More on what's covered in the 5 sessions
The Introduction to Design Thinking training is structured on the UK Design Council’s Double Diamond Framework. Across five interactive sessions, participants explore each phase of the design process through practical activities, tools, and guided discussion. It’s important that you are available to attend ALL 5 sessions.
Session 1 — Foundations of Design Thinking
Build a strong understanding of design thinking, user‑centred design, and the Double Diamond Framework. Key topics include:
- What design thinking is and why it matters
- Elements of good design
- Design principles and mindset
- Desirable, Viable, Feasible (DVF) lenses
- Double Diamond Design Framework
- DTA’s Digital Experience Policy.
Session 2 — Phase 1: Discover
Learn how to explore user needs, gather insights, and engage with stakeholders. Key topics include:
- Understanding the user experience
- Building empathy
- Identifying and engaging stakeholders
- Gathering customer and business needs
- Running a Discovery workshop
- Defining the target audience
- Creating a research plan
- User research methods (with a focus on interviews)
- Developing discussion guides and question sets.
Tools introduced: user stories, storyboards, card sorting, empathy maps, stakeholder mapping.
Session 3 — Phase 2: Define
Turn research into insights and clearly frame the problem. Key topics include:
- Analysis, synthesis and theming
- Capturing insights and pain points
- Creating design artefacts
- Defining or reframing the problem
- Sharing findings with stakeholders
- Prioritising insights
- Making insights actionable.
Tools introduced: affinity mapping, personas, journey mapping.
Session 4 — Phase 3: Develop
Generate ideas and explore potential solutions. Key topics include:
- Running ideation workshops
- Brainstorming techniques
- Creating space for innovation
- Deciding which ideas to progress.
Tools introduced: How Might We (HMW) statements, brainstorming, ideation workshops, concept cards, DVF.
Session 5 — Phase 4: Deliver
Prototype, test, iterate, and prepare to deliver solutions. Key topics include:
- Developing prototypes
- Testing and iterating
- Running stakeholder showcases
- Applying design thinking, agile and innovation in the workplace
- Accessing design resources.
Tools introduced: prototyping framework, stakeholder showcase template.