“DESIGN THINKING IN ACTION: FROM INSIGHT TO INNOVATION”

By Profs. Pedro Isaías and Paula Miranda

This workshop focuses on leveraging Design Thinking (DT), a human-centred and solution-oriented approach, to drive innovation, particularly within Higher Education (HE). DT functions as both a collaborative mindset and a methodology that guides multidisciplinary teams through five critical stages: Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. The framework employs a diverse set of tools across these stages. Across the workshop, participants will explore 15 DT tools through a blended approach that combines concise theoretical foundations with immersive, hands-on activities. Tools such as User Persona, Empathy Map, PEST Analysis, and Rich Picture are used in the Empathise stage to gain deep insights into user needs and context. In the Define stage, tools like Root Definition, Blue Ocean Strategy, and Buyer Utility Map support clear problem framing and opportunity identification. Ideation encourages the creation of diverse solution pathways using instruments such as the Business Model Canvas, 2×2 Matrix, and Opportunity Canvas. These ideas are then translated into tangible representations in the Prototype stage through Storyboards and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Finally, the Test stage validates assumptions and gathers evidence-based feedback using CSF Analysis and A/B Testing, enabling iterative refinement and data-informed decision-making that supports the creation of sustainable value.