INNOVATION. CREATIVITY. COLLABORATION. SOLUTION 

WHY Design thinking? 

Is your organization stuck?

Does the same problem keep occurring, although you have tried to solve it?

Are you solving the wrong problem?

 

We have a solution, Design Thinking – an alternative, lean approach that helps you build on the existing abilities of your team to solve the right problem – and come up with creative, innovative solutions.  

Often feeling pressure, we jump into solutions because we think we know what the problem is. Design Thinking provides a method and a toolkit that allows you to explore the problem space, really understand the root causes and the implications of the problem. Then test creative solutions in a quick, fun way that truly engages your team. 

   

HOW does Design Thinking help?  

Design thinking is a unique, creative, collaborative problem-solving method that generate innovative and effective solutions. Examples of how design thinking has solved real-life problems below:

Case Studies: 

 

Doctors and nurses simulate patience experience to gain empathy

Ten Stanford doctors, nurses and technicians simulate care to simulate patients to find ways to improve the patient experience. Using empathy, one of the key elements of the design thinking problem-solving method to gain a better understanding and create solutions to the emergency room experience.

  

Aging suits to gain empathy for our elderly’s experiences

Through the use of aging suits, suits that use different tools to simulate glare and vison decline, hearing loss and restricted movement users gain empathy for our elderly and the reality of their experience during their daily routine. The new-found understanding allowed individuals to create effective solutions to these potential hurtles.

  

Airbnb’s use of design thinking to discover users difficulties with their platform 

In 2009 the now, very successful Airbnb.ca was on the verge of bankruptcy. Through the use of design thinking they discovered the problem users were encountering that made their platform undesirable. The quality of their photos left users with a lack of confidence occupying available accommodations. With this understanding they were able to identify and solve the problem to  become the success it is today.

 

 

WHAT we offer: 

Learn Design Thinking:

  • Design Thinking Training 
  • hands-on, interactive, engaging
  • 1, 2- or 3-day options
  • customized – for a challenge you are currently facing, to ensure it is relevant to your context
  • designed by educators, according to principles of adult learning 
  • includes an extensive digital toolkit 
  • WIPSI application guidance 
 Dive Deeper into Design Thinking: 

  • Leading Design Thinking processes so you and your team can find innovative solutions for your challenges. 
  • 2 – 5 days, together or over several weeks, depending on your needs and the challenge 
  • engaging diverse stakeholders and team-members
  • includes an extensive digital toolkit
  • WIPSI application guidance 

 

To learn more, please contact us:  

Anne Stieger, Facilitator, Trainer, Business Counsellor 
902-585-1476

Anne.stieger@acadiau.ca 

 

WHY US?  

Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre celebrates 30 years of successfully supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and non-profits in Nova Scotia. Since our inception, we have focused our practice in consulting, business counselling and facilitation on custom approaches.  Approaches that truly serve the people involved with them – the basic underlying notion of Design Thinking: to use processes and find solutions that are human-centered in their design.  
 

The Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre is well-positioned to provide Design Thinking services, our staff are well-trained and bring years of experience in Design Thinking to the table.  

Previous successes: 

We have successfully delivered trainings for government staff, supporting them in communicating with the public more effectively. We have also facilitated Design Challenges for post-secondary educational institutions such as Nova Scotia Community Collages (NSCC). We regularly deliver programing for students based in Design Thinking, allowing future generations to experience this innovative approach. In March 2019, facilitators guided a group of students in solving challenges for Nova Scotia’s manufacturing sector at our yearly Start it Up Event in partnership with the Valley REN. 

Our clients value confidentiality – if you would like to hear about our work from them, please contact us.  

 

 

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