12 Best + Free Design Thinking Courses & Certification Training

Buckle up as we unlock innovation and problem-solving with the help of our list of Best Free Design Thinking Courses.

Key Takeaways

• Access to the fundamentals of design thinking methodologies.
• A chance to learn design thinking to solve complex problems.
• Earn certificates to validate your skills.

What are the benefits of learning design thinking?

By learning design thinking, you get access to a structured framework for understanding user needs. You will also learn to create innovative solutions, improve your problem-solving skills and drive innovation in business and technology.

Design Thinking Courses Evaluation & Selection Criteria

We chose each course for its comprehensive curriculum and real-world applicability. Preference was given to courses that had higher ratings and tangible outcomes.

Best + Free Design Thinking Courses & Certification Training

Design Thinking Fundamentals

• • • RIT via edX
    • Study Type: Self-paced
    • 72 Hours of effort required!

This course introduces people to the fundamentals of design thinking, giving them useful tips and techniques that can help them improve their skills in design thinking. It will help them formulate ideas for problem-solving, discuss solutions that help with product configuration, functionality, and user experience, identify the design thinking processes, and they will be able to describe the systematic processes helping in defining and solving problems.

• The best thing about this course is that it offers graded exams and assignments that help the students reinforce their concepts and practice the material taught.
• This course is for anyone who is willing to improve themselves in the field of design thinking and wants to learn effective techniques that will help them move forward.

Design Thinking Course: Understanding the Process

• • • Chris Nodder via LinkedIn Learning
    • 203,222+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (3,641 Ratings)

This course explains to learners the role of design thinking in product development. The instructor goes into the details of every topic and describes the importance and processes of design thinking. It covers the pros and cons along with the challenges present in the usage of design thinking.

• The best thing about this course is that it offers a course at the end of every chapter that helps learners practice whatever they have learned so far.
• This course is for those who want to apply design thinking to product development and want to learn further about this topic.

Ready to take your strategic planning skills to the next level? Explore our range of Courses in Strategic Thinking: Get Certified and embark on a journey of professional advancement.

Design Thinking for Innovation

• • • University of Virginia via Coursera
    • 396,756+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (8,140 Ratings)

This course teaches students how to use design thinking efficiently with the help of a model that includes 4 main questions and several tools to make them understand how design thinking can be used as a problem-solving approach.

• The best thing about this course is that it offers graded assignments that allow users to practice their learning and test themselves.
• This course is for people who want to explore the concept of design thinking further and want to allow themselves to incorporate it into their careers.

Design Thinking: Ideation, Iteration and Communication

• • • RIT via edX
    • Study Type: Self-paced
    • 72 Hours of effort required!

This course will talk about visualization techniques and discusses ideation techniques to help learners come up with solutions. It also reviews different graphic techniques that help users with their design thinking strategies.

• The best part about this course is that it is taught by experienced and renowned instructors who provide their knowledge in the best possible manner.
• This course is for design thinkers looking to upgrade their skills and dive further into this topic.

Design Thinking Class: Design for New Experiences

• • • Jason Severs via SkillShare
    • 12,117+ already enrolled!
    • Study Level: Intermediate

This class covers the four main topics of design thinking that are research, ideation, storytelling, and strategy. It allows users to learn new information regarding design thinking and integrate that into their work.

• The best thing about this course is that it challenges the student with a class project where they will have to redesign a grocery store while creating “before” and “after” journey maps that will help convey the student’s strategy. This will allow users to practice whatever they have learned and physical reinforcement will help them in perfecting their skills.
• This course is for anyone who wants to practice and further develop their design thinking skills. It is also for anyone looking to integrate design thinking into their careers.

Design Thinking for Beginners: Develop Innovative Ideas

• • • Laura Pickel via Udemy
    • 70,663+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (35,440 Ratings)

This is one of the beginner level design thinking courses that teaches the fundamentals of design thinking and explores key concepts. It takes users step-by-step into the process of design thinking and what technique is best suitable at each stage.

• The best part about this course is the fact that it offers a creative challenge of choice that serves as an assignment along with practice tests designed to help learners practice their concepts.
• This course is for human resource managers wanting to come up with empathetic solutions, employees looking to come up with appealing ideas, product managers, and more.

Design Thinking Course: Implementing the Process

• • • Chris Nodder via LinkedIn Learning
    • 75,844+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (984 Ratings)

From choosing the correct team to coming up with the appropriate solution, this course takes you through all the approaches of design thinking to help you start a new project. It explains all the basics along with additional information that will allow you to work through this course easily.

• The thing most commendable about this course is the fact that it offers practice quizzes at the end of every chapter to help you review whatever you have learned so far.
• This course is for entrepreneurs and designs thinkers looking to start a new project or subproject.

continue with more Design Thinking Courses & Certification Training…

Design Thinking and Creativity for Innovation

• • • University of Queensland via edX
    • Study Type: Self-paced
    • 100 Hours of effort required!

This course allows users to use the design thinking process to come up with innovative solutions. It gives them an idea of what kind of opportunities to choose depending on whether they will allow them to innovate and be creative.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, you’ll find something valuable when you explore free courses on creativity.

• The best thing about this course is that offers grades tests and assignments and takes on a completely unique approach compared to different design thinking courses.
• This course is for start-up entrepreneurs, government officials, organizations, teachers, or anyone who wants to come up with creative solutions to problems.

Design Thinking: How to Use Creative Problem Solving for Better Design

• • • Andy Budd via SkillShare
    • 4,682+ already enrolled!
    • Study Level: Beginner

This course goes through the basic concepts and four key steps of design thinking. It allows users to learn through practical examples found in real life.

• The best thing about this course is that it takes users through a guided exercise that helps them apply this approach to their practical life. It also gives users a hands-on class project that gives them the resources to practice their learnings.
• This course is for UI/UX Designers and anyone who wants to increase their design thinking skills.

Related: Who is a UX Designer? Key Responsibilities, Skills & Salary

Complete Design Thinking Masterclass

• • • Andy Woynarowski via Udemy
    • 8,573+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (1,845 Ratings)

This course teaches students how to tackle different problems regarding design and understand your customer’s point of view with the help of 29 methods available in this course.

• The best thing about this course is the fact that it includes additional resources along with assignments for extra knowledge and practice.
• This course is for business and product owners, researchers, or anyone who wants fresh and updated details about design thinking.

Design Thinking: Customer Experience

• • • Geoffrey Schwartz via Linkedin Learning
    • 207,841+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (2,211 Ratings)

This course focuses more on user experience and what components make up a customer experience. It includes things like archetypes, different activities, interactions, and experience principles. This course helps users strengthen relationships with customers by understanding their experience.

• The best thing about this course is it offers quizzes at the end of each chapter for further practice.
• This course is for anyone who wants to improve their design by viewing it from the perspective of the customer and wants to develop a better relationship with their customers.

Design Thinking for Sustainable Development

• • • Waikato Institute of Technology via FutureLearn
    • 2,123+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (20 Ratings)

This course teaches learners how to come up with user-friendly and sustainable solutions. It teaches design thinking and how to overcome barriers to sustainability.

• The best thing about this course is that it is taught by experienced professionals from Wintec who share their knowledge of design thinking to help you create a suitable solution.
• This course is for anyone who wants to use design thinking to bring about sustainable change.