Introduction to Design Thinking for Engineers

This introductory course that provides a model for understanding a different part of the design process together with practical strategies for application in the workplace.

In the first session we will introduce a common language for describing the design process, and look at how this manifests itself in different contexts, both at work and in our daily lives. In session two we will practise techniques for developing and responding to design briefs. In this workshop we will role-play the designer/client relationship to get into the mind-set of these two roles. We also introduce the design brief that participants will collaborate-on in groups. In session three we introduce practical techniques for idea generation and use these in response to the group design brief. This workshop is packed with fun and effective techniques that participants can take away and apply immediately in the workplace. In our final session we look at the importance of effective modelling and testing as a way to develop appropriate responses to a design brief. We use these techniques to hone groups’ responses to the brief. We will conclude with an exercise to help us understand our personal approaches to design.

Design is a tacit skill – we do it every day but we don’t necessarily know how. We created this course to demystify the process so that every day you can practise and eventually master your design skills

– Oliver Broadbent, course facilitator