R950
(once-off fee)
In-Person
Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika, UCT
Unlock your creative potential
Foundation Programme In Design Thinking
Design the Future. Start Here.
11 August – 16 October 2026
For South African Students
Tuesdays & Thursdays
10:00 - 15:00
Ignite your innovation journey
Develop essential skills and mindsets to thrive in today's dynamic world.
Practical skills for tomorrow
Gain a deeper understanding of design thinking methodologies and human-centred design practices.
Interactive and collaborative
Dive into design thinking principles through hands-on sessions, learning to approach challenges with empathy and creativity.
About the Foundation Programme in Design Thinking
At the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at UCT, we believe in cultivating a design-led mindset to tackle contemporary challenges, identify opportunities, and craft innovative solutions. Our programme offerings empower students to think creatively and develop practical skills to thrive in today's complex world.
Through interactive sessions, you'll dive into the principles of design thinking, learning how to approach challenges with empathy and human-centred solutions. Students participating in the Foundation Programme work on real-world challenges provided and framed by a participating d-school project partner.
As the students learn and are exposed to the tools and processes of design thinking, they also apply these in coming up with solutions to the project partner’s identified challenges.
The aim of this is to cultivate the core design thinking mindsets and allow students to take this forward into their learning journeys in their respective fields.
In addition, you’ll gain hands-on experience working on real-world problems, developing your creative confidence and collaborative abilities in collaborative, in-person team settings.
This course will:
- Give you a deeper understanding of design thinking methodologies.
- Expose you to human-centred design practices.
- Enhance your skills for the future world of work.
- Introduce you to working in diverse teams.
- Build your creative confidence.
- Teach you new digital learning and collaboration tools.
Course Overview
Gain a deeper understanding of design thinking through practical, hands-on sessions conducted in English.
Our comprehensive curriculum covers:
- Introduction to design thinking principles
- Embracing human-centred and empathetic design practices
- Tackling real-world challenges with innovative solutions
- Building creative confidence
- Collaborating effectively in diverse and multidisciplinary teams
Who is this course for?
The Foundation Programme in Design Thinking is aimed at:
- Youth aged 18 - 35 who have completed a d-camp and want to deepen their design thinking practice
- Registered students or recent graduates from any South African institution of higher learning
- Individuals interested in building practical problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation skills
Before joining the Foundation Programme, all applicants are required to complete a
d-camp: Introduction to Design Thinking.
d-camp is a one-day, hands-on workshop that introduces the core mindsets and tools of design thinking. Participation, engagement, and performance during d-camp form part of the selection process for the Foundation Programme.
How is the Foundation
Programme in Design Thinking delivered?
Face-to-Face
Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika,
Cnr Woolsack and, Cross Campus Rd, Rosebank
Duration:
Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 10:00 - 15:00
Course Fee:
Course Content
- Introduction to design thinking.
- A human-centred and empathetic design practice.
- Working on challenges connected to real-world problems.
- Practising creative confidence.
- Creative work in diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience with online collaboration tools.
Building Capabilities With Design Thinking
Programme Dates:
11 August – 16 October 2026
Application Deadline:
20th July 2026
2025 Project Partner for Semester Two
The Parent Centre
For Semester 2 of the 2025 Foundation Programme in Design Thinking, we are proud to partner with The Parent Centre, a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting positive parenting and supporting families across South Africa.
Established 40 years ago as a project of the Cape Town Child Welfare Society, The Parent Centre aims to reduce the incidence of child abuse through the promotion of positive parenting and effective child management. Today, it offers a wide range of training, counselling, and support services for all parents and caregivers -including single parents, teenage pregnancies, blended families, and those needing general parenting support.
Their work is endorsed by the World Childhood Foundation and the Department of Social Development, and has reached over 260,000 parents and caregivers, over 690,000 children, and over 20,000 professionals and community workers.
Through this collaboration, students in the Foundation Programme will engage directly with The Parent Centre team, applying design thinking to explore solutions that support child development, parental well-being, and resilient families.
