Design Thinking Practitioner
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
07/12/2026 - 09/12/202609:00 - 17:00
Study format:
Short intensive
Fees:
£1,595.00 – £2,870.00
What is 'Design Thinking'
Design Thinking is:
- A collection of methods and tools for inventive Problem-solving.
- An innovation method that enables the creation of new products and services – both for existing businesses and for start-ups.
Design Thinking is a practical, knowledge and skills-based methodological approach to problem solving.
It’s concerned with developing a deep understanding of human needs, wants and desires through observation.
A collection of methods and tools for inventive problem solving, Design Thinking employs an adaptive approach to solution development – it is Agile. Solutions are discovered ‘experimentally’ by developing rapid prototypes and then improved through fast iteration.
Companies and individuals have used Design Thinking to generate commercial products and services with huge commercial and social value. Each class is limited to 20 people.
Book this course
The registration deadline is 1pm (UK time) on 23 November 2026, or when the course is fully booked, whichever occurs first.
This course can be taken as a discount fee package with either Systems Thinking Approach to Change Management 2 - 4 December 2026, or Agile Project Management 10 - 11 December 2026, saving 10%.
This course is also offered online.
Contact the team
Phone: +44 (0)1865 286958
Email: business@conted.ox.ac.uk
Programme details
Who will benefit from this course?
The Design Thinking Practitioner course is designed for everybody who has an interest in solving problems and building something new.
You will benefit from this course if:
- You want to start your journey towards becoming a Design Thinking practitioner
- You have a basic need for Design Thinking:
- You are looking for a way to boost innovation and creativity in your organisation
- You want to develop new products and services for an existing business
- You are involved in a charity or social enterprise and are searching for creative methods to boost the impact of your organisation
- You want to get involved in start-ups and need a route into your first ‘killer product’
-
You want a route into launching and running real Design Thinking projects
Content
- What is Design Thinking?
- Design Thinking worked for them! : Case studies in Design Thinking
- The Design Thinking process in detail
- Ethnography : Observing customers and users
- Making sense of observations : Finding patterns and looking for connections
- Finding high-value problem to solve
- Rapid testing and evolution of best solutions
- Building individual and corporate creativity
- Leveraging your ‘will to create’
- Design Thinking projects
- Establishing the team
- Building your workspace
- Establishing rituals and culture
- Project patterns
- Linking Design Thinking to business Return on Investment
- Business testing for products and services
Practical Workshop Activities
During the course you will practice the skills of Design Thinking through a series of practical ‘workshop’ style activities. These activities have been designed to reinforce the course content and to give you practice in the workplace application of Design Thinking.
You will get the opportunity develop the skills to use each of the tools and methods presented during the course. Our goal is to enable you to leave the course ready and able to apply the methods and tools of Design Thinking to your real projects
The course is split broadly 50:50 between lecture style content and hands-on practical workshop activities. Throughout the course you will have many opportunities to ask questions of the course tutor and to discuss ideas, tools and methods with other course attendees.
Attending Your Course
Further details will be emailed to you two weeks ahead of your course, which will include registration information.
Please get in touch if you have not received this information within five working days of the course start date.
In the meantime, you may wish to plan your travel: Travel information
Dr Rob Collins
Visiting Fellow
Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford
Dr Rob Collins is a visiting fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford and regularly teaches courses at the University. Dr Collins has taught on the MSc in Software Engineering through Oxford University’s Computing Laboratory for over 20 years. He currently teaches modules on Classical Machine Learning, Software Testing and Safety Critical Systems.
Dr Collins also teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence, Systems Thinking, Agile, Machine Learning, Design Thinking and Business Process Improvement. He regularly provides consultancy to industry in the area of Business Process Excellence, Artificial Intelligence and Systems Engineering. He gained his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest Systems Engineering company and a world-leader in advanced technology.
As well as his undergraduate degree in Physics and Computing, Dr Collins holds a PhD focussed on training, psychology and processes for introducing complex technology into learning environments. He completed an MBA in 2012 at Henley Business School, and so has a strategic business view as well as deep understanding and practical experience of hands-on process improvement in technology and service.
To be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed a link and instructions for accessing their University of Oxford digital certificate after the course ends.
The certificate will show your name, the course title, and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| 1. Standard course fee | £1595.00 |
| 2. Discount Package with Agile Project Management | £2460.00 |
| 3. Discount Package with Systems Thinking Approach | £2870.00 |
Payment
This course can be taken as a discount fee package with either Systems Thinking Approach to Change Management 2 – 4 December 2026, or Agile Project Management 10 – 11 December 2026, saving 10%.
Fees include course materials, tuition, refreshments and lunches. The price does not include accommodation.
All courses are VAT exempt.
Register immediately online
Click the “book now” button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required.
Request an invoice
If you require an invoice for your company or personal records, please contact the Course Administrator.
Payment is accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. Please do not send card or bank details via email.
Although not included in the course fee, accommodation may be available at our Rewley House Residential Centre. All bedrooms are en suite and decorated to a high standard, and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi access and Freeview TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.
To check prices, availability and to book rooms please visit the Rewley House Residential Centre website.
Module code: O26C058N5Y
When applications are open, click the ‘book now’ button at the top of this page.