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Next planned delivery: Autumn 2026.
Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation
If you'd like to ask any questions about the programme you can book time for a call with Shay, our HCI Programme Manager
Schedule a call| Qualification | Certificate of Completion |
| Delivery | Online |
| Delivery Dates | Wednesdays, 9am – 1pm |
| Course Fees | €795 – Early bird rate €950 – Full price |
| Course Content | Session 1: Creative Thinking for Business Session 2: Introduction to Creative Problem Solving Session 3: Introduction to Design Thinking Session 4: Rapid Idea Generation and Insight Session 5: Design Thinking for Strategy and Change Management |
Organisations, their business models, markets and the people they serve are constantly in flux. Disruptive innovation is everywhere, change is constant. In this modern-day work environment, originality, ingenuity and creativity are essential to stay current and not lose ground to competitors.
To be truly innovative, we must elicit and seek to understand the perspectives of those impacted by the products, services and policies we develop. Effective design is user-centred, addresses a tangible problem and is rooted in human empathy. If, as organisations and individuals, we focus on addressing human needs through problem identification, insight generation and deferral of judgement, it will dramatically increase the likelihood of viable solutions, meaningful impact and ultimately competitive advantage.
This programme is a deep dive into the power of creative problem-solving and human-centred design thinking methodology. It explores how our approach to problem-solving can have a significant impact on the proposed solution. It introduces tools and techniques that place human beings at the centre of the process, ensuring that we are solving the right problem for the right audience and not being guided by our own assumptions. With this understanding, leaders can identify what might be affecting a team's successful approach to problem-solving and innovation.
Leaders will leave the programme with a clear implementation plan to introduce and embed this human-centred approach across their organisational processes, strategy and culture.
What are the programme outcomes?
Specifically, this programme is designed for mid-senior leaders and will enable them to:
- Foster a culture of originality, ingenuity and creativity in themselves, their teams and their organisations.
- Drive product and service solutions that are needs-focused, with a persistent emphasis on the customer.
- Integrate Design Thinking into the Strategic and Change Management practices of their organisation.
Who is this programme for?
This programme is designed for mid-senior leaders who have an ambition or remit to become innovation ambassadors within their organisation — including but not limited to those with at least three years of people management experience. It is particularly suited to those wishing to foster a culture of originality, ingenuity and creativity in themselves, their teams and their organisations. The programme does not assume any prior knowledge or training in the subject areas.
Who can I contact for more information about the programme?
Contact: Shay Butler, HCI Programme Manager – portalcourses@tcd.ie or if you're ready to go sign up here
General Information
Course Topics
Creative Thinking for Business
Release your creative potential and that of your team.
- What is creativity? How inclusive is it?
- Principles of creative thinking;
- Bridges and barriers to creative thinking;
- The CPS (Creative Problem Solving) Model.
Reflection Question: If you had everything you needed to think creatively and perform at your best, what problems would you solve at work?
Introduction to Creative Problem Solving
Discover fresh perspectives and opportunities in the problems you face.
- Convergent and divergent thinking;
- Invitational stems to frame problems as questions;
- Techniques to defer or suspend judgement;
- Action planning incorporating Assistors and Resistors.
Reflection Question: What’s the most important problem for you and your team to solve at work? Try to phrase that problem as a ‘How might we…’ statement.
Introduction to Design Thinking
Develop a healthy obsession with your customer.
- Design Thinking skills, and how they relate to creativity, innovation and brainstorming;
- Problem definition; identifying customer needs and user groups;
- Customer journeys and empathy mapping.
Reflection Question: To make progress on your ‘How Might We…’ statement who are the stakeholders you need to meet and empathise with?
Rapid Idea Generation and Insight
Stimulate unconstrained ideation and insight
- Creating the right environment for generating ideas;
- Tools and techniques for divergent thinking;
- Tools and techniques for convergent thinking;
- An introduction to the Basadur Innovation profile for individuals and teams.
Design Thinking for Strategy and Change Management
Embed Design Thinking at the organisational level
- Principles of Design Thinking at the organisational level;
- Using Design Thinking to overcome barriers to strategic thinking and justifiable change management;
- Techniques to drive Design Thinking at the organisational level: What's in my Design Thinking toolkit?
This programme recognises that innovation needs more than just the right people to drive it. It relies on detailed and repeatable processes to be successful. This programme covers theoretical concepts but also focuses on empowering participants with the practical skills needed to positively impact their work environment. Through-out the programme emphasis shall be placed on identifying practical ways to apply the skills acquired in the workplace. Each 4-hour session shall include a 1-hour practically focused Greenhouse element.
The Greenhouse is a space where seeds are planted and new ideas grow. These are facilitator-led collaborative sessions (each weekly 4-hour session shall include a 1-hour practically focused Greenhouse element) where participants begin to apply their learning to a specific work-related challenge. Reflective questions, posed in each programme session, are designed to trigger the challenge you decide to address. The Greenhouse is a time and place to receive support, gather feedback and experiment in a non-judgemental environment.
Wednesdays, 9 am – 1 pm
In October 2020, the World Economic Forum affirmed that the three most critical skills businesses require to remain competitive and manage change over the next five years are innovation, active learning and complex problem-solving. These skills are the very skills that Jonathan has spent the last decade helping leaders embed in their organisations.
As part of the Creative Education Foundation's core faculty, Jonathan is at the forefront of designing and delivering courses in creativity, design thinking, design sprints, and complex problem-solving. Jonathan has also designed the Social Business Canvas, a tool to help social entrepreneurs design and map their business models. Jonathan helps to transform organisations and leaders across both the public and private sectors, including Nottingham Business School, BlueJeans, Morgan Sindall and Fauceria.
Shay Butler - Facilitation and Programme Lead, Trinity Innovation and Enterprise
With a background in Learning and Development across EdTech and Tourism, Shay specialises in deliberate problem-solving techniques, including Design Thinking and Creative Problem-Solving (CPS).
Shay designs and delivers programmes for undergraduate, postgraduate, lifelong learner, and professional audiences. His focus is on creating engaging, action[1]oriented learning experiences that build skills in collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
Jonathon and Shay are highly professional and knowledgeable facilitators who hold high expectations of students, which in turn motivates students to be creative, innovative, and to work together quickly and comfortably. The wealth of tools and reading lists supplied will stand to us as we continue this design-thinking journey in our various sectors. Excellent course, highly recommend for all levels of health service and beyond.
- Senior Project Manager, HSE, Mental Health
Excellent! Really changes the way you think, work, and approach different tasks and gives you a variety of tools to solve problems. Can't wait to use it all in practice.
- Aleksandra Ostapiuk , Van Dijk Architects
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