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Free Design Thinking for Innovation Course

Name: Introduction to Design Thinking
Rating: 4.65 (2529 reviews)

Introduction to Design Thinking

4.65 Beginner level 3.0 learning hrs 36K+ Learners

Build design thinking for innovation with this free beginner course. You learn to study user needs, frame problems, shape ideas, prototype solutions, test feedback, and apply lessons from Airbnb and Uber Eats cases clearly.

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Skills you will gain

Basic of Design Thinking

Design Thinking Process

Case Study - Airbnb and Uber Eats

Key Highlights

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About this course

Design Thinking for Innovation gives beginners a practical way to approach unclear problems before jumping to solutions. This free design thinking course is suitable for students, product learners, marketers, managers, entrepreneurs, and technical or non-technical professionals who need a structured method for understanding users. You start with the meaning of design thinking, why empathy matters, and how careful observation can turn assumptions into clearer problem statements.

From there, you use the design thinking process to connect user research, point-of-view framing, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration into one problem-solving workflow. Case examples from Airbnb and Uber Eats show how customer pain points influence better service and product decisions. The course matters because these habits support innovation, collaboration, and decision-making, while preparing you for deeper learning in product management, UX, entrepreneurship, marketing, or business strategy.

Stand out with an industry-recognized certificate

Start learning

10,000+ certificates claimed, get yours today!

Get noticed by top recruiters

Share on professional channels

Globally recognised

Land your dream job

Course outline

Overview of Design Thinking

Design Thinking - Airbnb

Design Thinking - Uber Eats

Design Thinking v/s Business Thinking

Steve Jobs perspective on design

Design Thinking - A non-linear process

Design Thinking process

Empathize with User

Define the design process

Ideation

Prototyping in the process

Prototyping Workflow

Prototyping Fidelity

Usability Testing

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Introduction to Design Thinking

4.65

3.0 Hours

Beginner

36K+ learners enrolled so far

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2 projects 12.5 hrs video content

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Trusted by 10 Million+ Learners globally

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Learner reviews of the Free Courses

4.65

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Michael Ekeocha

5.0

★★★★ ★

Nigeria

“I Learned About Ideate, Prototype, and Test Phases of the Design Thinking Process.”

In the design thinking process, there are steps taken before you achieve your goal and successfully complete a project. The first is Empathy (give special attention); to carry out a design project, you need to be in the user's shoes, know their activities, and understand what they do. 2. Define: After gathering information from the user, you define it. 3. Ideate: At this point, you have defined the information you have gathered from the user and have a big picture of the problem you are to solve. 4. Prototype: This is where you design a look-alike of the big picture you had in mind. 5. Test.

Manisha Kulkarni

5.0

★★★★ ★

United States

“Design Thinking Is a Human-Centered Approach”

I liked this. Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that focuses on understanding users’ needs, defining problems clearly, brainstorming creative solutions, and testing prototypes to refine ideas. It encourages collaboration, creativity, and iterative development, ensuring that solutions are both innovative and practical.

Hazman Wirayudha

4.0

★★★ ★ ☆

Indonesia

“Design Thinking Offers a Hands-On Learning Experience”

By focusing on understanding users' needs, students learn to approach challenges from different perspectives. The ideation phase encourages brainstorming and collaboration, while prototyping allows for tangible experimentation and feedback. This process highlights the importance of continuous iteration, where failures are seen as opportunities to refine and improve solutions. Ultimately, design thinking equips learners with the skills to create innovative, user-centered solutions and fosters a mindset of flexibility and ongoing improvement.

Dương Tuấn Nghĩa

5.0

★★★★ ★

“Understanding the Design Thinking Approach”

The design thinking approach is a set of principles and methods for solving complicated problems by prioritizing user interests. Design thinking helps solve a problem practically and creatively. It distills empirical knowledge from various fields—including architecture, engineering, and business—and adopts solution-focused methods for resolving issues.

Nyam Jennifer Igbarak

5.0

★★★★ ★

Nigeria

“My Learning Journey Experience and Understanding”

I really enjoyed my session. The lesson was easy to understand and mind-catching. He gave us real-life examples for one to easily picture what he's talking about. The thinking process in recap are: Empathize: research (user and buyer personas), Define: Analyze, Ideation: Brainstorming, Prototype: low fidelity (drawing), mock-up and high fidelity. Use either Balsamiq or Figma. Usability testing.

Chathursha Apsara

5.0

★★★★ ★

“A Journey Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Mastery at Great Learning”

A Transformative Journey of Innovation, Collaboration, and Mastery at Great Learning, Fueling Personal and Professional Growth Through Cutting-Edge Courses and a Vibrant Community.

Chidi Edi

5.0

★★★★ ★

Nigeria

“I Learned That Design Is Best Done the Way the Customer Wants It to Work and Not How I, the Designer, Want It to Be. Also, Iteration in the Design Process Is Important. Thank You.”

As a designer, I now know that I have to be conscious not to jump to quick conclusions, and as such, each process is as good as the next. The customer's input is therefore very important in the journey that creates a workflow. The prototype and then the product after testing must have been successfully carried out. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn design thinking on the Great Learning platform. Many thanks to the team for creating such a great platform. God bless.

Lindsey Van Wyk

5.0

★★★★ ★

United States

“Design Thinking Is a Useful Skill to Have”

This was the best of the courses I took from Great Learning. The instructor was EXTREMELY knowledgeable and easy to understand.

Mohammed Saddiqi

5.0

★★★★ ★

Morocco

“Early Prototypes Are Low Fidelity; Later Prototypes Are High Fidelity.”

I appreciated the video’s clarity in explaining the stages of prototyping, highlighting the progression from low to high fidelity. It effectively illustrated how each type of prototype is used to refine and test ideas throughout the design thinking process.

Fatai Oyetunji

4.0

★★★ ★ ☆

Nigeria

“The Lectures Are Very Informative and In-Depth”

The lectures are very informative and in-depth. The instructor breaking down the design thinking process makes me visualize the concept with the experience I have had in my personal business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive a certificate upon completing this free course?

Yes, upon successful completion of the course and payment of the certificate fee, you will receive a completion certificate that you can add to your resume.

Is this course free?

Yes, you may enroll in the course and access the course content for free. However, if you wish to obtain a certificate upon completion, a non-refundable fee is applicable.

Will I get a certificate after completing this Design Thinking free course?

Yes, you will get a certificate of completion for Design Thinking after completing all the modules and cracking the assessment. The assessment tests your knowledge of the subject and badges your skills.

How much does this Design Thinking course cost?

It is an entirely free course from Great Learning Academy. anyone interested in learning the basics of Design Thinking can get started with this course.

Is there any limit on how many times I can take this free course?

Once you enroll in the Design Thinking course, you have lifetime access to it. So, you can log in anytime and learn it for free online.

Can I sign up for multiple courses from Great Learning Academy at the same time?

Yes, you can enroll in as many courses as you want from Great Learning Academy. There is no limit to the number of courses you can enroll in at once, but since the courses offered by Great Learning Academy are free, we suggest you learn one by one to get the best out of the subject.

Why choose Great Learning Academy for this free Design Thinking course?

Great Learning Academy provides this Design Thinking course for free online. The course is self-paced and helps you understand various topics that fall under the subject with solved problems and demonstrated examples. The course is carefully designed, keeping in mind to cater to both beginners and professionals, and is delivered by subject experts. Great Learning is a global ed-tech platform dedicated to developing competent professionals. Great Learning Academy is an initiative by Great Learning that offers in-demand free online courses to help people advance in their jobs. More than 5 million learners from 140 countries have benefited from Great Learning Academy's free online courses with certificates. It is a one-stop place for all of a learner's goals.

What are the steps to enroll in this Design Thinking course?

Enrolling in any of the Great Learning Academy’s courses is just one step process. Sign-up for the course, you are interested in learning through your E-mail ID and start learning them for free online.

Will I have lifetime access to this free Design Thinking course?

Yes, once you enroll in the course, you will have lifetime access, where you can log in and learn whenever you want to.