Create human-centered solutions for competitive advantage
Download Brochure
September 28, 2023
8 weeks, online
4-6 hours per week
Our participants tell us that taking this program together with their colleagues helps to share common language and accelerate impact.
We hope you find the same. Special pricing is available for groups.
The benefit of learning together with your friend is that you keep each other accountable and have meaningful discussions about what you're learning.
Courtlyn
Promotion and Events SpecialistThis program teaches a method of problem solving that will give any professional an advantage in their industry or career. It will be particularly beneficial for:
Most of us are trained in the classical school of thought—we approach opportunities from the top down. But today’s competitive environment requires us to view opportunity through a different lens; a nontraditional one that focuses on human needs. Ideas that are born from the process of design thinking ensure that outcomes meet three criteria: they are desirable, feasible, and viable—and in doing so, these outcomes create an enduring competitive advantage.
It all starts with people.
Businesses that have fully integrated design thinking into their strategy attribute the benefits of doing so to their design team.
More than 60% of research participants believe that design is extremely important to customer satisfaction.
About half believe that design is extremely important to brand awareness.
More than 40% believe design is extremely important to competitive differentiation.
This program will equip you to unpack your assumptions about problem solving and will teach you to approach new opportunities with the human experience in mind. In this program, you will:
A personalized field guide to reference in future design efforts
Live, interactive studio sessions with award-winning faculty and practitioners
Guest lectures from leaders in the world of design and innovation
Hands-on activities and projects providing real-world application of techniques
Collaborative opportunities with peers
Industry examples from renowned brands
A dedicated program support team
Innovative frameworks with immediate applications
Knowledge checks
Breakthrough discussions
Over the course of eight weeks, participants will be guided through the foundational principles of design thinking and will see how professionals in any role can leverage design thinking to achieve innovative outcomes across a wide spectrum of industries.
Survey the fundamentals of design thinking and learn how they apply to solving business problems. You will also learn why design thinking offers a lasting competitive advantage.
User and stakeholder input is vital to the design process. Learn how to leverage the JTBD method of interviewing to dig deeper into the functional, social, and emotional needs of people.
Discover how to transform observations and insights into business opportunities through the process of synthesis. In addition, you will understand how reframing a question can lead to deeper insights and innovative solutions.
Generate ideas using insights captured during synthesis. You will have the opportunity to practice techniques such as group brainstorming, ideation, and insight analysis during the design process.
Prototyping can serve as a powerful tool during the design process. Evaluate the different methods and techniques for prototyping ideas and test the underlying assumptions of those ideas. You will also learn about the three primary uses of prototyping: learning, validation, and communication.
New ideas frequently encounter resistance, which often comes from the very people your offering is meant to help. This module illustrates the principles of friction theory to help you recognize and address sources of resistance along the customer journey.
After identifying various domains wherein design thinking is making a significant impact, you will explore trends and developments in the field and discuss innovative applications in areas such as biotechnology, venture capital, and more.
Methods of communication can be as varied as the idea itself. Use creative techniques such as visualization and storytelling to bring your ideas to life and overcome resistance to new ideas.
Survey the fundamentals of design thinking and learn how they apply to solving business problems. You will also learn why design thinking offers a lasting competitive advantage.
Prototyping can serve as a powerful tool during the design process. Evaluate the different methods and techniques for prototyping ideas and test the underlying assumptions of those ideas. You will also learn about the three primary uses of prototyping: learning, validation, and communication.
User and stakeholder input is vital to the design process. Learn how to leverage the JTBD method of interviewing to dig deeper into the functional, social, and emotional needs of people.
New ideas frequently encounter resistance, which often comes from the very people your offering is meant to help. This module illustrates the principles of friction theory to help you recognize and address sources of resistance along the customer journey.
Discover how to transform observations and insights into business opportunities through the process of synthesis. In addition, you will understand how reframing a question can lead to deeper insights and innovative solutions.
After identifying various domains wherein design thinking is making a significant impact, you will explore trends and developments in the field and discuss innovative applications in areas such as biotechnology, venture capital, and more.
Generate ideas using insights captured during synthesis. You will have the opportunity to practice techniques such as group brainstorming, ideation, and insight analysis during the design process.
Methods of communication can be as varied as the idea itself. Use creative techniques such as visualization and storytelling to bring your ideas to life and overcome resistance to new ideas.
Each week's lesson will feature one or more industry examples, giving you the opportunity to examine how design thinking has been successfully integrated into organizations across a wide variety of markets. See unique applications from brands such as:
See how executives embraced the power of prototyping to create a more comfortable in-flight experience.
Learn how Airbnb tested their offer quickly and cheaply by creating simple prototypes with just enough fidelity to communicate the company’s ideas.
Understand how this innovative start-up removed the forces of friction to simplify the process of buying and selling a home.
Learn how Cisco successfully reimagined its virtual telepresence facilities.
Discover how insects provided unexpected inspiration for administering medications.
Explore how the company designed a pirate ship adventure to calm and engage children undergoing MRI procedures.
Note: All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Their use does not imply any affiliation or endorsement.
— Rachel Ellis, Marketing Communication Coordination, Tom Ford Beauty
— Sara McAninch, Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Manager, Central Quality, Cummins Inc.
David Schonthal
Clinical Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Kellogg School of Management; Designer, IDEO
David Schonthal is a Clinical Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where he teaches courses in new venture creation, design thinking, business acquisition, healthcare entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and creativity. He also serves as the Faculty Director of Kellogg's Zell Fellows Program, a selective venture accelerator program designed to help student entrepreneurs successfully launch or acquire new businesses.
Outside of Kellogg, David is a Designer at IDEO, an Operating Partner at 7wireVentures, a Venture Partner at Pritzker Group Venture Capital, and a Global Advisor at Design for Ventures (D4V). He has also held numerous roles in the healthcare venture capital and start-up world and the technology and life sciences sectors.
A contributing writer for Forbes, Inc., Fortune, and Harvard Business Review, David has authored articles on corporate entrepreneurship, innovation, and business design. He has been named the Most Outstanding Professor in Kellogg's EMBA program four times and has received several awards for his work, including a Kellogg Faculty Impact Award for excellence in teaching.
David earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his BA in international relations from Boston University.
The Human Element, his forthcoming book written in partnership with Loran Nordgren, offers innovative insights into overcoming resistance to new ideas and will be in bookstores on October 5, 2021. Learn more about the authors’ work here.
Upon successful completion of the program, Kellogg Executive Education grants a verified digital certificate of completion to participants. This program is graded as pass or fail; participants must receive 80% to pass and obtain the certificate of completion.
Download BrochureAfter successful completion of the program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Kellogg Executive Education
Note: This online certificate program does not grant academic credit or a degree from Kellogg School of Management.
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
You may request a full refund within seven days of your payment or 14 days after the published start date of the program, whichever comes later. If your enrollment had previously been deferred, you will not be entitled to a refund. Partial (or pro-rated) refunds are not offered. All withdrawal and refund requests should be sent to admissions@emeritus.org.
After the published start date of the program, you have until the midpoint of the program to request to defer to a future cohort of the same program. A deferral request must be submitted along with a specified reason and explanation. Cohort changes may be made only once per enrollment and are subject to availability of other cohorts scheduled at our discretion. This will not be applicable for deferrals within the refund period, and the limit of one deferral per enrollment remains. All deferral requests should be sent to admissions@emeritus.org.
We offer financing options with our partner, Climb Credit*.
Click here to learn more.
*Applicable for US Residents
Flexible payment options allow you to pay the program fee in installments. Click here to see payment schedule.
Flexible payment options available.