Design Thinking Basics – The Agile Method for Creative Problem Solving
Design Thinking, one of the leading agile methods, offers a unique approach to understanding complex problems, viewing them from the user’s perspective, and developing creative solutions.
Key Information
- What: Design Thinking Basics – The Agile Method for Creative Problem Solving
- When: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 2:00–6:00 p.m.
- Where: CET Seminarraum - Campus Süd - Pavillon 2a, Wilhelm-Dilthey-Str. 2a 44227 Dortmund
- Who: Students, researchers, and staff at TU Dortmund University, as well as university members of the University Alliance Ruhr (Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) & TU Dortmund
The Design Thinking Problem-Solving Process
Unlike many other approaches that tackle a problem from the perspective of technical feasibility, Design Thinking places human desires and needs, as well as user-centered innovation, at the heart of the solution process.
Design Thinking is more than just a method—it is a creative mindset that redefines innovation and problem-solving. Originally rooted in the design context, Design Thinking has evolved into a versatile approach that is successfully applied across various industries and disciplines. At its core, it involves tackling complex problems through a human-centered approach. The focus here is not solely on technical solutions, but above all on the needs, perspectives, and experiences of users. Design Thinking fosters empathy, collaboration, and a willingness to experiment. Innovative solutions emerge through an iterative process that encompasses various phases of ideation, prototype development, and testing. The method encourages people to think outside the box, challenge conventional thinking patterns, and bring about transformative change through creative thinking.
Benefits of Design Thinking
Experience a user-centered approach and get to the root of the problems: Deepen your understanding of users’ needs and ensure that your solutions are not only feasible but also precisely tailored to the actual requirements and wishes of the target audience.
Boost your creativity and innovation: Master creative techniques such as brainstorming and prototyping to expand your methodological repertoire. Develop the ability to go beyond conventional solutions and generate original ideas.
Recognize the benefits of prototyping and iteration for continuous improvement: Use the Design Thinking process to quickly create prototypes and test them early on. Learn how iterative steps enable you to continuously optimize solutions and adapt them to changing requirements.
Discover the strengths of interdisciplinary collaboration: Foster collaboration among teams with diverse expertise and backgrounds. Understand how integrating different perspectives leads to holistic solutions.
Recognize the benefits of systematic problem analysis and solution-finding in two phases: Recognize the importance of a thorough examination of the problem space, followed by a focused exploration of the solution space. Use this structured method to develop well-founded and user-centered solutions that meet actual needs.
The Design Thinking Process – Two Main Phases
What We Cover – Course Content
The workshop will cover the following topics:
- You will learn about the working methods and mindset of Design Thinking. Discover how to view problems from the users’ perspective.
- Together, we will explore the individual phases of the Design Thinking cycle and provide you with the theoretical foundation needed to apply the method.
- Get to know the individual phases and their components.
- Immerse yourself in a novel way of working based on empathy, playful experimentation, and a user-centered approach.
- Together, we’ll walk through the initial phases using an example and experience the Design Thinking process.
This interactive workshop offers you the opportunity to tackle challenges we present using Design Thinking tools. Our experts will guide you through the process in teams. This quickly transforms problems into creative solutions. You can apply this approach to all areas of life—all you need is our theoretical input and the willingness to solve problems in an agile way.
Your instructor
The workshop will be led by Dilista Jakupi.
Dilista Jakupi is a staff member at CET and a Certified Advanced Design Thinking Trainer. She is an economist, OKR Master, and Product Manager for Entrepreneurial & Future Skills.
Here's what you can expect
In our workshops, you’ll learn practical, up-to-date methods of entrepreneurship and innovation management that you can apply immediately. We emphasize interaction and participant engagement.
Insights and perspectives from the business world. We’ll introduce you to different perspectives and provide insights into the startup world and entrepreneurship.
Application and interaction in interdisciplinary teams. Using real-world examples, you’ll learn the various steps of the methodology and receive support in applying them to your own challenges.
Networking and exchange. In addition to exploring the methodology in depth, we offer the opportunity to network with other interested individuals from various disciplines in a relaxed atmosphere.
Who is this workshop for?
Our free program is open to students, researchers, and staff from all departments at TU Dortmund University, as well as anyone in the region interested in starting a business. TU Dortmund University staff may have the workshops counted as work time after consulting with their supervisor.
Participation is limited to 30 spots. No prior knowledge is required to participate.
Contact for further information
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us by email at qualifizierung.cet@tu-dortmund.de