know more about this course and Zington Academy? Contact me!
