Design Thinking Training in Iowa

Design Thinking is a human-centered methodology for solving problems through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. This course places a strong emphasis on the Empathize stage, focusing on connecting previously identified pain points to the real needs of internal clients, and applying dynamic, collaborative activities to transform insights into actionable outcomes.

This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level to intermediate-level teams and leaders who wish to deepen their empathy skills, strengthen relationships with internal clients, and translate pain points into meaningful opportunities for improvement. The training is designed to enhance the effectiveness of public sector workflows and governance practices.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Apply empathy-based techniques to uncover and validate client needs.
• Translate mapped pain points into clear, actionable needs.
• Engage in dynamic role plays and simulations to practice client-centered conversations.
• Collaboratively redefine problem statements from the client’s perspective.

Format of the Course for Government

• Interactive lecture and guided discussions.
• Dynamic, hands-on role plays and empathy exercises.
• Group workshops for collaborative problem reframing.

Course Customization Options

• To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

Design Thinking is a human-centered methodology for solving problems through empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. By focusing on the first two stages — Empathize and Define — teams can better understand internal clients and accurately define the right problems to address.

This instructor-led, live training (online or onsite) is designed for beginner-level to intermediate-level teams and leaders who wish to strengthen their connection with internal clients, reduce resistance to change, and enhance operational efficiency through practical, collaborative methods for government.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Utilize active listening and interviewing techniques to gather meaningful insights about internal clients.
• Create empathy maps and document user needs and pain points.
• Distinguish real root problems from perceived issues using tools like the 5 Whys and problem trees.
• Formulate clear, actionable problem statements (POVs) that guide solution development.

Format of the Course

• Interactive lecture and discussion.
• Practical, hands-on exercises and role-plays.
• Group workshops and plenary feedback sessions.

Course Customization Options

• To request a customized version tailored to a specific internal process (e.g., procurement or equipment provisioning), please contact us to arrange.

This instructor-led, live training in Iowa (online or onsite) is designed for government professionals at the beginner to intermediate level who wish to understand and apply Design Thinking methodologies to drive innovation and improve business solutions for government.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Comprehend the core principles of Design Thinking and its role in fostering innovation within public sector environments.
• Apply the five phases of Design Thinking to address complex challenges and enhance service delivery.
• Utilize ideation techniques and tools to stimulate creativity and generate innovative solutions.
• Implement Design Thinking strategies to optimize processes and increase operational efficiency for government.

This instructor-led, live training in Iowa (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level to intermediate-level participants who wish to address everyday workplace challenges through gamification techniques for government.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Comprehend the principles of Design Thinking and their application in problem-solving for government.
• Incorporate gamification techniques to enhance engagement and innovation within public sector workflows.
• Develop creative and practical solutions to common workplace issues in a government setting.
• Collaborate effectively across teams to implement problem-solving strategies that align with public sector governance and accountability.
• Apply iterative approaches to refine solutions through feedback and experimentation, ensuring continuous improvement for government operations.

This instructor-led, live training in Iowa (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level leaders and HR professionals who wish to learn and apply Design Thinking methodologies to foster innovation, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and engage teams effectively for government.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Equip participants with tools and methodologies to foster innovation and team engagement in public sector environments.
• Develop skills in empathy mapping, ideation, and prototyping for addressing complex challenges within government operations.
• Apply Design Thinking principles to leadership and HR scenarios specific to the public sector.
• Promote a culture of innovation within tech teams for government.

This instructor-led, live training in Iowa (online or onsite) is designed for government personnel who wish to learn how to conduct a successful design sprint within their organization.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Mitigate the risk associated with launching a new product in the public sector.
• Obtain valuable feedback from stakeholders on new concepts before the product is developed.
• Foster creativity within teams to facilitate quicker and more informed decision-making.

In this instructor-led, live workshop training in Iowa (online or onsite), participants will learn how to apply the five stages of Design Thinking to better understand the challenges faced by end-users of a product or service, and then develop effective solutions to address these issues.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Employ creative strategies to align customers' needs with technologically feasible solutions for government.
• Develop a strategy to enhance customer value and improve product and service offerings.

Overview:

The Design Thinking (DT) process consists of five stages: empathize, define the problem, ideate, prototype, and test.

In an increasingly complex world, we encounter problems that require specialized approaches. Design Thinking is a valuable methodology for addressing these challenges. Mastering design thinking enhances the ability to tackle complex issues effectively, communicate more clearly, persuade stakeholders efficiently, improve business outcomes, and enhance both organizational and personal performance.

• How DT works: Understand user needs and problems, identify patterns, develop a model (accounting for model drift), test the model, evaluate its effectiveness, and refine it as necessary.
• The relationship between Design Thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• DT methods and tools include persona development, stakeholder mapping, customer journey mapping, service blueprint creation, and business model innovation.
• Applications of DT: Cultivating a design mindset, fostering disruptive innovation, adopting an iterative approach, utilizing agile estimation techniques, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, promoting teamwork and leadership readiness, improving communication abilities, becoming technologically savvy, thinking forward, developing intercultural and ethical competencies, building emotional intelligence, fostering self-awareness, honing negotiating skills, and resolving conflicts.

Objectives:

• To understand the foundational principles and nuances of Design Thinking for government.
• To explore key concepts, factors, theories, types, and models in Design Thinking.
• To experiment with, experience, and practice Design Thinking methods.

Delivery:

This is a 1-day (4-hour) training course that includes:

• Lectures (40%): Presentation of theories, concepts, models, and interactive discussions.
• Group exercises (30%): Group dynamics, games, group discussions, and mock conflict resolution exercises.
• Individual activities (15%): Writing, designing, and peer discussion.
• Other components (15%): Video presentations and reading materials.

Note: Due to the nature of this course, there is a minimum group size requirement of 3 participants.

In an increasingly complex world, we encounter challenges that may require specialized approaches. Design Thinking is a method that helps address these complex issues effectively. By mastering design thinking, participants will enhance their ability to manage intricate problems, communicate more clearly, persuade stakeholders efficiently, improve business outcomes, and boost both organizational and personal performance for government.

Program Objectives:

• Introduction to Design Thinking and its application across various sectors
• Identification of the benefits of Design Thinking and its significance in developing solutions
• Understanding the central role of the customer in the Design Thinking process
• Familiarization with the tools used in Design Thinking and how to effectively apply them for government