Singapore University of Social Sciences

A Design Thinking Mindset

A Design Thinking Mindset (CET135)

Applications Open: 26 January 2024

Applications Close: 20 August 2024

Next Available Intake: 03 September 2024

Course Types: Short Course, SkillsFuture Series

Language: English

Duration: 2 days

Fees: $1400

Area of Interest: Management, Business Administration, Others

Schemes: To be confirmed

Funding: SkillsFuture

School/Department: Centre for Continuing & Professional Education


Duration: 2 days
Next Available Intakes: 03 & 04 September 2024
Venue: Singapore University of Social Sciences
Minimum number to run: 25 participants

 

This course introduces the idea of design as a model for innovation based on human-centric observation and prototyping. A design mindset is one that looks at problems and challenges from the users' mental models, and in designing the solution, to take into consideration the value created for them.

This course presents an introduction to the practice of design thinking. It covers the design process and case studies looking at applications of design thinking.

As an application-focused workshop, participants will spend much of the time practising design thinking concepts by working on a design challenge of their own choice.

Workshop: Participants will come together in groups to craft a design challenge (a problem that they would like to solve or an area that they would like to improve using design; they will practise framing a design challenge, design and carry out a plan for conducting fieldwork, synthesize learnings, and create and test a prototype.

Objective

A. Knowledge and Understanding (Theory Component)

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Understand that design thinking is a mindset and skill that can be applied to generate new possibilities and solutions.
  • Understand that design thinking comprises three key phases: Inspiration, Ideation and Iteration.
  • Understand that empathy and the willingness to let go of preconceived notions, are essential to seeing new possibilities through design thinking.

B. Key Skills (Practical Component)

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Frame a good design question
  • Design and carry out a research plan to gather new data points
  • Synthesize research findings to mine new insight
  • Ideate and create a prototype to test their ideas

Topics

TimeAgenda
Day 1
09:00 - 09:30Introductions
  • Who am I?
  • Why am I here?
  • What I am hoping to get out of the course?
09:30 - 10:00

Design Thinking Concepts (and Misconceptions)

10:00 - 10:30Design Thinking as a Mindset/Case Study
10:30 - 10:45Break
10:45 - 12:00Mini Design Challenge: Redesigning the Wallet
12:00 - 12:30Reflections and Learnings
12:30 - 13:30Lunch
13:30 - 14:00Groupwork: Craft a Design Challenge
14:00 - 14:30Groupwork: Mining the team's wisdom
- I know and I wonder
14:30 - 15:15Learn about the various fieldwork methods - People, Experts, Context, Analogies
15:15 - 15:30Break
15:30 - 16:30Groupwork: Fieldwork Planning
16:30 - 17:00Questions, Comments and Takeaways
Day 2
09:00 - 09:30Re-entry: Me as a Designer
09:30 - 10:30Groupwork: Sharing Stories from Our Fieldwork
10:30 - 10:45Break
10:45 - 11:30Groupwork: Mining Insights
11:30 - 12:00Groupwork: Generating Exploration Questions
12:00 - 13:00Lunch
13:00 - 14:00Brainstorm Ideas
14:00 - 15:00Create Prototype
15:00 - 16:00Test Prototype
16:00 - 16:30Refine Prototype
16:30 - 17:00Questions, Comments and Takeaways


Note: This 2-day course would ideally take place over a Friday and a Monday, so as to give participants, if they wish, the time to carry out their fieldwork over the weekend.


Requirements

  • None, but participants should come with a problem or problems that they would like to see in new ways.

About the Trainer

Yong Yoek Ling is the Director of Bold At Work, an innovative training academy she founded to prepare young people in the skills that they most need for the future of work, based on a clear understanding of self, how it relates to others and the world and the mindsets needed to thrive in the future of work. She also works with organizations in a leadership training and organizational learning capacity.

She is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, having completed her Master in Education in Specialised Studies in 2017. She brings back with her core ideas of generating learning that is real for the learners, and creating deep learning experiences that go beyond the classroom into the real world.

Her passion is to integrate her ground experience as long-time trainer and mentor with volunteer mentoring movement Beautiful People, and high level policy experience in her previous role as an Administrative Officer in the Government of Singapore, to create social impact. She has held leadership positions in her roles across various agencies and Ministries, from the Competition Commission of Singapore, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance.

She is a graduate of the Newfield Ontological Coaching programme by Newfield Asia Institute, a leading coaching institute. She did her undergraduate studies in economics and political economy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Application Procedures

Please submit the following documents to cet@suss.edu.sg:

  1. Coloured copy (back and front) of NRIC for Singaporeans and PRs, or "Employment"/"S" Pass for foreign applicant
  2. Application form

Course Fee

Course Fee for $1400

1 Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy: Singaporeans aged 40 and above may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the course fees.
2 Enhanced Training Support for SMEs: SME-sponsored employees (Singaporean Citizens and PRs) aged 21 and above may enjoy subsidies up to 90% of the course fees.

  • Participants are required to achieve at least 75% attendance and pass any prescribed examinations/assessments or submit any course/project work (if any) under the course requirement.
  • Participants are required to complete all surveys and feedbacks related to the course.
  • The course fees are reviewed annually and may be revised. The University reserves the right to adjust the course fees without prior notice.
  • Singapore University of Social Sciences reserves the right to amend and/or revise the above schedule without prior notice.

For clarification, please contact the Centre for Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) via the following:

Telephone: +65 6248 0263
Email: CET@suss.edu.sg
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