Course overview
Teams often solve the wrong problem well. They accept a problem as stated, generate solutions quickly, and commit before checking that they understood what people actually needed. Design thinking slows down that first move, insisting the team understand the human at the center before it decides what to build, which usually changes the problem worth solving.
This course, held at EuroQuest International Training, works through design thinking and structured creative problem solving. Participants study problem reframing, ideation techniques, prototyping, and testing, along with the human-centered mindset that ties them together. Drawing on approaches associated with IDEO and the Stanford d.school, the course treats creativity as a method that can be learned, not a talent some people simply have.
Why framing the problem matters most
The largest gains in problem solving usually come before any solution is proposed, at the point where the problem is defined. A team that reframes a request in terms of the underlying human need often discovers that the obvious solution was aimed at the wrong target. Design thinking front-loads this work through observation and empathy, and the double diamond model makes the discipline explicit: diverge to understand, converge to define, then diverge and converge again on solutions.
What you will be able to do afterwards
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Reframe problems around the people they affect.
- Facilitate structured ideation to generate genuine options.
- Prototype low-cost solutions to test ideas quickly.
- Gather and interpret feedback to improve prototypes.
- Apply a repeatable creative method to real work problems.
- Evaluate ideas to select the strongest options.
Course outline
Unit 1: Introduction to design thinking and creativity
- Human-centered premise of design thinking.
- Stages from empathy to testing.
- Double diamond and divergent-convergent thinking.
- Creativity as a practiced method, not innate talent.
Unit 2: Problem reframing and opportunity identification
- Observing and building empathy with users.
- Separating stated problems from real needs.
- Reframing to open better solution spaces.
- Writing a sharp problem statement.
Unit 3: Ideation techniques and creativity tools
- Structured methods for producing many ideas.
- Deferring judgment to widen the field.
- Building on others' ideas in a group.
- Selecting ideas worth prototyping.
Unit 4: Prototyping and testing solutions
- Low-fidelity prototypes that invite feedback.
- Testing an idea before heavy investment.
- Learning from what a prototype reveals.
- Iterating toward a stronger solution.
Unit 5: Innovation frameworks and methodologies
- Jobs-to-be-done and its uses.
- Design thinking and lean as complementary methods.
- Choosing a method to fit the problem.
- Combining approaches without confusion.
Unit 6: Human-centered design applications
- Designing services, not just products.
- Accessibility and inclusive design.
- Understanding the whole user journey.
- Designing for real contexts of use.
Unit 7: Team collaboration and creative leadership
- Facilitating sessions that stay productive.
- Psychological safety for honest ideas.
- Managing dominant voices in a group.
- Leading without shutting down creativity.
Unit 8: Risk management in innovation projects
- Identifying what could sink an innovation.
- Testing risky assumptions early and cheaply.
- Staging investment against evidence.
- Deciding when to stop a weak idea.
Unit 9: Digital tools for creative problem solving
- Collaborative tools for distributed teams.
- Capturing and organizing ideas.
- Prototyping tools for faster iteration.
- Choosing tools that aid rather than distract.
Unit 10: Communicating and pitching innovative solutions
- Telling the story of a user problem.
- Making a prototype persuasive.
- Framing an idea for the funding audience.
- Handling objections to something new.
Unit 11: Measuring innovation success
- Metrics suited to early, uncertain work.
- Learning as a measure, not only output.
- Tracking outcomes for users.
- Avoiding metrics that punish experimentation.
Unit 12: Capstone design thinking case study
- Working through a documented design challenge.
- Assessing the reframing and ideation choices.
- Judging how prototyping and testing shaped results.
- Drawing lessons applicable to their own work.
How the course is delivered
The course is delivered through facilitated discussion, worked examples, and documented case studies of design-led projects, with structured conversation around participants' own problems. It builds a practical creative method and is educational.
Who should attend
The course suits product and service teams, managers, innovation and marketing professionals, and anyone who leads problem solving in a group. Those developing a broader adaptive organization will find Developing a Learning Organization a useful complement.
About EuroQuest International Training
EuroQuest International Training, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Bratislava, delivers professional courses to more than 15,000 participants across over 1,000 titles, in cities including Dubai, London, Barcelona, Istanbul, Vienna, Paris, and Geneva, led by experienced practitioners.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a designer to attend?
No. Design thinking is a general problem-solving method used well beyond design roles. The course is aimed at managers and teams in any function who want a more structured, human-centered approach.
Is this course only theory?
No. It is built around applying the method to real problems through discussion, worked examples, and documented cases, with structured feedback on participants' own reframing and ideas.
How is design thinking different from brainstorming?
Brainstorming is one ideation technique inside a wider method. Design thinking front-loads understanding the user and reframing the problem, so the ideas generated are aimed at the right target in the first place.
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Register for this course
To reserve a place or ask about dates and in-house delivery, contact EuroQuest International Training and our team will help you arrange the details.
All Course Dates & Locations
15 dates · 10 cities · Oct 2026 – Jul 2027