Design Thinking For Public Servants (Level 1)

The public sector is increasingly challenged with solving complex business problems in a collaborative way while working with end-users, clients, and citizens. Whether you are tackling a specific project, designing new policies, developing new products, or building a solution to encourage ongoing innovation within your organization, Design Thinking can help.

Spring2’s Design Thinking training sessions will awaken your design mindset and teach you how to solve problems from a solutions-focused and action-oriented perspective.

Design Thinking is a user-centric, solutions-based approach of thinking and methodology. It provides the structure and methods for solving complex problems that can be used to disrupt traditional approaches to citizen service delivery in a collaborative and creative way. By leveraging an inclusive problem-solving approach to identifying alternatives and reducing limiting ideas and constraints, it provides a deep understanding of user needs and allows departments and individuals to deliver on “the possible”.

Design Thinking methodology includes five (5) phases; Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test. Throughout the course, we will guide participants through each phase and the various tools and methods that can be applied to work with clients, citizens, and in life. Various case studies identifying solid Design Thinking approaches will be reviewed and used to ensure a deep understanding among the participants.

Program Topics

• Basics of Design Thinking
• Understanding Good Design
• Tools and Methods Used in Design Thinking
• Breaking Down Problems
• Designing for the Customer

Objectives

• Identify the tools and methods used in Design Thinking and how to apply them to real-world challenges;
• Establish methods to recognize and understand citizen and client needs; and
• Learn how to apply Design Thinking to identify ways to enhance and improve citizen and end-user experience while increasing innovation in a public sector setting.