Short course
Design Thinking Practitioner (online)
Course status:
Course ended
Location:
Online
Dates:
08/09/2025 - 12/09/2025
Study format:
Short intensive
Fees:
£685.00
Design Thinking is an innovation method that enables the creation of new products and services.
Innovation is essential, and design thinking gives you the tools to do it well. This hands-on approach helps you move from insight to action, enabling you to generate ideas, test them quickly and develop impactful solutions across both service and product design.
This course introduces the complete design thinking process, from observation and problem-solving through to prototyping and iterative testing. Explore how to uncover human needs, build effective teams and apply agile methods to deliver solutions that make a difference by taking a human-centred approach to innovation.
Designed for both newcomers and those with some experience, this course builds the mindset, methods and confidence needed to lead design thinking projects.
Apply for this course
This course is also run in person here at Oxford University. You can sign up for course news for updates on future courses.
IT requirements
This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford’s secure IT network.
To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.
It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.
Programme details
Content
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What is Design Thinking?
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Design Thinking success stories
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An overview of the Design Thinking process
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Design Thinking projects
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Establishing the team
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Building your workspace
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Establishing rituals
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Project patterns
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Design Thinking in context
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The critics of Design Thinking
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Sharpening your observational skills – how to find problems to drive innovation
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for everybody who has an interest in solving problems and building something new.
You will benefit from this course if:
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You want to start your journey towards becoming a Design Thinking practitioner
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You have a basic need for Design Thinking:
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You are looking for a way to boost innovation and creativity in your organisation
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You want to develop new products and services for an existing business
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You are searching for creative methods to boost the impact of your organisation
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You want to get involved in start-ups and need a route into your first ‘killer product’
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You want a route into launching and running real Design Thinking projects.
Dates, Times and Delivery
The Design Thinking Practitioner (online) course will run over 6 sessions over the course of 5 days, from 8 – 12 September 2025.
The sessions will be held on:
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Monday 8 September from 12:30-14:00 and 14:30-16:00 (2 sessions that day)
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Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 September from 14:30-16:00
Each session will be 90 minutes, presented live from our purpose-built broadcast studio.
All times given are UK times. A world clock and time zone converter can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bSPu6D
This is a ‘virtual classroom’ course.
To replicate the experience of a classroom, the sessions are ‘live’ and are not recorded.
During the course you will have access to an online collaboration website. This can be used to interact with the course tutor, and will also be used to support learning activities during the course.
Accessing Your Online Course
Details about accessing the private MS Teams course site will be emailed to you during the week prior to the course commencing.
Please get in touch if you have not received this information within three working days of the course start date.
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.
Certification
In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate.
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, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £685.00 |
Payment
Fees include electronic copies of course materials.
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 organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer.
Module code: O25C112N1Y
When applications are open, click the ‘apply’ button at the top of this page.
This course is also run in person here at Oxford University.
You can sign up for course news for updates on future courses.