Design Thinking

On this GCpedia Wiki page, learn more about design thinking and how it can help governments develop better policies, programs, and services centered on citizens’ needs.

Duration:

Variable

Methodology:

Reading

Course ID:

N/A

Read Design Thinking

In this short video, Tim Brown, CEO of innovation and design firm IDEO, calls for designers to think beyond a role focussed on designing objects to one that applies a broader approach to design problems.

Duration:

17 mins

Methodology:

Web-based

Course ID:

N/A

Watch Tim Brown urges designers to think big (English-only, subtitles available in French)

In this short, descriptive, and straight to the point video, discover IBM’s approach to design thinking and agile methodologies.

Duration:

6 mins

Methodology:

Video

Course ID:

N/A

Watch How it Works: Design Thinking

Ever had a great idea but you’re not sure that it will work? This online course will help you decide which techniques (research or simulations) to use to test drive the practicality of an idea while also helping you build upon it.

Duration:

0.5 hours

Methodology:

Web-based

Course ID:

D020

Register for D020

This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will introduce you to the design thinking process and share best practices for each step along the way. You’ll find design thinking is an incredibly powerful approach for any field: from Engineering to Entrepreneurship and beyond.

Duration:

3 hours per week for 5 weeks

Methodology:

Web-based

Course ID:

N/A

Register for Introduction to Design Thinking (English-only)

This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) offered by OpenClassroom will provide insight about how design is at the heart of a more holistic, human-centered approach that can address the needs of individual and complex problems. Learn to think like a designer and apply design thinking best practices to your projects.

Duration:

6 hours

Methodology:

Web-based

Course ID:

N/A

Register for Introduce Yourself to Design Thinking (French-only)

This highly interactive virtual, workshop will provide you with a deeper understanding of Design Thinking practices, tools, and approaches. Spread over four smaller sessions, you will learn how Design Thinking can deliver results for your end-client, what approaches and tools to use, and how to support your team to implement Design Thinking.

Duration:

6 hours (2 sessions of 3 hours)

Methodology:

Virtual Classroom

Course ID:

00059302

Are there no available classes? Contact your Learning Coordinator (NCR) or your Learning Centre (regions).

Register for Introduction to Design Thinking

This highly interactive virtual, workshop will provide you with a deeper understanding of Design Thinking practices, tools, and approaches from a leadership perspective.  Spread over two sessions, you will learn the basics of design thinking and methods and tools to design for the end-client.

Duration:

6 hours (2 sessions of 3 hours)

Methodology:

Virtual Classroom

Course ID:

00059300

Are there no available classes? Contact your Learning Coordinator (NCR) or your Learning Centre (regions).

Register for Design Thinking: What is it? And How can YOU Support its Implementation (For Executives)

This is a two-day course, in-class, with a facilitator at the Executive Education school of HEC Montreal. In today’s fast-paced business environments, innovation processes that blend creativity, analysis and collaboration help organizations to adapt quickly and stay competitive. Keep on top of things with hands-on learning that will help you master core principles, processes and methods of design thinking.

Duration:

15 hours

Methodology:

Instructor Led - Classroom

Provider:

HEC Montreal – Executive Education

Cost:

1 595 $ + taxes

Course ID:

N/A

This one-day in-class course will discuss how to apply design thinking, tools and methods for work with clients and in life. Various case studies identifying solid design thinking approaches will be reviewed to ensure a deeper understanding among participants.

Duration:

7 hours

Methodology:

Instructor Led - Classroom

Location:

Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver

Provider:

Spring2Innovation

Cost:

895$

Course ID:

N/A

Register for Design Thinking for Public Servants (Level 1)

This tool can be used to focus attention, and analyze and evaluate ideas efficiently, to think creatively about a single idea, or to compare various ideas.

Read Plus-Minus-Interesting (PMI) Technique (ESDC Innovation Lab)

This toolkit with checklists and high level planning examples from CEB will help you if you are starting a new project. Use this toolkit to apply design thinking to find innovative and employee-centred solutions.

Read Design Thinking Toolkit

Innovation labs are one way to help the Public Service face increasingly complex challenges by creating a non-hierarchal, horizontal space that overcome traditional silos to solve problems and generate new ideas. In this four pages article, learn about innovations labs, also called change labs or design labs.

Duration:

Variable

Methodology:

Reading

Course ID:

N/A

Read Innovation Labs: Bridging Think Tanks and Do Tanks

Learn more about the Experimentation Works Government of Canada-wide initiative, which aims to build public servants’ capacity in experimentation through a unique ‘learning-by-doing’ model.

Duration:

Variable

Methodology:

Reading

Course ID:

N/A

Read Experimentation Works

In this book by Tim Brown, learn how design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem solving, can help every level of an organization find innovative and creative solutions to any problem.

Find this book at your favorite library or purchase it from a book retailer for an average price of 25$ to 35$ depending on format.

Duration:

Variable – 270 pages

Methodology:

Lecture

Course ID:

N/A

e-book available:

Yes

In this book by Michael Michalko, learn how to approach problems and find solutions using unconventional methods, and how design thinking can be applied not only our work, but to our personal lives.

Find this book at your favorite library or purchase it from a book retailer for an average price of 15$ to 30$ depending on format.

Duration:

Variable – 415 pages

Methodology:

Lecture

Course ID:

N/A

e-book available:

Yes

In this book by Seth Godin, learn how to become a more creative, enterprising, and indispensable person in your organization.

Find this book at your favorite library or purchase it from a book retailer for an average price of 2$ to 25$ depending on format.

Duration:

Variable – 255 pages

Methodology:

Lecture

Course ID:

N/A

e-book available:

Yes

In this English only book by Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider, learn the basic principles, tools and methods used in design thinking from experts in service design.

Find this book at your favorite library or procure it from a book retailer for an average price of 30$ to 60$ depending on format.

Duration:

Variable – 370 pages

Methodology:

Lecture

Course ID:

N/A

e-book available:

No

Did you know that you can further your understanding of design thinking through the Gartner (CEB) subscription service? To access a host of articles, discussions and events, all you need to do is:

1. Create an account
2. Search their catalogue with the keywords “design”, “empathy”, “prototyping”, “ideation”,”storytelling” and “mind mapping”.

Did you know that you have access to the Mouvement québécois de la qualité’s resources? To access a host articles, job-aids and trainings, all you need to do is:

1. Create an account
2. Search their catalogue with the keywords “empathie”, “design” and “prototype”