Hands‑on • Human‑Centered★ 9.3/10 avg ratingDesign Thinking Course — Human‑Centered, Hands‑On (India)
Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test — taught by practitioners with real assignments and user testing. Deploy at cohort scale.
Program Overview
This workshop introduces Design Thinking as a practical, human-centered way to build products that solve real problems and deliver value.
Participants explore the Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test flow with hands-on assignments.
You’ll apply empathy techniques, craft POV statements, brainstorm and prioritize, then prototype and test to learn fast.
The emphasis is on a repeatable, structured approach and iteration.
Learning Objectives
- Understand design thinking as a human-centered, structured framework for creative problem solving and why it matters for building products customers love.
- Adopt the design-thinking mindset: customer as the only source of truth, balance divergent + convergent thinking, and fail/learn/build fast.
- Practice the end-to-end process—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test—with the tools to execute each step.
Learning Outcomes
- Conduct empathetic user research and craft Point-of-View (POV) statements that connect persona → needs → insight.
- Generate and prioritize ideas using brainstorming rules, Reach vs Impact, and RICE to select a final solution.
- Build quick prototypes that approximate real experience, run user tests, and iterate until users unlock value.
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Program Structure
Explore the full design thinking flow with hands‑on activities—then apply it in a capstone challenge.
1. Start with Why
Why we’re here: build products that solve a problem, customers love, and deliver value; why design thinking helps, and why building products is messy. Includes short history caselets (Apple Mouse, Shopping Cart, Airbnb, PillPack).
- Why Design Thinking? (human-centered, structured, insights = moats)
- Why this is hard (messy, time, many small problems)
- A peek at the history (Apple Mouse, Shopping Cart, Airbnb, PillPack)
2. What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking defined as a process for creative problem solving with multiple well-known models (Simon, Double Diamond, IDEO, d.School, etc.).
- Definitions & core idea
- Survey of models (7-stage, Double Diamond, 3Es, IDEO, d.School)
3. The Design Thinking Process (E–D–I–P–T)
Overview of the five stages—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test—and how they interlock.
- Empathize
- Define
- Ideate
- Prototype
- Test
4. Mindset & When to Use (and not)
The mindset: build the right product, customer is the only source of truth, iterate, fail/learn fast; guidance on when to use design thinking (complex, human-centered, open-ended) and when not to (well-defined, predictable).
- Mindset principles (divergent/convergent, iteration)
- When to use vs when not to
5. Empathy & User Research
What empathy is and how to practice it using practical techniques and user interviews.
- Empathy definition
- Techniques: Data Detective, Journalist, Anthropologist, Impersonator, Co-Creator, Scientist
- User interviews: background, motivations, circumstances; persona & insights
- Interview best practices (80:20, open-ended, specifics, record with permission)
6. Problem Framing with POV Statements
Turn research into POV statements: “[PERSONA] needs/wants [NEEDS]… Because/Surprisingly [INSIGHT]”; tips and examples.
- POV template & example
- Persona/needs/insight alignment
7. Ideation & Brainstorming
Structured idea generation: divergent then convergent; categories (Low-Hanging / Ideal / Crazy); rules that encourage quantity and postpone judgment.
- Divergent vs convergent thinking
- Brainstorming rules (encourage wild ideas, build on others, be visual, one conversation, quantity, defer judgment)
- 10-word solutions on “post-its”
8. Prioritization & Selection
Move from many ideas to one using the Reach vs Impact matrix and RICE; select the final solution.
- Reach vs Impact
- RICE scoring
- Final selection
9. Rapid Prototyping
Why prototype: fail fast, learn fast, reveal constraints, test value delivery, and get customer commitments. What a prototype is and rules for making it useful.
- Why prototype & what it is (approximate real experience, most important use case, quick to build)
- General rules (map journey, highlight CTAs, micro-instructions, “you won’t be there”)
- Types: Hardware, Software, Algorithms, Experiences
10. Testing & Iteration
How to set up tests (quote POV, single-line solution, record), observe body language & emotions, and decide when testing ends (“when the user unlocks value”). Post-test review and notes.
- Setting up the test
- During testing (one-way mirror, time-stamps)
- Post-testing review (ease of use; wow/sucks; problem-solution fit)
11. Capstone Challenge & Assignments
Apply the process to a real prompt, conduct interviews, generate ideas, prioritize, prototype, and test with real users; submit artifacts.
- Conduct 5+ interviews & capture notes
- POVs → ideas (≥27), RICE prioritization
- Build prototype & test with 3 users; share unlisted videos
Instructor
Amal Kiran is the Co‑Founder & CEO of Temperstack, an enterprise‑grade AI SRE Agent improving software reliability at scale. He previously founded Daffodil Health, led programs at the Startup Leadership Program, and served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Antler. With a background in building ventures across healthtech and AI, he brings strong experience in scaling startups and driving innovation globally.
Why ZenLearn
Real examples, templates and checklists that translate into action.
Mobile‑first delivery and role‑based dashboards for program owners.
Topic‑level feedback, progress tracking, and exportable reports.
Swap/add sessions to suit departments, incubators or accelerator context.
Pilot in 1–2 weeks with your branding and reporting needs.
Secure platform aligned with best practices; admin controls and audit trails.
What founders say
“Openness and depth—my specific doubts were addressed thoroughly.”
“Crystal‑clear explanations with real examples—build the right product and stay on the customer’s side.”
“Strong emphasis on first principles and divergent thinking to uncover unique solutions.”
“Learned the detailed, real‑time implementation of design thinking.”
FAQs
What is the Design Thinking course and who is it for?
A hands-on, human-centered design thinking course for universities, incubators, accelerators, and startup teams in India.
Is this a hands-on design thinking workshop with prototyping and user testing?
Yes—learn by doing: Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test, with practical assignments and real user feedback.
What will participants learn (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test)?
How to research users, frame clear POVs, generate ideas, build quick prototypes, test with users, and iterate for value.
Can we customize the design thinking curriculum for our department or incubator?
Yes—modules and depth are configurable to your context and learner level.
How is the course delivered and what’s the typical schedule?
Online, instructor-led; formats range from intensive workshop sprints to multi-week cohorts—configured with you.
Do we get templates, tools, and checklists to apply immediately?
Yes—ready-to-use templates and checklists that translate directly into projects.
How do we measure learning and outcomes in this design thinking training?
Assignments, capstone work, and progress dashboards help track participation, submissions, and feedback.
Who teaches the course?
Amal Kiran (Co-Founder & CEO, Temperstack)—a practitioner with experience scaling ventures in healthtech and AI.
How many participants can join? Does ZenLearn support cohort-scale delivery?
Yes—ZenLearn is built for cohort scale with role-based admin views.
How quickly can we launch this design thinking course in India?
Pilots typically go live in 1–2 weeks, including branding and reporting setup.
What tangible outcomes should we expect from participants?
Clear problem statements, prioritized ideas, low-fidelity prototypes, and user-tested iterations.
How do we book a demo or discuss pricing?
Use the Book a demo button on this page—our team will tailor scope and delivery for your organization.
Bring Design Thinking to your cohort.
Book a 20‑minute walkthrough—tailored to your department or incubator.