And if you’d like a solid introduction to the field before you start any more formal training, you can take a free UX design micro course<\/a>. Free courses won’t be enough to take you as far as a design thinking certification, but they’re definitely a start.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s jump in!<\/p>\n First things first: What exactly is design thinking and why is it useful? What\u2019s all the fuss about?<\/p>\n By definition, d<\/strong>esign thinking is both an ideology and a process used to solve highly complex problems in a user-centric way<\/strong>. So, not only is it a mindset that encourages you to put your users first; it is also a practical, actionable methodology that can be applied in almost any setting.<\/p>\n One of the reasons design thinking is so popular in the business world is that, although it is based on the methods and processes used by designers, it can be used to solve all kinds of tricky business problems\u2014you don\u2019t need to be a designer to use and benefit from design thinking. Another great advantage is that it prioritizes tangible outcomes, allowing you to focus on finding solutions rather than fixating on obstacles and challenges.<\/p>\n The design thinking process<\/a> is divided into five phases: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. You might go through each of the phases within the context of a design thinking workshop<\/a>, or you might refer to the design thinking framework when making strategic business decisions.<\/p>\n Whether you use design thinking as an ideology, a process, or both, the entire approach has been designed to encourage creativity and push for innovation, all while putting the user first. We\u2019ve put together a comprehensive guide to design thinking here<\/a>\u2014check it out if you\u2019d like to learn more.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re an experienced UX professional or a fresh-faced designer, there are many ways you can benefit from being design thinking certified. Just like any other specialist skills you might choose to learn, a design thinking certification can help to set you apart and enrich your practice as a UX designer.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll learn how to solve problems both quickly and creatively, and, thanks to the inherently collaborative nature of design thinking, you\u2019ll also optimize the way you work with your team and other stakeholders. In addition to improving how you work, you\u2019ll also give yourself a competitive edge; as design thinking becomes more and more popular in the business world, employers will increasingly be looking for designers who can both implement and teach the methodology and techniques involved.<\/p>\n A design thinking certification is also extremely beneficial if you\u2019re working as a freelance designer or consultant, or if you plan on doing so in the future. Many CEOs and business leaders want to tap into the power of design thinking without necessarily getting a certification themselves, so they\u2019ll hire a designer or consultant to take them through the process instead.<\/p>\n If you want to make a business out of running design thinking workshops, a certification will ensure you\u2019re well-versed in the theory behind the methodology\u2014and give you the credibility that clients will be looking for. You can learn more about how to run an effective design thinking workshop in this guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n But what if you\u2019re already a design thinking expert\u2014do you still need a certification? Even if you\u2019re already incorporating design thinking into your work, an official certification will help to verify your knowledge and present it as a concrete skill.<\/p>\n Employers and clients scanning your resum\u00e9, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile won\u2019t always pick up on implicit references to design thinking; they\u2019ll be much more convinced by a visible and credible design thinking certification.<\/p>\n So, should you get a design thinking certification? Here\u2019s a recap of the main benefits:<\/p>\n We know that design thinking isn\u2019t just for designers; all areas of business can make use of this creative, user-first approach. If you\u2019re familiar with some of the more well-known design thinking success stories\u2014like how accounting software firm Intuit used design thinking to boost sales by $10 million in a year<\/a>, or how design thinking transformed Airbnb from a failing startup to a billion-dollar business<\/a>\u2014you may be wondering how you can use design thinking within your own organization.<\/p>\n One option is to hire someone to run a design thinking workshop in-house. Alternatively, you might consider getting some of your team members certified through a specific design thinking course.<\/p>\n With a design thinking certification, you\u2019re essentially looking to train your employees to think like designers\u2014regardless of what department they work in. This is especially useful for those who don\u2019t typically focus on the end user in their day-to-day work, and for those who may not be used to taking a creative approach.<\/p>\n At the micro level, you\u2019ll be equipping your employees and colleagues with highly valuable skills that they can apply to their own projects and tasks. At the macro level, you\u2019ll foster a creative, user-centric mindset throughout the business\u2014and that can have a significant impact on the bottom line.<\/p>\n Historically, design-driven businesses have consistently outperformed their competitors, and studies<\/a> show that design thinking maturity delivers higher revenue and better returns for organizations.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re not already incorporating design thinking into your business practice, you might consider introducing it through formal training. If you\u2019re considering a design thinking certification for some of your team members, here are some potential benefits of doing so:<\/p>\n Having explored the benefits of a design thinking certification, let\u2019s take a look at some of the best programs and courses on the market.<\/p>\n The Foundations in Design Thinking program offered by IDEO U teaches the core skills and mindsets of design thinking. It\u2019s divided into two online cohort courses which you\u2019ll need to complete in order to get your final certificate. The first course, Insights for Innovation, shows you how to turn customer needs into human-centered solutions, while the second course, From Ideas to Action, shows you how to prototype, experiment, and iterate on your ideas.<\/p>\n The program is entirely online-based, with each lesson broken down into short videos. Upon completion of the program, you\u2019ll receive your downloadable certificate via email.<\/p>\n This six-month online program is ideal for anyone who is involved in the design, development, or improvement of products, services, and infrastructure.<\/p>\n The curriculum has been divided into six courses, each taking three weeks to complete: Identifying and framing a challenge, Gathering user emotions, Crafting user narratives, Generating user-centered solutions, Design prototyping, and Testing and iteration. Students can expect to spend 3-5 hours per week on the course and are required to complete a final project.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for an intensive, hands-on initiation into the world of design thinking, look no further than Stanford University\u2019s four-day workshop. Held at the prestigious school, this immersive bootcamp will show you how you can use design thinking to solve real business challenges.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also learn how to enhance collaboration across diverse, multi-disciplinary teams. The workshop takes place three times a year in spring, summer, and fall, and the tuition fee covers course materials, breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day (but not accommodation).<\/p>\n If you like the idea of a bootcamp but need something less intensive (and expensive) than that offered by Stanford University, The Design Gym offers a reasonable alternative. This one-day design thinking bootcamp is ideal for individuals and small teams looking for a little help to unleash their creativity and come up with original, innovative ideas.<\/p>\n Led by two expert trainers, the workshop will equip you with a range of different tools for empathizing with customers, defining their needs, and creating solutions. Most importantly, you\u2019ll come away with an in-depth understanding of the design thinking process and how it\u2019s being used at big companies across a range of industries. This workshop is currently available in New York City and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Delivered in collaboration with Emeritus, this online program is for anyone\u2014both teams and individuals alike\u2014who is responsible for driving innovation and growth within their organization. Participants benefit from over 120 video lectures as well as three live teaching sessions.<\/p>\n To successfully complete the course, you\u2019ll need to work on three group projects, ten assignments, and one capstone project. Although the course is online, it takes place on certain dates throughout the year\u2014you can find upcoming course dates on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Design Thinking and Innovation Specialization course offered by the Darden School comprises four project-based online courses, with each course designed to run for five weeks. Design Thinking Part I focuses on identifying a human-centered challenge to solve, while Part II shows you how to turn your ideas into action.<\/p>\n The third and fourth components explore discovery tools from the field of human-centered design and techniques for easing collaboration in the workplace. In addition to the online classroom experience which comprises videos, reading, and assignments, students can also take part in discussions and exchange feedback with mentors and fellow classmates.<\/p>\n Available in both a virtual classroom and a live format, this bootcamp promises to take you on a hands-on journey through the design thinking process. Over the course of two days, be it online or in-person, you\u2019ll learn how to define and solve problems, how to prototype rapidly<\/a>, and how to apply design thinking to non-traditional roles.<\/p>\n This is a collaborative course that will see you working with your peers to come up with viable solutions. The live classrooms are available across the United States, with sessions running at least once a month.<\/p>\n This somewhat unique program focuses on \u201ctraining the trainer\u201d\u2014in other words, it will equip you to run your own design thinking workshops. Through one-on-one or small group coaching, the experts at Innovation Training will help you to create your own custom-made workshop that you can offer to clients or use within your current organization.<\/p>\n The program consists of online workshops, an online course that is the equivalent of a 3-credit university course, and two live meetings. You\u2019ll complete a project to design and facilitate your own innovation workshop, resulting in a final certificate.<\/p>\n The MicroMasters\u00ae program offered by RIT comprises five individual courses, each taking six weeks to complete. You\u2019ll start with Design Thinking Fundamentals before moving through each of the key stages in the design thinking process.<\/p>\n The final course, the Design Thinking Capstone, will see you applying what you\u2019ve learned throughout the program: you\u2019ll be asked to solve a given problem using the design thinking process, which you\u2019ll submit as a project.<\/p>\n Participants are expected to devote 8-12 hours per week to the program, and in order to get the final certification, will need to earn a verified certificate in all five courses successfully.<\/p>\n So there you have it: ten of the best design thinking certification programs the market has to offer. Before you commit to a particular course, it\u2019s important to spend some time thinking about your own unique goals and requirements.<\/p>\n For instance, what are your reasons for obtaining a design thinking certification\u2014are you looking to enhance your own design career, or to bring the spirit of creativity and innovation to your organization? What kind of UX qualification<\/a> do you really need? At the same time, think about your needs. Can you commit to an intensive bootcamp, or would a flexible, online format be more feasible?<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve narrowed it down to a few options, be sure to do your research: check for independent reviews and, if possible, speak to an advisor from the organization offering the course before you sign up.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to learn more about improving your UX design practice or thinking like a designer, check out the following:<\/p>\n If you’re considering a Design Thinking certification for you or your team, look no further. In this guide, we explore the benefits of a Design Thinking qualification and introduce some of the best programs and courses on the market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":570,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ux-design"],"acf":{"homepage_category_featured":false,"cards_inner_programs_lists_left":"","cards_inner_programs_lists_right":"","related_plan_cards":""},"modified_by":"Rash SEO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5020"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40508,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5020\/revisions\/40508"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. What is design thinking and why is it useful?<\/h2>\n
So how does it work?<\/h3>\n
![\"Diagram](\"\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/old-blog-uploads\/design-thinking-process.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/p>\n2. I am a UX designer, should I get a design thinking certification?<\/h2>\n
Extremely useful for freelance UX designers<\/h3>\n
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3. I am a CEO or manager, should I get a design thinking certification for my employees?<\/h2>\n
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4. The best design thinking certification programs<\/h2>\n
1. IDEO U: Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate<\/a><\/h3>\n
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2. Cornell University: Design Thinking Certificate<\/a><\/h3>\n
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3. Stanford University: Design Thinking Bootcamp<\/a><\/h3>\n
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4. The Design Gym: Design Thinking Bootcamp<\/a><\/h3>\n
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5. MIT School of Management: Mastering Design Thinking<\/a><\/h3>\n
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6. The University of Virginia Darden School: Design Thinking and Innovation Specialization<\/a><\/h3>\n
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7. Global Knowledge: Design Thinking Bootcamp<\/a><\/h3>\n
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8. Innovation Learning: Innovation & Design Thinking Facilitation Program<\/a><\/h3>\n
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9. Rochester Institute of Technology: MicroMasters\u00ae Program in Design Thinking<\/a><\/h3>\n
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5. Key takeaways and next steps<\/h2>\n
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