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.Earn Industry-Recognized Certificates
Industry giants trust our courses to train their teams, and prestigious universities integrate our content into their curricula. Add your certificates to your LinkedIn profile, résumé, and job applications.
Is This Course Right for You?
- You want an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.
- You want real-world design skills that translate directly into professional practice.
- You want to earn industry-recognized credentials.
- Your time is too valuable for scattered free content with no structure.
- You want learning that leads to better roles and stronger earning potential over time.
How It Works
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Build High-Impact AI and Design Skills
Industry leaders from companies like Adobe, Google, and NASA teach you real-world skills grounded in industry practice and research.
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Combine AI and Timeless Design Skills
Learn both AI and the human-centered design skills that AI can't replace.
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Earn Industry-Recognized Certificates
Add IxDF Course Certificates to your LinkedIn profile and résumé to show you've completed an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.
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Turn Your Skills Into Career Opportunities
Use your new skills to take on higher-value work, qualify for promotions or find a role that fits you better.
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Build a Network That Supports Your Career
Connect with designers in 497 cities across 107 countries. Learn together, get mentored, and build relationships that open doors.
Course Overview
- Each week, one lesson becomes available.
- Study flexibly. Take as much time as you want.
Lesson 0: Welcome and Introduction
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour, 32 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: 13 mins.
What's Inside IxDF Membership?
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High-impact design and AI skills
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Learn from 211 industry leaders
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42 evidence-based courses
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162 one-hour Master Classes
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Industry-recognized certificates
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$2,189 worth of toolkits
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9,988 active design jobs
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10 structured career programs
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Global community in 497 cities
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$6,649 worth of premium tools
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276 ready-made templates
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and much more
Questions? We've Got Answers
Why are design skills so important right now?
Design skills are valuable for both you personally and for your company.
For you personally, design skills are important because:
Design roles are growing faster than average. The World Economic Forum ranks human-centered design among the fastest-growing skill areas through 2030.
Employers increasingly expect design skills across roles, not just from designers. Knowing design thinking, user research, or UX principles makes you more competitive in any field.
Designers who combine human-centered skills with AI expertise are in especially high demand.
For your company, design skills are important because:
Design skills help your team increase sales, retain customers, and improve customer satisfaction. Better customer experiences lead directly to better business results.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by 228% (Design Management Institute, Design Value Index).
Design is more than aesthetics. It's how teams make products easier to use, services more efficient, and technology more human. These skills create value across every department.
I'm not a designer. Why should I learn design and AI?
Design and tech skills can open up career opportunities.
For example, if you're in a field such as:
Marketing, communication, HR, software development, customer service, business management, healthcare, teaching, and many more.
Why can design skills make you valuable in these jobs and industries?
That's because:
Design skills help your team increase sales, retain customers, and improve customer satisfaction. Better customer experiences lead directly to better business results.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by 228% (Design Management Institute, Design Value Index).
Design is more than aesthetics. It's how teams make products easier to use, services more efficient, and technology more human. These skills create value across every department.
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, so you can easily present to managers and clients. All licensed for commercial use.
You'll also learn to build an impressive portfolio.
Can I work full-time while I take a course?
Yes!
You'll always have time for career growth because our course are self-paced and designed to fit into your busy life.
You can learn at your own pace. Anytime and anywhere, whether you're working full-time or juggling life and kids.
You can 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 to prove you've completed an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.
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?
Our grading is done by experts, not machines.
We make sure 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. You can literally save thousands of dollars.
How do I add the IxDF Certificate to my LinkedIn profile?
That's easy.
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.
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, master classes, and career programs cover everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics.
Whether you're completely new to design or an experienced professional, you'll find courses, master classes and career programs at your level.
How can the global and local IxDF community help me?
We can help you in several ways.
Join meetups in your city: Join the regular meetups 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 new opportunities, or simply enjoy yourself in the company of people who are passionate about design. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across app. 500 cities worldwide.
You can also get instant help and career advice in the IxDF online members-only forums. Here, you can build your global network through our supportive community.
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.
Scroll down until you see the "Drop This Course" section.
Tap the button that says, "Drop My Course Now."
Head back to our 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 [email protected] or use the online contact form.