13 Best Design Thinking Courses To Take In 2025
Design thinking courses benefit all areas of your life, whether they're a part of your role or not. Gaining an intimate understand of the design process can help you become a better communicator, a better problem solver, and a better collaborator in all areas of your personal and professional life.
Here are the best self-guided courses to help you build your design thinking skills.
Best Design Thinking Courses Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best design thinking courses I think are helpful:
- Design Thinking and Business Model Innovation (Asian Institute of Management)
- Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate (IDEO U)
- Design Thinking (LIFE)
- Design Thinking (Open Learn)
- Introduction to Design Thinking (Stanford University)
- Design Thinking and Innovation (Harvard Business School)
- Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide (Interaction Design Foundation)
- Design Thinking: Transform How You Create and Innovate (Australian Institute of Management)
- Mastering Design Thinking (MIT Sloan School of Management)
- Design Thinking (Rotterdam School of Management)
- Design Thinking: Understanding the Process (LinkedIn Learning)
- Design Thinking Certificate (Growth Tribe)
- Design Thinking (UXcel)
Find more details about each course below.
Overview Of The Best Design Thinking Courses
1. Design Thinking and Business Model Innovation (Asian Institute of Management)
This course provides a dynamic approach to tackling real-world business challenges by integrating design thinking with business model innovation. Participants engage in iterative processes to refine and enhance solutions, ensuring each step adds measurable value. The course emphasizes practical application, allowing learners to translate theory into impactful business results through continuous improvement and feedback.
- Who It’s For: Business leaders and professionals aiming to enhance strategic and innovative approaches
- Topics Covered:
- Design thinking fundamentals
- Business model innovation
- Prototyping and testing
- Real-world business applications
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 days
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $473
- Take The Course: Asian Institute of Management
2. Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate (IDEO U)
This design thinking certificate program comprehensively explores the design process, blending theoretical insights with hands-on assignments. Learners will gain practical experience applying design methodologies, helping them to tackle real-world challenges with innovative solutions. Through iterative learning, the course builds a strong foundation for creatively addressing complex problems.
- Who It’s For: Individuals looking to apply design thinking in their professional work
- Topics Covered:
- Introduction to design thinking principles
- Human-centered design
- Building creative confidence
- Practical applications and case studies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2-3 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 4 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $799
- Take The Course: IDEO U
3. Design Thinking (LIFE)
This course provides a foundational understanding of design thinking, guiding learners through a hands-on approach to problem-solving. Through real-world projects and engaging interactive content, participants gain practical skills to tackle complex challenges creatively. By the end of the course, learners are equipped to apply design thinking principles in various contexts, fostering innovative solutions that drive meaningful change.
- Who It’s For: Professionals and students seeking foundational knowledge in design thinking
- Topics Covered:
- Design thinking process steps
- Empathy and problem definition
- Ideation and brainstorming
- Prototype development and testing
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 60 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: LIFE
4. Design Thinking (Open Learn)
This course offers a foundational understanding of design thinking, guiding learners through the process of innovative problem-solving. This free course emphasizes hands-on application, encouraging participants to develop creative solutions through an iterative approach. By completing the course, learners gain practical skills to implement design thinking in real-world scenarios, enhancing their ability to drive meaningful change.
- Who It’s For: Learners interested in gaining a basic understanding of design thinking
- Topics Covered:
- Defining challenges
- Generating creative solutions
- Iterative testing and prototyping
- Implementing user-centric designs
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 10 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Open Learn
5. Introduction to Design Thinking (Stanford University)
This introductory course highlights creativity and the development of innovative solutions to complex problems. Through expert insights, participants understand how design thinking can be applied across various domains. The course encourages a hands-on approach, allowing learners to engage directly with real-world challenges using design-centered methodologies.
- Who It’s For: Anyone wanting to explore design thinking from a reputable source
- Topics Covered:
- Basics of design thinking
- Ideation techniques
- Prototyping and feedback loops
- Case studies in innovation
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 6 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $765
- Take The Course: Stanford University
6. Design Thinking and Innovation (Harvard Business School)
This course immerses learners in the design thinking process, combining strategic insights with hands-on exercises to foster innovative problem-solving. Focusing on both the mindset and skillset needed for successful innovation, it encourages a creative and structured approach to tackling real-world challenges. Through practical assignments and guided reflections, participants gain the confidence and tools to generate impactful, user-centered solutions.
- Who It’s For: Professionals looking to enhance their strategic thinking and innovation skills
- Topics Covered:
- Problem framing
- Empathy in design
- Ideation and co-creation
- Prototyping and experimentation
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 7 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 6 to 8 hours per
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $1,850
- Take The Course: Harvard Business School
7. Design Thinking: The Ultimate Guide (Interaction Design Foundation)
This course provides an in-depth exploration of design thinking, guiding learners through a detailed methodology for applying design principles to solve complex problems effectively. It combines theoretical instruction with practical activities to help participants implement design thinking in real-world scenarios. The course also includes numerous examples to illustrate concepts and enhance understanding.
- Who It’s For: Design professionals and anyone interested in applying design thinking
- Topics Covered:
- Stages of the design thinking process
- Customer journey mapping
- Creating personas
- Advanced prototyping techniques
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 9 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price:
- Membership required (from $159/year)
- Free for Members
- Take The Course: Interaction Design Foundation
8. Design Thinking: Transform How You Create and Innovate (Australian Institute of Management)
This course offers participants practical guidance on incorporating design thinking methodologies into their professional settings to drive innovation and effective problem-solving. It highlights hands-on techniques and strategies for applying creative processes directly to workplace challenges. Participants will gain the tools and confidence needed to foster a culture of innovation, encouraging adaptable and impactful solutions in their organizations.
- Who It’s For: Leaders and teams seeking to implement innovation strategies
- Topics Covered:
- Understanding customer needs
- Creative ideation processes
- Rapid prototyping
- Feedback and iteration
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 day
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $975
- Take The Course: Australian Institute of Management
9. Mastering Design Thinking (MIT Sloan School of Management)
This course empowers participants to master the design thinking process as a strategic tool for driving product innovation. Through a blend of interactive lectures and practical projects, learners gain hands-on experience in applying design thinking techniques to real-world challenges. Participants emerge with a solid grasp of how to use design thinking effectively, fostering creativity and innovation within their organizations.
- Who It’s For: Senior managers, decision-makers, and leaders aiming to integrate design thinking into their practices
- Topics Covered:
- Problem exploration and framing
- Concept development
- User-centric prototyping
- Strategic design and business impact
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 3 months
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 6 to 8 hours per week
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $3,300
- Take The Course: MIT Sloan School of Management
10. Design Thinking (Rotterdam School of Management)
This course immerses participants in the principles and practices of design thinking, guiding them through hands-on activities to develop creative problem-solving skills. Through lectures and collaborative exercises, students engage with real-world scenarios, exploring methods for generating and refining innovative solutions. By the end, learners gain a practical toolkit for tackling complex challenges with a user-centered approach.
- Who It’s For: Professionals involved in strategy, design, or innovation
- Topics Covered:
- Exploration of customer insights
- Collaborative brainstorming
- Iterative prototyping
- Feedback integration
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 6 weeks
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: €1,300 (excl. 21% VAT)
- Take The Course: Rotterdam School of Management
11. Design Thinking: Understanding the Process (LinkedIn Learning)
This course introduces the fundamentals of design thinking, guiding learners through a structured process for creative problem-solving. It offers clear, practical explanations for each phase, helping participants grasp how to apply design thinking techniques to real-world challenges. With a blend of theory and actionable insights, the course equips learners to develop innovative, user-centered solutions.
- Who It’s For: Beginners looking for an introduction to design thinking
- Topics Covered:
- Introduction to design thinking
- Defining and empathizing with the problem
- Ideation and testing strategies
- Implementing solutions
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 43 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free for a month
- Take The Course: LinkedIn Learning
12. Design Thinking Certificate (Growth Tribe)
This course on design thinking provides immersive, hands-on training aimed at building practical design skills. It blends theoretical foundations with real-world applications, ensuring learners gain actionable insights. By the end of the program, participants are equipped with a toolkit of design thinking methods to apply in diverse contexts.
- Who It’s For: Business professionals and teams focusing on innovative problem-solving
- Topics Covered:
- Problem definition and reframing
- Ideation sessions
- Prototyping and MVP testing
- Continuous iteration
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 12 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: €995
- Take The Course: Growth Tribe
13. Design Thinking (UXcel)
This UXcel course immerses learners in essential design thinking practices, guiding them through the process of creating solutions that prioritize user needs. This online course combines theory with hands-on, interactive content, allowing for a practical understanding of user-centered design. Through real-world applications and exercises, the course fosters a deeper grasp of design thinking as a problem-solving approach.
- Who It’s For: UX designers and professionals looking to integrate design thinking
- Topics Covered:
- Key design thinking stages
- Empathy and user research
- Generating ideas and solutions
- Evaluating and refining prototypes
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 3 hours
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: UXcel
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