Overview | Outcomes | Content | Trainers | Certificate | Date & Fee | Track Record
Part 1: Course Overview
Why This Course Matters
The application of design thinking within ESG contexts is notable for its capacity to transform traditional business practices into sustainable models that align with contemporary societal expectations. Our world faces different global challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, growing inequality, transitioning from a linear economy to a circular one, and balancing economic needs with societal needs. As businesses increasingly prioritize sustainability and social responsibility, the integration of design thinking has emerged as a powerful methodology that emphasizes a human-centered approach that leverages innovative problem-solving to address complex social and environmental challenges.
Design thinking enables organizations to navigate the complexities of ESG challenges, transforming them from mere compliance obligations into opportunities for value creation and competitive advantage. Rooted in the principles of empathy, iteration, and collaboration, design thinking emphasizes a deep understanding of stakeholder needs, thereby fostering solutions that promote sustainability, social equity, and ethical governance. This human-centered focus not only enhances innovation but also builds trust and accountability among stakeholders, making design thinking a crucial asset for organizations aiming to drive meaningful change.
This high-energy two-day Design Thinking course for Impactful ESG Strategies will give you a good understanding of how to apply Design Thinking principles to build effective ESG strategies with positive impacts.
Course Aims
This program is designed to empower participants with the mindset and skill sets necessary for tackling complex environmental and social challenges and spearheading sustainable product and service innovation within their organization, utilizing Design Thinking Methodology.
By incorporating a human-centered perspective, fostering creativity, embracing an iterative process, encouraging co-creation and collaboration, and validating solutions, Design Thinking enables companies to address ESG challenges in a more holistic, innovative and sustainable manner. You can also use it as a reference for your corporate action plan with steps forward on implementing the strategies and solutions.
Targeted Participants
This course is designed for professionals in the manufacturing industry, including:
- ESG working professionals: designed for individuals eager to expand their creative problem-solving capabilities in tackling challenges within the ESG framework.
- Business leaders: leaders looking to enhance organizational ESG performance, innovation effectiveness or for a sustainable transformation.
- Innovation teams: team leaders responsible for leading ESG strategies, organizational transformation or improvement initiatives.
Part 2: Learning Outcomes
Key Learning Outcomes. By the end of this course, participants will:
- Master Design Thinking Principles and Framework: Gain a thorough understanding of Design Thinking principles, values, and the Double Diamond Model execution framework for tackling advanced problem-solving tasks, driving product or service innovations for effective solutions, and bringing positive impacts within the ESG framework.
- Balance AI, Big Data, and Empathy: Learn how to achieve an optimal balance between artificial intelligence, big data analysis, and empathy within human-centered innovation projects.
- Build and Lead ESG dream team: Understand how to assemble and lead teams of ESG and internal stakeholders from various disciplines or departments, fostering a culture of growth mindset and high-level co-creation to build ownership and accountability for impactful ESG strategies and implementation.
Part 3: Course Content
Teaching methodologies
This interactive course is designed to equip you with the Design Thinking mindsets, tools and skills necessary to drive bold innovations. Engage in a dynamic learning journey that includes highly interactive sessions and culminates in collaborative group work focused on addressing a human-centered challenge. Our commitment to a “learning-by-doing” philosophy guarantees practical application and immediate implementation of the concepts taught.
Pre-Course Preparation
Before the course begins, participants will receive a set of pre-learning materials to foster a preliminary understanding of Design Thinking concepts. This preparatory phase is designed to help participants develop a readiness mindset and maximize their learning effectiveness by utilizing the pre-course materials provided.
Session 1: Discover Stage
In this session, participants will learn to fully grasp the human aspects of challenges and explore who is impacted by your business’s environmental, social and governance aspects through “stakeholder mapping.” Additionally, they will deepen their understanding of key stakeholders by employing “Design Research” methods to empathize with users. Furthermore, participants will utilize “sense-making” techniques to uncover the root cause of the challenges they face.
Session 2: Define Stage
In this session, participants will learn to identify users’ major pain points and expectations through the “Persona Development” technique. Additionally, they will explore and gather evidence and practice determining critical pain points and expectations by analyzing the “Customer Journey Map.” Finally, participants will learn to reframe the challenge into various opportunities using the “Problem Statement Design” technique.
Session 3: Develop Stage
In this session, participants will practice various ideation techniques and tools. They will experience the power of co-creation to generate breakthrough ideas at multiple levels. Afterward, they will learn how to select the most promising ideas using the “Idea Priority Map” tool.
Session 4: Deliver Stage
In this session, participants will learn to transform their selected ideas into prototypes using “rapid prototyping techniques”, such as the “Service Scenario Map”. Additionally, they will employ “pitching techniques” to professionally present their solutions with the value proposition of ESG.
Finally, participants will analyze feedback from others to further refine their solutions using the “ACES analysis” technique, enhancing their ability to iterate and improve their solutions effectively.
Follow-Up Session
Participants will benefit from the post-course follow-up sessions designed to assist them in overcoming challenges related to applying Design Thinking techniques in their daily work environments. This support is crucial for translating the learning experience into practical workplace performance.
Part 4: Course Trainers
Our coaches are seasoned and certified Design Thinking facilitators. They will share their extensive experience and effective strategies for implementing Design Thinking in innovation projects and organizational transformations. This practical approach enables you to integrate Design Thinking principles immediately into your daily work environment.
Part 5: Certificate
Upon completing the course and all related exercises, participants will receive a Digital Certificate of Design Thinking Fundamentals Training Course and Digital Badge of Design Thinking Practitioner from the Design Thinkers Academy. These credentials are securely issued through a blockchain-based global certification management system and for you to share your achievement and new status as a Certified Design Thinker on social media platforms.
Part 6: Date & Tuition Fee
Date: 14 & 15 June, 2025
Time: 0930 to 1730
Location: Shanghai, China
Language: Mandarin (普通话) with Simplified Chinese Materials
Mode: Physical Training (The venue will be confirmed one week before the class starts)
Fee: RMB 7,000 | RMB 6,500 (Early Bird | up to one month prior to the start of the course)
Part 7: Track Record
The previous 26 public classes of the DTA Design Thinking Fundamentals course are listed below:
2025 (26th Cohort): 22 Feb
2024 (22nd to 25th Cohort): 30 Nov | 3 Oct | 19 Jul | 17 May
2023 (19th to 21st Cohort): 21 Oct | 22 Jul | 14 Apr
2022 (15th to 18th Cohort): 20 Oct | 7 Jul | 26 Apr | 17 Mar
2021 (10th to 14th Cohort): 2 Dec | 12 Oct | 19 Aug | 11 Mar | 16 Jan
2020 (5th to 9th Cohort): 19 Nov | 19 Aug | 3 Jul | 13 May | 16 Jan
2019 (1st to 4th Cohort): 2 Nov | 28 Sep | 26 Sep | 15 Aug
