Design Thinking Practitioner (online)



Overview

What is 'Design Thinking?'

Design Thinking is an innovation method that enables the creation of new products and services – both for existing businesses and for start-ups.

Design Thinking is a practical, knowledge and skills-based methodological approach to problem solving.

It’s concerned with developing a deep understanding of human needs, wants and desires through observation.

A collection of methods and tools for inventive problem solving, Design Thinking employs an adaptive approach to solution development – it is Agile. Solutions are discovered ‘experimentally’ by developing rapid prototypes and then improved through fast iteration.

Companies and individuals have used Design Thinking to generate commercial products and services with huge commercial and social value.

Programme details

Content

  • What is Design Thinking?

  • Design Thinking worked for them!

  • An overview of the Design Thinking process

  • Design Thinking projects

    • Establishing the team

    • Building your workspace

    • Establishing rituals

    • Project patterns

  • Design Thinking in context

  • The critics of Design Thinking

  • Sharpening your observational skills – how to find problems to drive innovation

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for everybody who has an interest in solving problems and building something new.

You will benefit from this course if:

  • You want to start your journey towards becoming a Design Thinking practitioner

  • You have a basic need for Design Thinking:

    • You are looking for a way to boost innovation and creativity in your organisation

    • You want to develop new products and services for an existing business

    • You are involved in a charity or social enterprise and are searching for creative methods to boost the impact of your organisation

    • You want to get involved in start-ups and need a route into your first ‘killer product’

  • You want a route into launching and running real Design Thinking projects

Dates, Times and Delivery

The Design Thinking Practitioner (online) course will run over 6 sessions over the course of 5 days, from 8 - 12 September 2025.

The sessions will be held on:

  • Monday 8 September from 12:30-14:00 and 14:30-16:00 (2 sessions that day)

  • Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 September from 14:30-16:00

Each session will be 90 minutes, presented live from our purpose-built broadcast studio.

All times given are UK times. A world clock and time zone converter can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bSPu6D

This is a ‘virtual classroom’ course.

To replicate the experience of a classroom, the sessions are ‘live’ and are not recorded.

During the course you will have access to an online collaboration website. This can be used to interact with the course tutor, and will also be used to support learning activities during the course.

Digital Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £685.00

Payment

All courses are VAT exempt.

Fees include electronic copies of course materials.

Register immediately online 

Click the “book now” button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required.

Tutor

Dr Rob Collins

Visiting Fellow

Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford

Dr Rob Collins is a visiting fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford and regularly teaches courses at the University. Dr Collins has taught on the MSc in Software Engineering through Oxford University’s Computing Laboratory for over 20 years. He currently teaches modules on Classical Machine Learning, Software Testing and Safety Critical Systems.

Dr Collins also teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence, Systems Thinking, Agile, Machine Learning, Design Thinking and Business Process Improvement. He regularly provides consultancy to industry in the area of Business Process Excellence, Artificial Intelligence and Systems Engineering. He gained his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from Lockheed Martin, the world's largest Systems Engineering company and a world-leader in advanced technology.

As well as his undergraduate degree in Physics and Computing, Dr Collins holds a PhD focussed on training, psychology and processes for introducing complex technology into learning environments. He completed an MBA in 2012 at Henley Business School, and so has a strategic business view as well as deep understanding and practical experience of hands-on process improvement in technology and service.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click 'Ask a question' at the top of this page.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford's secure IT network.

To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support