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Design Thinking Workshops

The best way to learn Design Thinking is to do Design Thinking

Our highly-experiential bespoke workshops teach Design Thinking concepts that tackle the real-world challenges that your organization faces. Designed for organizations and individuals hoping to become more human-centered in their approach and innovative in their thinking. Most applicable for business professionals, C-Suite executives, entrepreneurs, and organizational leaders from the public and private sectors.

Over the course of the workshop, you’ll learn the following:

  • How to empathize with the needs and desires of end-users
  • How to define the real problem(s) that need to be solved
  • Brainstorming techniques to ideate potential solutions
  • Prototyping skills to act quickly on those ideas
  • Testing methods to iterate refinements to develop the ideal solution

Through collaboration, communication, and reflection, you’ll learn key aspects of the Design Thinking approach and how it’ll benefit your organization.

There are two types of workshops: In-person workshops of one to three days in duration; or virtual workshops of three to five days in duration (more days, but less time each day due to challenges of the virtual environment).

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Sample Agenda (2-Day In-Person Workshop)

Day 1

1
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Introduce the participants, goals, and plan for the workshop; review innovative mindset; conduct exercises to get the creative juices flowing.

2
DESIGN THINKING CONCEPTS

An introduction and overview to the Design Thinking approach; conduct exercise to demonstrate concepts; introduce the challenge for the workshop.

3
EMPATHY

In-depth session on Empathy phase; participants conduct Empathy activities for challenge outside of classroom; share and synthesize insights; create and share Empathy Map.

4
DAY 1 WRAP-UP

Reflect on what we have learned in the day’s session; discuss plans for next day.

Day 2

1
DEFINE

In-depth session on Define phase; frame problem; develop POV and problem-statements; share findings.

2
IDEATE

In-depth session on Ideation phase; brainstorming session related to our mission; synthesis of generated ideas.

3
PROTOTYPE / TEST

In-depth sessions on Prototype and Test phases; review prototypes with potential end-users for feedback; revise and iterate as needed.

4
PRESENTATIONS

Share potential solutions and discuss findings; review and practice presentation and storytelling skills; create and deliver presentations.

5
WORKSHOP WRAP-UP

Reflect on what we have learned in the workshop: discuss plans for using Design Thinking in your organization and in your jobs; identify potential use cases.

Workshop Format

There are two types of workshops: In-person workshops of one to three days in duration, with 30-36 participants (recommended) per workshop; or virtual workshops of three to five days in duration (more days, but less time each day due to challenges of the virtual environment), with 20-30 participants (recommended).

Each workshop is guided by experienced leaders from the Barkley Consulting Group and includes:

  • A customized program and agenda specific to the needs of your organization and the desired outcomes of the workshop.
  • Pre-workshop assignments (optional) that get participants engaged in the topic area before the workshop begins. This includes potential exercises and research.
  • The facilitation, execution, and delivery of the workshop.
  • A post-workshop review of up to 3 hours with participants and management to discuss ways to implement learnings in their work.

Why Choose Barkley Consulting Group?

We are from a corporate background and have experienced both sides of this type of education.  Our experience means we connect with our participants on a natural, human level.  Our workshops and services resonate with working people across all industries, sectors, and roles. We ensure that each workshop we deliver is as fun and enlightening as it is inspirational.

Combining thoughtful instructional and immersive, experiential activities, our approach allows participants to practice what they have learned immediately.

People can learn Design Thinking in minutes. How it is applied can be the difference between success and failure.

Our workshops will advance the way you think through Design Thinking and discuss practical ways to implement what you have learned into your work.

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice”

– Anton Chekhov

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