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Design Thinking Courses

Design Thinking courses explore methods for solving problems with a focus on user needs and experiences. You’ll learn about techniques like empathy mapping, prototyping, and ideation, which help in generating creative solutions. These courses often emphasize collaboration and iterative processes, guiding you to refine ideas based on user feedback.

Popular Design Thinking Courses and Certifications


  • U

    University of Virginia

    Design Thinking for Innovation

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Creative Problem-Solving, Ideation, Innovation, Creativity, Strategic Thinking, Thought Leadership, Case Studies, Human Centered Design, Open Mindset, Experimentation, Storytelling

    4.7 stars, 9.2K reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 4.7 (9.2K) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
  • U

    University of Virginia

    Design Thinking

    Skills you'll gain: Brainstorming, Design Thinking, Innovation, Ideation, Stakeholder Analysis, Creative Thinking, Journey Mapping, User Research, Human Centered Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Design Research, Project Scoping, Planning, Persona Development, Design Strategies, Project Planning, Value Engineering, Product Development, Strategic Thinking, Creativity

    4.6 stars, 303 reviews, Beginner, Specialization, 3 - 6 Months

    ★ 4.6 (303) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
  • I

    IIT Bombay

    Design Thinking and Innovation

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, User Research, Ideation, Prototyping, Human Centered Design, Design Research, Research and Design, Product Design, Sustainable Business, Innovation, Brainstorming, User Centered Design, Creative Thinking, Empathy, User Feedback, Product Development, Case Studies, Cultural Responsiveness, Collaboration

    4.7 stars, 75 reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 4.7 (75) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Category: Preview
    Preview
  • C

    Coursera

    Design Thinking for Innovators

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Business Transformation, Business Process, Human Centered Design, Service Design, Process Management, Business Solutions, Innovation, Creative Problem-Solving, Ideation, Creativity, Overcoming Obstacles, User Research, Organizational Change, User Feedback, Empathy

    4.6 stars, 105 reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 4 Weeks

    ★ 4.6 (105) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
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  • I

    Imperial College London

    Creative Thinking Tools for Success and Leadership

    Skills you'll gain: Creative Thinking, Brainstorming, Design Thinking, Ideation, Creativity, Creative Problem-Solving, AI powered creativity, Problem Solving, Innovation, Human Centered Design, Cognitive flexibility, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Decision Making, Analysis

    4.9 stars, 925 reviews, Beginner, Specialization, 3 - 6 Months

    ★ 4.9 (925) · Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • I

    IESE Business School

    Design Thinking

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Ideation, Design Research, User Research, Journey Mapping, Culture Transformation, Creative Problem-Solving, Qualitative Research, Problem Solving, Brainstorming, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Human Centered Design, Solution Design, Operations, Organizational Development, Complex Problem Solving, Organizational Change, Innovation, Strategic Thinking, Leadership

    5 stars, 8 reviews, Beginner, Specialization, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 5 (8) · Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
  • U

    University of Virginia

    Agile Meets Design Thinking

    Skills you'll gain: Agile Product Development, User Story, Design Thinking, Product Improvement, Agile Methodology, Agile Software Development, Product Development, User Centered Design, User Research, Persona Development, Innovation, Product Management, Discussion Facilitation, Storytelling, Software Development, Testability

    4.7 stars, 3.6K reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 4 Weeks

    ★ 4.7 (3.6K) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
  • T

    The University of Sydney

    Design-Led Strategy: Design thinking for business strategy and entrepreneurship

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Design Strategies, Strategic Thinking, Innovation, New Product Development, Business Modeling, Product Design, Service Design, Product Development, Business Strategy, Strategic Communication, Market Research, Corporate Strategy, Case Studies, User Research, User Feedback, Product Testing, Customer Insights

    4.6 stars, 1.3K reviews, Intermediate, Course, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 4.6 (1.3K) · Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Category: Preview
    Preview
  • U

    University of Virginia

    Design Thinking: Ideas to Action

    Skills you'll gain: Brainstorming, Design Thinking, Ideation, Creative Thinking, Innovation, Design Strategies, Product Development, Product Design, Strategic Thinking, User Feedback, Prioritization, Stakeholder Engagement, Decision Making, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Collaboration, Customer Engagement

    4.6 stars, 86 reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 4.6 (86) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
  • T

    The University of Sydney

    Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Prototyping, Ideation, Design Strategies, Product Development, Design, Design Research, User Feedback

    4.7 stars, 2.3K reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 4.7 (2.3K) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Category: Preview
    Preview
  • P

    Packt

    Design Thinking for Business Innovation Strategies

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Research and Design, Value Propositions, Experimentation, Strategic Thinking, Innovation, Ideation, Problem Solving, User Research, Creative Problem-Solving, Business Strategy, Behavioral Economics, Scientific Methods, Qualitative Research, Business Logic, Customer Insights, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Business, Business Management

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Category: New
    New
    Status: Free trial
    Free trial
  • U

    University of Virginia

    Design Thinking: Discovery Tools

    Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Stakeholder Analysis, Journey Mapping, Human Centered Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Design Research, Persona Development, Value Engineering, User Research, Customer experience improvement, Qualitative Research, Strategic Thinking, Job Analysis, Consumer Behaviour, Innovation, Interviewing Skills

    4.7 stars, 43 reviews, Beginner, Course, 1 - 3 Months

    ★ 4.7 (43) · Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    Status: Free trial
    Free trial

What brings you to Coursera today?

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How to choose the right Design Thinking course

Start with your goal for Design Thinking. If you want to apply it for product development, look for courses that emphasize prototyping and user testing methods. If your focus is on implementing Design Thinking in a service context, choose courses that cover service design and customer journey mapping techniques.


Best free Design Thinking courses

High-quality free Design Thinking courses you can start today.

  1. 1
    Design-Led Strategy: Design thinking for business strategy and entrepreneurship
    The University of SydneyIntermediate1 - 3 Months4.6(1,324)Free
  2. 2
    Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat
    The University of SydneyBeginner1 - 3 Months4.7(2,328)Free

Best Design Thinking courses from University of Virginia

Top-rated Design Thinking courses offered by University of Virginia on Coursera.

  1. 1
    Design Thinking for Innovation
    University of VirginiaBeginner1 - 3 Months4.7(9,230)University of Virginia
  2. 2
    Design Thinking
    University of VirginiaBeginner3 - 6 Months4.6(303)University of Virginia
  3. 3
    Agile Meets Design Thinking
    University of VirginiaBeginner1 - 4 Weeks4.7(3,582)University of Virginia

Best Design Thinking certificate programs

Earn a certificate in Design Thinking from top universities and companies.

  1. 1
    Creative Thinking Tools for Success and Leadership
    Imperial College LondonBeginner3 - 6 Months4.9(925)Specialization
  2. 2
    Design Thinking
    IESE Business SchoolBeginner1 - 3 Months5.0(8)Specialization

Best Design Thinking courses for beginners

Top-rated beginner-friendly Design Thinking courses with no prerequisites.

  1. 1
    Design Thinking and Innovation
    IIT BombayBeginner1 - 3 Months4.7(75)No prerequisites
  2. 2
    Design Thinking for Innovators
    CourseraBeginner1 - 4 Weeks4.6(105)No prerequisites
  3. 3
    Design Thinking: Ideas to Action
    University of VirginiaBeginner1 - 3 Months4.6(86)No prerequisites

Skills you can learn in Design And Product

User Interface (18)
User Experience (16)
Software Testing (13)
Game Design (11)
Agile Software Development (10)
Graphics (10)
Virtual Reality (9)
Web (8)
Video Game Development (7)
Web Design (7)
Adobe Photoshop (6)

Frequently Asked Questions about Design Thinking

Design thinking is a problem-solving approach that emphasizes understanding the needs of users and creating innovative solutions. It is important because it fosters creativity and collaboration, enabling teams to develop products and services that truly resonate with users. By focusing on empathy and iterative testing, design thinking helps organizations address complex challenges and drive meaningful change.‎

Jobs in design thinking span various industries and roles, including UX/UI designer, product manager, innovation consultant, and design strategist. These positions often require a blend of creativity, analytical thinking, and collaboration skills, making them essential in today's rapidly evolving job market.‎

To excel in design thinking, you should develop skills such as empathy, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Additionally, understanding user research methods, prototyping, and testing can enhance your ability to create user-centered solutions. Familiarity with design tools and frameworks is also beneficial.‎

Some of the best online design thinking courses include the Design Thinking Specialization and the Design Thinking for Innovators course. These programs provide comprehensive insights into the design thinking process and equip you with practical skills to apply in real-world scenarios.‎

Yes. You can start learning design thinking on Coursera for free in two ways:

  1. Preview the first module of many design thinking courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available).
  2. Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial.

If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in design thinking, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎

To learn design thinking, start by exploring online courses that introduce the core principles and methodologies. Engage in hands-on projects to practice your skills, and collaborate with peers to gain diverse perspectives. Reading books and articles on design thinking can also deepen your understanding.‎

Typical topics covered in design thinking courses include empathy mapping, user research techniques, ideation methods, prototyping, and testing. Courses often emphasize the iterative nature of the design process, encouraging learners to refine their ideas based on user feedback.‎

For training and upskilling employees, courses like the Design Thinking Specialization and Design-Led Strategy: Design thinking for business strategy and entrepreneurship are excellent choices. These programs focus on applying design thinking principles in a business context, enhancing innovation and problem-solving capabilities within teams.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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