Design Thinking: The Beginner's Guide
Some of the world’s leading brands, such as Apple, Google, Samsung, and General Electric, have rapidly adopted the design thinking approach, and design thinking is being taught at leading universities around the world, including Stanford d.school, Harvard, and MIT. What is design thinking, and why is it so popular and effective?
The overall goal of this design thinking course is to help you design better products, services, processes, strategies, spaces, architecture, and experiences. Design thinking helps you and your team develop practical and innovative solutions for your problems. It is a human-focused, prototype-driven, innovative design process. Through this course, you will develop a solid understanding of the fundamental phases and methods in design thinking, and you will learn how to implement your newfound knowledge in your professional work life. We will give you lots of examples; we will go into case studies, videos, and other useful material, all of which will help you dive further into design thinking.
Design thinking methods and strategies belong at every level of the design process. However, design thinking is not an exclusive property of designers—all great innovators in literature, art, music, science, engineering, and business have practiced it. What’s special about design thinking is that designers and designers’ work processes can help us systematically extract, teach, learn, and apply these human-centered techniques in solving problems in a creative and innovative way—in our designs, in our businesses, in our countries, and in our lives.
That means that design thinking is not only for designers but also for creative employees, freelancers, and business leaders. It’s for anyone who seeks to infuse an approach to innovation that is powerful, effective and broadly accessible, one that can be integrated into every level of an organization, product, or service so as to drive new alternatives for businesses and society.
What you will learn
- How to apply design thinking to your problems in order to generate innovative and user-centric solutions
- How to make use of practical design thinking methods in every stage of your problem, with the help of method templates
- How to initiate a new working culture based on a user-centric approach, empathy, ideation, prototyping, and playful testing
- How to employ ethnographic and analysis methods, such as interviews, focus groups, and surveys
- How to prototype early and fast, as well as test your prototypes so as to reduce risks and accelerate organizational learning
Who should take this course
This is a beginner-level course suitable for anyone interested in mastering the powerful and versatile design thinking approach:
- UX, UI, and graphic designers interested in gaining a new approach to solving design problems and generating solutions that work
- Project managers looking for a holistic process that integrates all stakeholders in order to create user-centric solutions
- Software engineers interested in playing a part in idea generation and the design process
- Entrepreneurs looking to empathize with users and build products that fit the market and users’ lives
- Marketers who want to gain a deep understanding of customers
- Stakeholders of a project/company who are keen to get involved in the process of building a product or service
- Anyone who is interested in an innovative problem-solving approach that can be applied to all types of problems in work and in life
Courses in the Interaction Design Foundation are designed to contain comprehensive, evidence-based content, while ensuring that the learning curve is never too steep. All participants will have the opportunity to share ideas, seek help with tests, and enjoy the social aspects afforded by our open and friendly forum.
Learn and work with a global team of designers
When you take part in this course, you will join a global multidisciplinary team working on the course and the exercises at the same time as you. You will work together to improve your skills and understanding. Your course group will be made up of an incredibly diverse group of professionals, all of whom have the same objective—to become successful designers. It’s your chance to learn, grow, and network with your peers across the planet.Get an Industry-Recognized IxDF Course Certificate
Increase your credibility, salary potential and job opportunities by showing credible evidence of your skills.
IxDF Course Certificates set the industry gold standard. Add them to your LinkedIn profile, resumé, and job applications.
Be in distinguished company, alongside industry leaders who train their teams with the IxDF and trust IxDF Course Certificates.
Is This Course Right for You?
- You want to land a job in design – or get a promotion.
- You want to learn real-world design skills that are valuable in any job and any industry.
- You want timeless human-centered skills AI cannot replace and turn AI into your superpower.
- You're tired of wasting time on influencers and want to learn from real experts.
- You want actual career outcomes, like increasing your salary potential and job opportunities.
Your New Life. Starts Now
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Take IxDF Online Courses by Industry Experts
Design a life and career you love. Industry leaders from Adobe, Google, and NASA guide you step-by-step. Design skills help you grow in any job, any industry.
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Turn AI Into Your Superpower
IxDF teaches you the human-centric skills AI cannot replace and how to turn AI into your superpower.
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Increase Your Career Opportunities
Salaries for people who learn design surpass $200K in cities like San Francisco, with 45% projected job growth globally.
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Get Industry-Trusted Certificates to Stand Out
Add IxDF Course Certificates to your LinkedIn profile and resumé: show hiring managers you belong to an elite group.
Your New Life. Postponed Forever
Course Overview:
- Each week, one lesson becomes available.
- Study flexibly. Take as much time as you want.
- 33h, 37m over 8 weeks (est.).
Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 43 mins.
Lesson 1: Getting Started thinking Outside of the Box
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 3 hours, 19 mins.
Lesson 2: The Fundamentals of Design Thinking
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 9 hours, 7 mins.
Lesson 3: Define The Challenge
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 4 hours, 59 mins.
Lesson 4: Empathize with the People
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 4 hours, 10 mins.
Lesson 5: The Typical Design Thinking Process
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 3 hours, 19 mins.
Lesson 6: Analyze findings & Ideate
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 4 hours, 24 mins.
Lesson 7: Prototyping
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 4 hours, 19 mins.
Lesson 8: IxDF Course Certificate and Course Wrap-up
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 12 mins.
Start Today
- Get unlimited access to all 40 self-paced courses, at no extra cost.
- Learn human-centric skills AI cannot replace and how to turn AI into your superpower.
- Build your salary potential with industry-recognized certificates.
- 1,146,258 enrollments and counting.
Questions? We've Got Answers
Why are design skills so important right now?
Design skills are incredibly valuable for both you personally and for your company.
For you personally, design skills are important because:
Salaries for people who learn design are soaring, surpassing $200K in cities like San Francisco, with global job growth rates at 13%.
Many of your job competitors already possess design skills. When you enhance your design skills you can significantly elevate your personal brand and make you a more attractive candidate.
You learn skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
You can ignite your passion through design and leverage it to make a meaningful impact.
For your company, design skills are important because:
Your design skills can help increase sales, keep customers loyal, and turn them into powerful advocates of your company. That’s because design is all about helping people reach their goals and meet their needs.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by a whopping 228%.
Design goes way beyond creating attractive visuals and aesthetics. When you possess design skills you’re equipped to revolutionize businesses, make technology more user-friendly, and innovate customer experiences and systems.
I’m not a designer. Why should I learn design and tech?
Design and tech skills can make you an indispensable asset to your company and open up career opportunities.
For example, if you’re in a field such as:
Marketing, Communication and HR
Software Development
Customer Service
Business
Psychology
Project Management
Architecture
Content Creation
Healthcare
Teaching
And other fields
Why can design skills make you valuable in all these jobs and industries?
That’s because design skills are incredibly valuable for both you personally and for your company.
For you personally, design skills are important because:
Salaries for people who learn design are soaring, surpassing $200K in cities like San Francisco, with global job growth rates at 13%.
Many of your job competitors already possess design skills. When you enhance your design skills you can significantly elevate your personal brand and make you a more attractive candidate.
You learn skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
You can ignite your passion through design and leverage it to make a meaningful impact.
For your company, design skills are important because:
Your design skills can help increase sales, keep customers loyal, and turn them into powerful advocates of your company. That’s because design is all about helping people reach their goals and meet their needs.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by a whopping 228%.
Design goes way beyond creating attractive visuals and aesthetics. When you possess design skills you’re equipped to revolutionize businesses, make technology more user-friendly, and innovate customer experiences and systems.
How can design skills protect me from losing my job to AI?
AI is killing jobs in all industries. Humanity has never faced such a powerful force, developing at an exponential speed.
You can protect yourself by learning design: You’ll use the very fabric of being human, like empathy and intuition. AI never can never replace that. These skills are timeless and will stay with you forever.
Design is centered on human needs and goals. That’s why you can protect your future with the power of human-centered design. Mastering these skills can shield you from AI-driven disruptions.
We’ll even teach you how to use AI as your career helper, not your terminator.
Who is this course for?
Whether you’re new to design and tech, or looking to skill up, this course will give you a comprehensive learning experience.
This course is right for you if:
You want to learn real-world design skills that are useful in any job and any industry.
You want to learn skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
You’re tired of wasting time on influencers and want to learn from real experts.
You want actual career outcomes, like increasing your salary potential and job opportunities.
You want to build your credibility by getting credible evidence of your skills with an industry-recognized IxDF Course Certificate.
You want to ignite your passion for design and leverage it to make a meaningful impact.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, you'll discover how design skills can transform your results in problem-solving, innovation, and communication.
Do I need any prior experience in design or tech?
Good news!
You don’t need any prerequisites or prior experience in design or tech. We’ve crafted the learning experience to ensure your success and real career outcomes, regardless of your age or background.
Will this course give me hands-on, job-ready skills and help me build my portfolio?
Yes! You'll gain fluency in design processes and get job-ready, hands-on skills you can apply immediately.
This course makes it easy for you with templates and step-by-step guides. We've spent 22 years building a goldmine of 100+ downloadable templates, across all courses, so you can easily present to managers and clients. All licensed for commercial use so you can fast-track your promotion.
You’ll learn to easily build an impressive portfolio when you take this course. That way, you can showcase your skills, build your brand, and become in-demand.
What are the professional backgrounds of people who take this course?
People who take this course come from diverse backgrounds:
Marketing, Communication and HR
Software Development
Customer Service
Business
Psychology
Project Management
Architecture
Content Creation
Healthcare
Teaching
And other fields
If you're interested in design and tech, mastering new design and tech skills can increase your salary potential, make you an indispensable asset to your company and open up numerous career opportunities.
This course will enable you to harness the power of design to build a better world and advance your career, making you an invaluable asset in any field.
When I pay for an IxDF course, what do I get?
You get unlimited access to all IxDF courses at no extra cost. Take as many courses as you want without paying extra.
In addition, you get:
Courses by real experts, not influencers.
Industry-recognized IxDF Course Certificates to build your credibility and salary potential.
Full flexibility in how you learn: Effortlessly while on your sofa or on a park bench during the weekend.
Skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
Downloadable templates to instantly apply your new real-world skills and help your projects succeed.
An easy way to compile an impressive portfolio.
Instant help and career advice in IxDF online global communities. Your network is your net worth.
Full access to IxDF Local Groups where you can build your network, find your next job, have fun and learn from your peers. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across over 500 cities worldwide.
Get our insights, present them as your own.
Grading by experts, not machines.
Access on all devices. 100% online.
Permanent access to course material during membership.
Downloadable premium literature by 100+ leading designers.
Discounts on design tools.
1-hour Master Classes by global design leaders to fast-track your growth. Binge-watch them on-demand from your sofa. Stay updated, stay inspired.
Can I work full-time while I take a course?
Absolutely! You’ll always have time for career growth because our self-paced courses are designed to fit seamlessly into your life. You’ll never have to say, “I don’t have time for that”.
You can learn at your own comfortable pace. Anytime and anywhere, whether you're working full-time or juggling life and kids.
Many IxDF learners effortlessly enjoy our courses during their commute, while relaxing on their sofa, or even on a park bench during the weekend.
Dive in whenever it suits you and progress at a speed that feels just right for you.
Will I receive a Certificate?
Yes! After you finish, you’ll receive an industry-recognized IxDF Certificate.
Use your IxDF Certificates to increase your credibility and salary potential. Your employer and clients will trust you when you can prove that you’ve learned from the best.
Be in distinguished company, alongside industry leaders who train their teams with the IxDF and trust IxDF Certificates.
Add IxDF Certificates to your LinkedIn profile, resumé and job application in a few easy steps.
You can download your certificates as .jpg files, so they are easy to share. Certificates are always valid.
How are courses graded?
Unlike any other online course platform we know of, our grading is done by experts, not machines.
We're not one of those generic, "cover-it-all" course platforms, packed with poorly produced videos on endless topics.
Our experts ensure you receive feedback and maximum benefit from the entire process.
That’s also one of the reasons IxDF Course Certificates are credible and industry-recognized.
Can I take more than one course at a time?
Yes! You get unlimited access to all IxDF courses at no extra cost.
For example, if there are 40 courses open for enrollment, you can enroll in all 40 courses at the same time and move from one to another as you prefer. Use our IxDF Career Programs to help you choose the very best courses for you.
If you’re a student member, you can take a maximum of two courses at the same time. You can still take as many courses as you would like – free of extra charges – just as long as you finish them so that you don’t have more than two ongoing courses.
Are all the courses really free for members?
Yes! You get unlimited access to all IxDF courses at no extra cost. Take as many courses as you want without paying extra.
As a member you get:
Courses by real experts, not influencers.
Industry-recognized IxDF Course Certificates to build your credibility and salary potential.
Full flexibility in how you learn: Effortlessly while on your sofa or on a park bench during the weekend.
Skills that protect you from losing your job to AI.
Downloadable templates to instantly apply your new real-world skills and help your projects succeed.
An easy way to compile an impressive portfolio.
Instant help and career advice in IxDF online global communities. Your network is your net worth.
Full access to IxDF Local Groups where you can build your network, find your next job, have fun and learn from your peers. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across over 500 cities worldwide.
Get our insights, present them as your own.
Grading by experts, not machines.
Access on all devices. 100% online.
Permanent access to course material during membership.
Downloadable premium literature by 100+ leading designers.
Discounts on design tools.
1-hour Master Classes by global design leaders to fast-track your growth. Binge-watch them on-demand from your sofa. Stay updated, stay inspired.
How do I add the IxDF Certificate to my LinkedIn profile?
That's easy! You can use your IxDF Certificates to increase your credibility and salary potential. Your employer and clients will trust you when you can prove that you’ve learned from the best.
Add your IxDF Certificates to your LinkedIn profile, resumé and job application in a few easy steps:
Click “Add profile section” on your LinkedIn
Tap “Recommended”
Select “Add licenses or certifications”
Enter your IxDF Certificate details
Hit “Save”
You can download your IxDF Certificates as .jpg files, so they are easy to share. IxDF Certificates are always valid.
Need more detailed instructions?
How long does it take to complete this course?
You can see the estimated total learning time just above.
But remember, it’s entirely up to you! You can learn at your own comfortable pace. Anytime and anywhere, whether you're working full-time or juggling life and kids.
Many IxDF learners effortlessly enjoy our courses during their commute, while relaxing on their sofa, or even on a park bench during the weekend.
Dive in whenever it suits you and progress at a speed that feels just right for you.
I missed the enrollment, and now the course is closed. What can I do?
Don't worry, we will re-run the course soon.
One reason we open and close courses is to achieve an optimal classroom size. That way, your networking opportunities and learning experience are optimal.
We display the "XX% booked" status on our courses to be transparent about the course availability.
Stay tuned for the next enrollment period. Be sure to sign up early! Meanwhile, you can sign up for another course you find interesting. Remember, you can take as many courses as you want without paying extra.
Are IxDF courses suitable for beginners or advanced learners?
Our courses cater to all levels, from beginners to advanced professionals.
People who take this course come from diverse backgrounds:
Marketing, Communication and HR
Software Development
Customer Service
Business
Psychology
Project Management
Architecture
Content Creation
Healthcare
Teaching
And other fields
No matter your experience level, you'll find courses that help you grow and achieve your goals.
If you're interested in design and tech, mastering new design and tech skills can increase your salary potential, make you an indispensable asset to your company and open up numerous career opportunities.
How can the global and local IxDF community help me?
We can help you in several ways.
Join meet-ups in your city: Join the regular meet-ups in your city in a nearby cafe or office building to have fun and learn with people just like you. You get full access to IxDF Local Groups where you can build your network, find your next job, enjoy yourself and learn from your peers. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across over 500 cities worldwide. Your network is your net worth.
Get instant help and career advice in IxDF online global communities. Build your global network through the supportive IxDF community. Earn IxDF Distinctions like “Community Influencer'' and “Social Impact Award”.
Learn from global leaders and build your network and job opportunities locally and globally.
I scored less than 70% in a course, so I didn't qualify for a certificate. Can I try again?
Yes—simply retake the course and keep moving forward!
Everyone's learning journey looks different and it’s about progress, not perfection.
To retake a course, just follow these steps:
Go to your profile and click on the course you'd like to retake.
At the top of your screen, just below your progress bar, you'll see “UX Courses” followed by the course name in the breadcrumbs.
Click on the course name and scroll down.
Tap the red button that says, “Drop my course now.”
Head back to our UX Courses page and re-enroll yourself in the course.
You're all set to try again!
NB: Please note that when you drop a course, you’ll lose your progress and any answers you’ve already submitted in the course.
What if I have more questions?
We’d love to hear from you and help you!
Reach out to us at hello@interaction-design.org or use the online contact form.