Design thinking is a human-centered design process that approaches problem-solving after a thorough understanding of the user needs. It is a powerful technique implemented when dealing with new product development as it begins by understanding the unmet needs of customer and stakeholders first. Design thinking encompasses concept development, applied creativity, prototyping, and experimentation. When business utilize design thinking approaches, the innovation success rate improves substantially. Companies such as Apple, Coca-Cola, IBM, Nike, Procter & Gamble, and Whirlpool that have used different design thinking approaches have outperformed the S&P 500 over the past 10 years by an accumulated 211% in what is called the Design Value Index—a portfolio of 16 publicly traded companies that integrate design thinking into their corporate strategy.
The Mastering Design Thinking program will lead participants through a step by step design thinking process. To be considered successful, innovations have to solve the three critical dimensions of Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability.
Desirability: Is this product or service addressing a real customer need and/or stakeholder need?
Feasibility: Can we develop a solution that is technically feasible, and better than the one of the competitors?
Viability: Is there a viable business model around this product or service?
Mastering Design Thinking is a program that is valuable for teams and individuals who want to learn and utilize a proven, systematic approach to new product development. After learning about this process, anyone is capable of solving the needs of their customers and stakeholders by centering the solution around their unmet needs.
Begin Your Design Thinking Learning Journey
- Learn the concepts that drive design thinking!
- Identify the needs of customers, stakeholders, and user groups!
- Translate needs into product specifications!
- Create a prototype!
This program is for individuals and teams who want to adopt the powerful practice of design thinking in their organization. Whether entrepreneur or intrapreneur, anyone responsible for driving innovation and growth should attend, including functional and cross-functional teams.
“But the real value of creativity doesn’t emerge until you are brave enough to act on those ideas” – Tom and David Kelly
“Innovation starts with the desire to make meaning as opposed to money” – Guy Kawasaki
Upon completion of this program, you will be able to:
- Understand the design thinking process.
- Identify and assess opportunities through an analysis of customer and stakeholder needs.
- Create clear product specifications that are desirable, feasible, and viable.
- Generate and evaluate new product and service concepts through applied creativity. Implement a proven 4-step method for planning and executing a prototype.
- Design services for enriched customer and stakeholder experiences.
- Design products and services while having sustainability in mind.
- Plan and manage innovation projects effectively.
Module 1 – Design Thinking Skills
- Skills expected from design thinking practitioners
Module 2 – Identifying Customer and stakeholder Needs
- Understanding product development as a process and as a concept
- Understanding the development phase in design planning and analysis
- Identifying customer and stakeholder needs and markets
- Types of product users
- Customer and stakeholder needs analysis
Module 3 – Product Specifications
- Translating customer and stakeholder needs into measurable specifications
- Benchmarking needs vs. specifications
- Quality function deployment (house of quality)
- Dynamics of product specifications
Module 4 – Applied Creativity
- Problem decomposition techniques and solution concepts
- Brainstorming principles and their efficacy in creative thinking
- System exploration and concept / down-selection
Module 5 – Prototyping
- Prototyping and its relevance in the concept development phase
- Types of prototyping, prototyping strategies and prototyping examples
- Rapid prototyping and virtual prototyping
Module 6 – Design for Services
- Service development process
- Service cycle experience map
- Product vs. service systems
- Service innovation examples
- Innovation challenges, Real-Win-Worth framework
- Altitude case study – innovation processes, leadership, and overall culture
Dr. Ernest S. Lo
Academic/ Professional Background
- Fellowship in 2008 at Stanford University
- IEEE Best Paper Awards in Glasgow (ICC’07)
- Houston (GLOBECOM’11)
- Paris (WCNC’12) in the field of wireless communications
- Teaches Creativity and Business Innovation at the University of Hong Kong
- helped Catalunya establish a Smart City R&D operation in Hong Kong
Recognition
- the President of Hong Kong Internet of Things Alliance
- CEO and Founder in IT company
- Honoured as the Exemplary reviewer of IEEE Communications Letters, Liaison Chair of the European Wireless Conference 2014
- Advisor and Support Partner of Future Cities Asia 2014
- Advisor of Hackathon Shenzhen 2015
- Contributed to the standardization of the IEEE 802.22 cognitive radio WRAN system
- a Croucher Fellow at Stanford University in Electrical Engineering
Working Background
- Working on AI and IoT with applications in Agriculture, Energy saving, and New Retail since 2011