GDTA Spotlight

Maria Stashenko: is Director at Design Thinking Center and Co-Founder of Wonderfull Laboratory. She is an expert in design thinking and human-centered design. Maria has over seventeen years of experience and has completed more than 500 projects with global companies such as SAP, Novartis, BASF, Adobe, and IBM. Her work helps companies with digital transformation and service development. Maria is a Harvard Business Review author and speaker, and she is the scientific editor for Russian editions of books on design thinking. Maria is an alumna of HS Anhalt (Germany) and Staffordshire University (United Kingdom).

Jeanne Liedtka:  is the UTC Professor of Business at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business. With interests at the intersection of strategy and design, Jeanne has written eight books and multiple articles on the subject of strategy, innovation, and design thinking, and consulted with a diverse set of organizations including IBM, Samsung, NASA, The United Nations, and the government of Singapore.

Jochen Schweitzer: is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School and the Director of UTS’s Executive MBA. As an advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship with over 25 years of experience in engineering, strategy consulting, and academia, Jochen is dedicated to innovation and excellence in tertiary education and research.

Sihem BenMahmoud-Jouini: is an associate professor of innovation in the ISOM department (Information Systems and Operations Management) and researcher at GREGHEC since January 2006. She teaches project management, new product development processes and management of innovation in Executive Education, Exec MBA, MBA and Masters. She is scientific director of the MS X-HEC Entrepreneurs, of the Project Innovation Design (PIC) major and of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation major (Executive MBA).Her research focuses on the management of breakthrough innovations, the organization of exploration and the development processes of new products. She is also interested in the role of design in innovating and transforming organizations.

Mohan Naarayan: serves as the Head of Operations at SNS Institutions, overseeing human resources, student services, administration, and facilities for a network of educational establishments serving around 14,000 students. His expertise lies in cross-functional leadership, optimizing processes, enhancing student services, and ensuring campus security. He excels in applying Design Thinking, focusing on stakeholder needs, fostering collaboration, and promoting a culture of innovation and improvement.

Dr. Tharan Kumar: As an accomplished Professor & Design Thinker at SNS Institution in India, his passion lies in cultivating academic growth and achievement for every student, employing innovative approaches such as design thinking concepts and project-based teaching. He is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters not only knowledge acquisition but also practical application, ensuring that students are well-equipped for their future endeavors.

Jagadeesh B: He contributes his expertise to the Design Thinking division within the Center for Learning & Teaching at SNS Institutions in India. His role involves crafting innovative educational frameworks rooted in Design Thinking principles, aimed at reshaping traditional curricula and enhancing the teaching-learning experience. Additionally, he serves as a mentor for Design Thinking-centric projects across various institutions, guiding students and educators toward innovative solutions and approaches.

Dr. Martin Schwemmle: He is passionate about making people and organizations ready for the future. He is CEO of The Future Company and an inspiring speaker, author, and consultant. Martin is convinced that the innovation potential in each and every one of us is the key to a better future—for individuals, organizations, our society and our planet.

Dr. Matt Parkinson is a Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. His research efforts in the OPEN Design Lab focus on the design of artifacts, tasks, and environments which are robust to human variability (e.g., anthropometry, capability, and preference). His work is reflected in design standards adopted by ISO, BIFMA, and HFES. He is a Penn State Teaching Fellow and has received numerous teaching and research awards. Matt serves as the Director of The Learning Factory, which provides materials, equipment, and training in design thinking and making to more than 3,000 students annually.

Jessica Menold is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is the Director of the Center for Immersive Experiences and is focused on leveraging immersive technologies to enable fundamental scientific discoveries at the convergence of social science, engineering, workforce development, and health. She is also the Director of Technology and Human Research in Engineering Design lab, which conducts research at the intersection of engineering design, manufacturing, and deep tech startups. Lastly, she is the Associate Director of Outreach and Inclusion at the Penn State Learning Factory, helping to facilitate meaningful connections between students, industry, and faculty through hands-on design events.

Vindhya Umapathy is the Design Thinking Lead at CMR University. She has diverse experience of close to a decade in the fields of Design Strategy, Education and Architecture. She is driven by the impact of design on creating positive social change. As the Design Thinking Lead at CMR University, Vindhya has played a key role in designing the curriculum for all the Design Thinking courses offered by the Dept. Common Core Curriculum, she has facilitated workshops and semester-long sessions for students and faculty at the University, co-designed the space for creative collaboration – the ‘Design Thinking Lab’, and supported the launch of the annual flagship event- the ‘Design Thinking Day’ and the launch of the Global Open Innovation Challenge- CAUSE 2023.

Prior to working with CMR University, Vindhya worked as a Design Strategist with Spread Design and Innovation in Bangalore and has completed her Post Graduation in Interdisciplinary Design Strategy at the Institute without Boundaries (Brookfield Sustainability Institute), Toronto. She has also worked as a teacher in a public school in Chennai as part of the Teach for IndiaFellowship and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

Vindhya believes that in order to design things right, we start with the question ‘Are we designing the right things?’ – she has helped both students and organisations better understand their stakeholders in order to design for a better world – be it through products, services or experiences.

Guido Caicedo is a professor of engineering and entrepreneurship at ESPOL. He has an M.Sc. in Computer Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin and ESPOL. His extensive experience and knowledge have allowed him to lead teams of technology companies that have developed services on online platforms. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded two Internet security companies and was a product manager for another company that marketed the first secure online credit card platform and the first electronic magazine distribution platform in Latin America. He has spent around 18 years helping other entrepreneurs develop and boost their businesses. His mantra is Create Value Now.

Sharon Guamán has a PhD in Business Economics and Educational Sciences, a degree obtained from the University of Ghent (Belgium). The subject of her doctoral thesis and her research products have been focused on the specialized analysis of the Design Thinking methodology on the development of 21st century skills among university students. She works as academic coordinator at i3lab-ESPOL and has been a university professor for more than 6 years in the areas of projects, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has also been a facilitator of workshops in the areas mentioned above for private and public, national, and international institutions.

Isabel Alcívar is dedicated to improve work systems. She is a professor for the Industrial Engineering program & i3lab at ESPOL. She teaches courses on Design Thinking, Ergonomics and Process Optimization. Her professional and research interests lie at the intersection of Industrial Engineering and Design Thinking: particularly, how design thinking contributes to design better engineering solutions for manufacturing & service processes, and to develop essential skills. She also works with student clubs to promote creative acts in undergraduate students. She holds a MS in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University (USA) and BS in Industrial Engineering from ESPOL (Ecuador).

Dr. Linda J. Hickman is an entrepreneur, educator, mentor, author, London School of Economics Associate, and founder of Hickman & Associates, a consultancy based in London.

She combines global business development experience at Oracle and Royal Dutch Shell in 37 countries, including a successful launch of a software company, with her practical approach to mentoring organisations and startup teams in strategic skills. Linda teaches entrepreneurship using design thinking to students at LSE and is a Mentor in the European startup community with strong links in London and Berlin. She actively supports the Universität Potsdam, HPI d.school initiative to create an international association of Design Thinking, GDTA – the Global Design Thinking Alliance and in her role at LSE is a founding member of the GDTA. Her research focus is Design Thinking for startups, business models, value chain strategies and was awarded a grant for accelerator research from NESTA, a UK innovation organisation. Research and business publishers include Wiley, Cambridge Press and Pearson, with a forthcoming book for startup founders in progress.

Dr. Fiona Chambers is a senior leader in higher education with 30+ years global experience in education, sport and innovation. She has a very strong background in leading strategic design in multinational educational environments. Fiona has an extraordinary ability to educate people to solve complex problems through human-centred innovation.

Her teaching, research and civic engagement focuses on three core overlapping areas: (i) sport pedagogy, (ii) education and (iii) innovation and design thinking. She believes that her scholarship must have a positive impact on the lives of citizens. She is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy and former Head of the School of Education at University College Cork in the Republic of Ireland.

In addition,  she is the only Hasso Plattner Institute licenced Design Thinking Coach in her area and the only Certified Facilitator of LEGO® Serious Play® Method in her field.   She is the founder and co-director of an Irish government funded Postgraduate Diploma for Innovation through Design Thinking, which is run jointly by the School of Education and the Cork University Business School. She is currently the elected President of the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) and is serving a four-year term.

Dr. Briony Supple is a Senior Lecturer in Design Thinking Pedagogy and Praxis in the School of Education at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. She has over 20 years of educational experience working in a variety of countries and settings, including Japan, China, Vietnam, Chile, the UK, and Australia. Briony’s passion is for learning and teaching which is inspired by creativity, play and a growth mindset.

Briony has published extensively on inclusive, learner-focussed approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment and innovations in learning spaces. Her current work includes creative, hands-on approaches to teaching and learning in higher education through Lego Serious Play and ‘Art thinking’ – a fusion of design thinking with artistic practice.

Evonne Miller is Professor of Design Psychology at Queensland University of Technology, Director of the QUT Design Lab, and Chair of the Queensland Division of Australian Association of Gerontology.  Her research centers on design for health and aged care, co-designing creative health-promoting interventions. She is currently leading a Facebook-funded project to put virtual reality into aged care and is co-Director of HEAL, the Healthcare Excellence AcceLerator. Funded by Queensland Health, HEAL puts designers – and design thinking and doing – into hospitals across the state. Evonne is passionate about how we might improve and re-design health and aged care for the future, drawing on design methods to engage, educate and facilitate change. Evonne has authored/co-authored/edited several books, including Creating Great Places: Evidence-based urban design for health and wellbeing (2020, Routledge); Redesigning the Unremarkable (2023, Routledge), and How to be a design academic (Springer). 

Jeremy Kerr is an academic and researcher in the School of Design at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His research focus is the exploration and development of design and design frameworks to advance community capacity building and self-advocacy. Central to his work is applying and innovating co-design methodologies to foster collaboration and to include the authentic voice and creative input of stakeholders in the development of solutions to complex problems. He has worked extensively with community and government organizations and with health services in the areas of mental health and well-being, informal and formal education, children’s health, intercultural communication, and with the disability sector. His work has involved leading co-design collaborations for projects with Bravehearts, the Autism CRC, the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research, CARE International, Education Queensland, and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ).

Dr. Ivar Björkman, Executive Director of Openlab Stockholm

Ivar is the Executive Director of Openlab Stockholm and has been that since its start in 2013. Before that, he was the President of Konstfack, the largest university college of arts, crafts, and design in Sweden. He has a PhD in design and art entrepreneurship (1998) from Stockholm University. His expertise ranges from strategy to concrete implementation of Design-Thinking-driven projects in various social contexts.

Maria Stockhaus, Service Designer and Innovation Leader at the South Hospital Stockholm

Maria works as a service designer and innovation leader at the South Hospital in Stockholm Also working as a strategic designer in the Region of Stockholm and Experio lab. Maria has a background in mechanical engineering and Design Thinking from HPI D-School Potsdam.

Jochen Schweitzer: is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School and the Director of UTS’s Executive MBA. As an advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship with over 25 years of experience in engineering, strategy consulting, and academia, Jochen is dedicated to innovation and excellence in tertiary education and research.

Sihem BenMahmoud-Jouini: is an associate professor of innovation in the ISOM department (Information Systems and Operations Management) and researcher at GREGHEC since January 2006. She teaches project management, new product development processes and management of innovation in Executive Education, Exec MBA, MBA and Masters. She is scientific director of the MS X-HEC Entrepreneurs, of the Project Innovation Design (PIC) major and of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation major (Executive MBA).Her research focuses on the management of breakthrough innovations, the organization of exploration and the development processes of new products. She is also interested in the role of design in innovating and transforming organizations.

Mohan Naarayan: serves as the Head of Operations at SNS Institutions, overseeing human resources, student services, administration, and facilities for a network of educational establishments serving around 14,000 students. His expertise lies in cross-functional leadership, optimizing processes, enhancing student services, and ensuring campus security. He excels in applying Design Thinking, focusing on stakeholder needs, fostering collaboration, and promoting a culture of innovation and improvement.

Dr. Tharan Kumar: As an accomplished Professor & Design Thinker at SNS Institution in India, his passion lies in cultivating academic growth and achievement for every student, employing innovative approaches such as design thinking concepts and project-based teaching. He is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters not only knowledge acquisition but also practical application, ensuring that students are well-equipped for their future endeavors.

Jagadeesh B: He contributes his expertise to the Design Thinking division within the Center for Learning & Teaching at SNS Institutions in India. His role involves crafting innovative educational frameworks rooted in Design Thinking principles, aimed at reshaping traditional curricula and enhancing the teaching-learning experience. Additionally, he serves as a mentor for Design Thinking-centric projects across various institutions, guiding students and educators toward innovative solutions and approaches.

Dr. Martin Schwemmle: He is passionate about making people and organizations ready for the future. He is CEO of The Future Company and an inspiring speaker, author, and consultant. Martin is convinced that the innovation potential in each and every one of us is the key to a better future—for individuals, organizations, our society and our planet.

Dr. Matt Parkinson is a Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. His research efforts in the OPEN Design Lab focus on the design of artifacts, tasks, and environments which are robust to human variability (e.g., anthropometry, capability, and preference). His work is reflected in design standards adopted by ISO, BIFMA, and HFES. He is a Penn State Teaching Fellow and has received numerous teaching and research awards. Matt serves as the Director of The Learning Factory, which provides materials, equipment, and training in design thinking and making to more than 3,000 students annually.

Jessica Menold is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is the Director of the Center for Immersive Experiences and is focused on leveraging immersive technologies to enable fundamental scientific discoveries at the convergence of social science, engineering, workforce development, and health. She is also the Director of Technology and Human Research in Engineering Design lab, which conducts research at the intersection of engineering design, manufacturing, and deep tech startups. Lastly, she is the Associate Director of Outreach and Inclusion at the Penn State Learning Factory, helping to facilitate meaningful connections between students, industry, and faculty through hands-on design events.

Vindhya Umapathy is the Design Thinking Lead at CMR University. She has diverse experience of close to a decade in the fields of Design Strategy, Education and Architecture. She is driven by the impact of design on creating positive social change. As the Design Thinking Lead at CMR University, Vindhya has played a key role in designing the curriculum for all the Design Thinking courses offered by the Dept. Common Core Curriculum, she has facilitated workshops and semester-long sessions for students and faculty at the University, co-designed the space for creative collaboration – the ‘Design Thinking Lab’, and supported the launch of the annual flagship event- the ‘Design Thinking Day’ and the launch of the Global Open Innovation Challenge- CAUSE 2023.

Prior to working with CMR University, Vindhya worked as a Design Strategist with Spread Design and Innovation in Bangalore and has completed her Post Graduation in Interdisciplinary Design Strategy at the Institute without Boundaries (Brookfield Sustainability Institute), Toronto. She has also worked as a teacher in a public school in Chennai as part of the Teach for IndiaFellowship and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

Vindhya believes that in order to design things right, we start with the question ‘Are we designing the right things?’ – she has helped both students and organisations better understand their stakeholders in order to design for a better world – be it through products, services or experiences.

Guido Caicedo is a professor of engineering and entrepreneurship at ESPOL. He has an M.Sc. in Computer Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin and ESPOL. His extensive experience and knowledge have allowed him to lead teams of technology companies that have developed services on online platforms. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded two Internet security companies and was a product manager for another company that marketed the first secure online credit card platform and the first electronic magazine distribution platform in Latin America. He has spent around 18 years helping other entrepreneurs develop and boost their businesses. His mantra is Create Value Now.

Sharon Guamán has a PhD in Business Economics and Educational Sciences, a degree obtained from the University of Ghent (Belgium). The subject of her doctoral thesis and her research products have been focused on the specialized analysis of the Design Thinking methodology on the development of 21st century skills among university students. She works as academic coordinator at i3lab-ESPOL and has been a university professor for more than 6 years in the areas of projects, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has also been a facilitator of workshops in the areas mentioned above for private and public, national, and international institutions.

Isabel Alcívar is dedicated to improve work systems. She is a professor for the Industrial Engineering program & i3lab at ESPOL. She teaches courses on Design Thinking, Ergonomics and Process Optimization. Her professional and research interests lie at the intersection of Industrial Engineering and Design Thinking: particularly, how design thinking contributes to design better engineering solutions for manufacturing & service processes, and to develop essential skills. She also works with student clubs to promote creative acts in undergraduate students. She holds a MS in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University (USA) and BS in Industrial Engineering from ESPOL (Ecuador).

Dr. Linda J. Hickman is an entrepreneur, educator, mentor, author, London School of Economics Associate, and founder of Hickman & Associates, a consultancy based in London.

She combines global business development experience at Oracle and Royal Dutch Shell in 37 countries, including a successful launch of a software company, with her practical approach to mentoring organisations and startup teams in strategic skills. Linda teaches entrepreneurship using design thinking to students at LSE and is a Mentor in the European startup community with strong links in London and Berlin. She actively supports the Universität Potsdam, HPI d.school initiative to create an international association of Design Thinking, GDTA – the Global Design Thinking Alliance and in her role at LSE is a founding member of the GDTA. Her research focus is Design Thinking for startups, business models, value chain strategies and was awarded a grant for accelerator research from NESTA, a UK innovation organisation. Research and business publishers include Wiley, Cambridge Press and Pearson, with a forthcoming book for startup founders in progress.

Dr. Fiona Chambers is a senior leader in higher education with 30+ years global experience in education, sport and innovation. She has a very strong background in leading strategic design in multinational educational environments. Fiona has an extraordinary ability to educate people to solve complex problems through human-centred innovation.

Her teaching, research and civic engagement focuses on three core overlapping areas: (i) sport pedagogy, (ii) education and (iii) innovation and design thinking. She believes that her scholarship must have a positive impact on the lives of citizens. She is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy and former Head of the School of Education at University College Cork in the Republic of Ireland.

In addition,  she is the only Hasso Plattner Institute licenced Design Thinking Coach in her area and the only Certified Facilitator of LEGO® Serious Play® Method in her field.   She is the founder and co-director of an Irish government funded Postgraduate Diploma for Innovation through Design Thinking, which is run jointly by the School of Education and the Cork University Business School. She is currently the elected President of the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) and is serving a four-year term.

Dr. Briony Supple is a Senior Lecturer in Design Thinking Pedagogy and Praxis in the School of Education at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. She has over 20 years of educational experience working in a variety of countries and settings, including Japan, China, Vietnam, Chile, the UK, and Australia. Briony’s passion is for learning and teaching which is inspired by creativity, play and a growth mindset.

Briony has published extensively on inclusive, learner-focussed approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment and innovations in learning spaces. Her current work includes creative, hands-on approaches to teaching and learning in higher education through Lego Serious Play and ‘Art thinking’ – a fusion of design thinking with artistic practice.

Evonne Miller is Professor of Design Psychology at Queensland University of Technology, Director of the QUT Design Lab, and Chair of the Queensland Division of Australian Association of Gerontology.  Her research centers on design for health and aged care, co-designing creative health-promoting interventions. She is currently leading a Facebook-funded project to put virtual reality into aged care and is co-Director of HEAL, the Healthcare Excellence AcceLerator. Funded by Queensland Health, HEAL puts designers – and design thinking and doing – into hospitals across the state. Evonne is passionate about how we might improve and re-design health and aged care for the future, drawing on design methods to engage, educate and facilitate change. Evonne has authored/co-authored/edited several books, including Creating Great Places: Evidence-based urban design for health and wellbeing (2020, Routledge); Redesigning the Unremarkable (2023, Routledge), and How to be a design academic (Springer). 

Jeremy Kerr is an academic and researcher in the School of Design at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His research focus is the exploration and development of design and design frameworks to advance community capacity building and self-advocacy. Central to his work is applying and innovating co-design methodologies to foster collaboration and to include the authentic voice and creative input of stakeholders in the development of solutions to complex problems. He has worked extensively with community and government organizations and with health services in the areas of mental health and well-being, informal and formal education, children’s health, intercultural communication, and with the disability sector. His work has involved leading co-design collaborations for projects with Bravehearts, the Autism CRC, the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research, CARE International, Education Queensland, and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ).

Dr. Ivar Björkman, Executive Director of Openlab Stockholm

Ivar is the Executive Director of Openlab Stockholm and has been that since its start in 2013. Before that, he was the President of Konstfack, the largest university college of arts, crafts, and design in Sweden. He has a PhD in design and art entrepreneurship (1998) from Stockholm University. His expertise ranges from strategy to concrete implementation of Design-Thinking-driven projects in various social contexts.

Maria Stockhaus, Service Designer and Innovation Leader at the South Hospital Stockholm

Maria works as a service designer and innovation leader at the South Hospital in Stockholm Also working as a strategic designer in the Region of Stockholm and Experio lab. Maria has a background in mechanical engineering and Design Thinking from HPI D-School Potsdam.

Jochen Schweitzer: is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School and the Director of UTS’s Executive MBA. As an advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship with over 25 years of experience in engineering, strategy consulting, and academia, Jochen is dedicated to innovation and excellence in tertiary education and research.

Sihem BenMahmoud-Jouini: is an associate professor of innovation in the ISOM department (Information Systems and Operations Management) and researcher at GREGHEC since January 2006. She teaches project management, new product development processes and management of innovation in Executive Education, Exec MBA, MBA and Masters. She is scientific director of the MS X-HEC Entrepreneurs, of the Project Innovation Design (PIC) major and of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation major (Executive MBA).Her research focuses on the management of breakthrough innovations, the organization of exploration and the development processes of new products. She is also interested in the role of design in innovating and transforming organizations.

Mohan Naarayan: serves as the Head of Operations at SNS Institutions, overseeing human resources, student services, administration, and facilities for a network of educational establishments serving around 14,000 students. His expertise lies in cross-functional leadership, optimizing processes, enhancing student services, and ensuring campus security. He excels in applying Design Thinking, focusing on stakeholder needs, fostering collaboration, and promoting a culture of innovation and improvement.

Dr. Tharan Kumar: As an accomplished Professor & Design Thinker at SNS Institution in India, his passion lies in cultivating academic growth and achievement for every student, employing innovative approaches such as design thinking concepts and project-based teaching. He is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters not only knowledge acquisition but also practical application, ensuring that students are well-equipped for their future endeavors.

Jagadeesh B: He contributes his expertise to the Design Thinking division within the Center for Learning & Teaching at SNS Institutions in India. His role involves crafting innovative educational frameworks rooted in Design Thinking principles, aimed at reshaping traditional curricula and enhancing the teaching-learning experience. Additionally, he serves as a mentor for Design Thinking-centric projects across various institutions, guiding students and educators toward innovative solutions and approaches.

Dr. Martin Schwemmle: He is passionate about making people and organizations ready for the future. He is CEO of The Future Company and an inspiring speaker, author, and consultant. Martin is convinced that the innovation potential in each and every one of us is the key to a better future—for individuals, organizations, our society and our planet.

Dr. Matt Parkinson is a Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. His research efforts in the OPEN Design Lab focus on the design of artifacts, tasks, and environments which are robust to human variability (e.g., anthropometry, capability, and preference). His work is reflected in design standards adopted by ISO, BIFMA, and HFES. He is a Penn State Teaching Fellow and has received numerous teaching and research awards. Matt serves as the Director of The Learning Factory, which provides materials, equipment, and training in design thinking and making to more than 3,000 students annually.

Jessica Menold is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering Design and Innovation and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She is the Director of the Center for Immersive Experiences and is focused on leveraging immersive technologies to enable fundamental scientific discoveries at the convergence of social science, engineering, workforce development, and health. She is also the Director of Technology and Human Research in Engineering Design lab, which conducts research at the intersection of engineering design, manufacturing, and deep tech startups. Lastly, she is the Associate Director of Outreach and Inclusion at the Penn State Learning Factory, helping to facilitate meaningful connections between students, industry, and faculty through hands-on design events.

Vindhya Umapathy is the Design Thinking Lead at CMR University. She has diverse experience of close to a decade in the fields of Design Strategy, Education and Architecture. She is driven by the impact of design on creating positive social change. As the Design Thinking Lead at CMR University, Vindhya has played a key role in designing the curriculum for all the Design Thinking courses offered by the Dept. Common Core Curriculum, she has facilitated workshops and semester-long sessions for students and faculty at the University, co-designed the space for creative collaboration – the ‘Design Thinking Lab’, and supported the launch of the annual flagship event- the ‘Design Thinking Day’ and the launch of the Global Open Innovation Challenge- CAUSE 2023.

Prior to working with CMR University, Vindhya worked as a Design Strategist with Spread Design and Innovation in Bangalore and has completed her Post Graduation in Interdisciplinary Design Strategy at the Institute without Boundaries (Brookfield Sustainability Institute), Toronto. She has also worked as a teacher in a public school in Chennai as part of the Teach for IndiaFellowship and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

Vindhya believes that in order to design things right, we start with the question ‘Are we designing the right things?’ – she has helped both students and organisations better understand their stakeholders in order to design for a better world – be it through products, services or experiences.

Guido Caicedo is a professor of engineering and entrepreneurship at ESPOL. He has an M.Sc. in Computer Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin and ESPOL. His extensive experience and knowledge have allowed him to lead teams of technology companies that have developed services on online platforms. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded two Internet security companies and was a product manager for another company that marketed the first secure online credit card platform and the first electronic magazine distribution platform in Latin America. He has spent around 18 years helping other entrepreneurs develop and boost their businesses. His mantra is Create Value Now.

Sharon Guamán has a PhD in Business Economics and Educational Sciences, a degree obtained from the University of Ghent (Belgium). The subject of her doctoral thesis and her research products have been focused on the specialized analysis of the Design Thinking methodology on the development of 21st century skills among university students. She works as academic coordinator at i3lab-ESPOL and has been a university professor for more than 6 years in the areas of projects, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has also been a facilitator of workshops in the areas mentioned above for private and public, national, and international institutions.

Isabel Alcívar is dedicated to improve work systems. She is a professor for the Industrial Engineering program & i3lab at ESPOL. She teaches courses on Design Thinking, Ergonomics and Process Optimization. Her professional and research interests lie at the intersection of Industrial Engineering and Design Thinking: particularly, how design thinking contributes to design better engineering solutions for manufacturing & service processes, and to develop essential skills. She also works with student clubs to promote creative acts in undergraduate students. She holds a MS in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University (USA) and BS in Industrial Engineering from ESPOL (Ecuador).

Dr. Linda J. Hickman is an entrepreneur, educator, mentor, author, London School of Economics Associate, and founder of Hickman & Associates, a consultancy based in London.

She combines global business development experience at Oracle and Royal Dutch Shell in 37 countries, including a successful launch of a software company, with her practical approach to mentoring organisations and startup teams in strategic skills. Linda teaches entrepreneurship using design thinking to students at LSE and is a Mentor in the European startup community with strong links in London and Berlin. She actively supports the Universität Potsdam, HPI d.school initiative to create an international association of Design Thinking, GDTA – the Global Design Thinking Alliance and in her role at LSE is a founding member of the GDTA. Her research focus is Design Thinking for startups, business models, value chain strategies and was awarded a grant for accelerator research from NESTA, a UK innovation organisation. Research and business publishers include Wiley, Cambridge Press and Pearson, with a forthcoming book for startup founders in progress.

Dr. Fiona Chambers is a senior leader in higher education with 30+ years global experience in education, sport and innovation. She has a very strong background in leading strategic design in multinational educational environments. Fiona has an extraordinary ability to educate people to solve complex problems through human-centred innovation.

Her teaching, research and civic engagement focuses on three core overlapping areas: (i) sport pedagogy, (ii) education and (iii) innovation and design thinking. She believes that her scholarship must have a positive impact on the lives of citizens. She is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy and former Head of the School of Education at University College Cork in the Republic of Ireland.

In addition,  she is the only Hasso Plattner Institute licenced Design Thinking Coach in her area and the only Certified Facilitator of LEGO® Serious Play® Method in her field.   She is the founder and co-director of an Irish government funded Postgraduate Diploma for Innovation through Design Thinking, which is run jointly by the School of Education and the Cork University Business School. She is currently the elected President of the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP) and is serving a four-year term.

Dr. Briony Supple is a Senior Lecturer in Design Thinking Pedagogy and Praxis in the School of Education at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. She has over 20 years of educational experience working in a variety of countries and settings, including Japan, China, Vietnam, Chile, the UK, and Australia. Briony’s passion is for learning and teaching which is inspired by creativity, play and a growth mindset.

Briony has published extensively on inclusive, learner-focussed approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment and innovations in learning spaces. Her current work includes creative, hands-on approaches to teaching and learning in higher education through Lego Serious Play and ‘Art thinking’ – a fusion of design thinking with artistic practice.

Evonne Miller is Professor of Design Psychology at Queensland University of Technology, Director of the QUT Design Lab, and Chair of the Queensland Division of Australian Association of Gerontology.  Her research centers on design for health and aged care, co-designing creative health-promoting interventions. She is currently leading a Facebook-funded project to put virtual reality into aged care and is co-Director of HEAL, the Healthcare Excellence AcceLerator. Funded by Queensland Health, HEAL puts designers – and design thinking and doing – into hospitals across the state. Evonne is passionate about how we might improve and re-design health and aged care for the future, drawing on design methods to engage, educate and facilitate change. Evonne has authored/co-authored/edited several books, including Creating Great Places: Evidence-based urban design for health and wellbeing (2020, Routledge); Redesigning the Unremarkable (2023, Routledge), and How to be a design academic (Springer). 

Jeremy Kerr is an academic and researcher in the School of Design at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His research focus is the exploration and development of design and design frameworks to advance community capacity building and self-advocacy. Central to his work is applying and innovating co-design methodologies to foster collaboration and to include the authentic voice and creative input of stakeholders in the development of solutions to complex problems. He has worked extensively with community and government organizations and with health services in the areas of mental health and well-being, informal and formal education, children’s health, intercultural communication, and with the disability sector. His work has involved leading co-design collaborations for projects with Bravehearts, the Autism CRC, the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research, CARE International, Education Queensland, and Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CHQ).

Dr. Ivar Björkman, Executive Director of Openlab Stockholm

Ivar is the Executive Director of Openlab Stockholm and has been that since its start in 2013. Before that, he was the President of Konstfack, the largest university college of arts, crafts, and design in Sweden. He has a PhD in design and art entrepreneurship (1998) from Stockholm University. His expertise ranges from strategy to concrete implementation of Design-Thinking-driven projects in various social contexts.

Maria Stockhaus, Service Designer and Innovation Leader at the South Hospital Stockholm

Maria works as a service designer and innovation leader at the South Hospital in Stockholm Also working as a strategic designer in the Region of Stockholm and Experio lab. Maria has a background in mechanical engineering and Design Thinking from HPI D-School Potsdam.

GDTA Spotlight: Reflections from the Global Design Thinking Festival

In 2022, the Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA) set out to celebrate Design Thinking coming of age, as well as the discipline’s global expansion.

In September, the HPI School of Design Thinking in Potsdam celebrated its 15-year anniversary with its Design Thinking ImpAct Conference – with students, alumni, project partners, friends, and family attending the two-day conference, along with more than 50 speakers.

All celebrations culminated with the third d.confestival – a Design Thinking conference-meets-festival hosted at the newly built HPI d-school building (funded by the Hasso Plattner Foundation), home to the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town in October.

Over the course of three days, the d.confestival brought together a boisterous mix of change-makers from business, government, education, and social development to celebrate the success of Design Thinking globally and explore its potential for dialing up Africa’s creative potential to solve complex problems across the continent.

There were two big celebratory moments at the d.confestival: firstly, the GDTA celebrated its five-year anniversary of connecting the international Design Thinking community with members and delegates who attended.

Secondly, and with what was an African celebration of note, the official opening of the HPI d-school building was a momentous occasion as over 400 guests attended, explored the building and event experiences, and danced the night away to local talent, a night to remember. The building was officially launched by Prof Dr. Hasso Plattner and Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, UCT’s Vice-Chancellor, who unveiled the building naming plaque before the dancing began on 13 October.

On the last day of the d.confestival, it wrapped up with the announcement of the winning teams for the Global Design Thinking Challenge (a four-week hybrid challenge) to innovate and create solutions for the fourth UN Sustainable Development Goal. As part of this Challenge, learners had the opportunity to create global impact.

Our speakers:

Prof. Uli Weinberg, GDTA President and Director at the HPI School of Design Thinking, Jenni van Niekerk, Program Curator d.confestival, Dr. Claudia Nicolai, Academic Director at the HPI School of Design Thinking, and Sherif Osman, Program Lead at the HPI School of Design Thinking.

GDTA Spotlight: “Celebrate Design Thinking Coming of Age”

Design Thinking has been reshaping the minds of many students and professionals globally for the past 20 years and is fast becoming the winning mindset that drives innovation and solutions to complex problems of our time. The mindset has seen major support from academia and professional networks with some great expansion over the years.

In our last session on July 26th, 2022, we invited you to “Celebrate Design Thinking Coming of Age” with us. We updated you on the Global Design Thinking Festival, which has three events taking place from September to October 2022.

Claudia Nicolai gave you an insight on the Design Thinking ImpAct Conference: 15 years of Design Thinking at HPI Potsdam, happening on September 15-16th, 2022. We will be looking back at the last 15 years of Design Thinking activities at HPI and discuss how we can further shape business and society with the innovation approach!

Secondly, Claudia Nicolai and Sherif Osman presented you the Global Design Thinking Challenge “Sustainable Learning in Schools” from September 8th to October 14th, 2022. The challenge will be to develop creative solutions tackling the 4th SDG: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Last but not least, Richard Perez and Jenni van Niekerk talked about the 3rd d.confestival “Design Thinking Matters Now,” taking place from October 12th to 14th, 2022 at the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town in its newly built home.

GDTA Spotlight with Hasso Plattner Institute

In our last session on June 28th, 2022, at 3:00 pm (CEST) / 09:00 am (EDT), we welcomed our speakers Prof. Dr. Falk Uebernickel, Professor for Design Thinking and Innovation Research at Hasso Plattner Institute, and Dr. Danielly de Paula, Senior Researcher at Hasso Plattner Institute.

Falk and Danielly introduced the key results of the new study report “Design Thinking: a Global Study on Implementation Practices in Organizations. Past – Present – Future“, which they conducted together with Stefanie Gerken.

The study examines how organizations implement Design Thinking. Following the 2015 study by HPI and the Stanford Design Thinking Research Program, this research analyzes progress in Design Thinking practice over the past six years and attempts to outline the future of Design Thinking practice in organizations, focusing on themes such as strategy, process, tools & mindset, impact & measurement, salaries, and more.

About our speakers:

Prof. Dr. Falk Uebernickel, Professor for Design Thinking and Innovation Research

Falk is a full professor at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam. Together with his research team, Falk is interested in generalizing human-centered design and Design Thinking for digital innovations in large organizations. Over the last decade, Falk published several books and numerous peer-reviewed articles on the topic. In 2010 he co-founded the SUGAR network for design innovation – the most prominent university network that professionally applies Design Thinking to corporate design challenges.

Dr. Danielly de Paula, Senior Researcher at Hasso Plattner Institute

Danielly is currently a Senior Researcher at the Chair for Design Thinking and Innovation Research at the Hasso-Plattner-Institut at the Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany. She received a master’s degree in Computer Science from the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Brazil, in 2015, and a Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from the National University of Ireland – Galway (NUIG), Ireland, in 2019. Over the last ten years, Danielly has been conducting research on implementing, measuring, and steering Design Thinking in organizations. She is originally from Recife, Brazil.

GDTA Spotlight with Mugendi  – “Empathy and Community: Human-Centered Design in Afrika”

In our session held via zoom on Mai 12th, 2022 at 3:00 pm (CEST) / 09:00 am (EDT), we welcomed our speaker Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, Professor of Industrial Design at Machakos University.  Mugendi talked about “Empathy and Community: Human-Centered Design in Afrika” 

The presentation explored unique ways in which traditional Afrikan philosophy and practice complement HCD and Design Thinking with an emphasis on empathy and a sense of community (as elaborated in Ubuntu). Beyond ways of designerly thinking and doing, Ubuntu challenges us to adopt

About our speaker:

Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, Professor of Industrial Design at Machakos University

Prof. Mugendi K. M’Rithaa is a transdisciplinary industrial designer, educator, researcher and consultant presently working at Machakos University, Kenya. He is widely traveled and has taught in Kenya, Botswana, Canada, India, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and Uganda and is passionate about various expressions of socially conscious design. Mugendi has a special interest in the pivotal role of design thinking in advancing the developmental agenda on the African continent. He is a founding member and fellow of the Pan-Afrikan Design Institute (PADI)/Design Council of Afrika, and is associated with a number of other international networks focusing on design within industrially developing (or majority world contexts) including the Association of Designers of India (ADI). Mugendi is President Emeritus and Senator of the World Design Organization – having been the first African President in the history of the WDO from 2015-2017.

GDTA Spotlight with V&A Dundee – “Entangled Values: The Power of Networks”

In our session held via zoom on April 7th, 2022 at 4:00 pm (CEST) / 10:00 am (EDT), we welcomed our speakers Lynne Martin, Strategic Lead for Design for Business at V&A Dundee, and Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee. Lynne and Annie talked about “Entangled Values: The Power of Networks”.

How might we recognise and amplify shared values in a way that grows and nourishes our communities? What do mushrooms and museums have in common? Strategic Lead for Design for Business at V&A Dundee, Lynne Martin, explored these topics and shared the ambitions for Design for Business in the future, together with Annie Marrs, Lead Officer at UNESCO City of Design Dundee.

About our speakers:

Annie Marrs, Lead Officer, UNESCO City of Design Dundee

Annie Marrs is the Lead Officer with Dundee’s UNESCO City of Design designation. As the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design, Annie and her team work to use design to improve the lives of people who live in Dundee. Annie’s role has included delivering the biannual Dundee Design Festival, coordinating local and international exhibitions to showcase Dundee’s design talent, and collaborating with international partners in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Passionate about the role that culture, creativity, and design places in developing vibrant successful places to live, Annie’s previous work has included delivering Dundee’s Cultural Strategy through a partnership approach and she is an expert in the repurposing of underused city centre spaces for cultural and design activity.

Lynne Martin, Strategic Lead for Design for Business at V&A Dundee

With a background in business support for Scotland’s creative economies, Lynne has witnessed first-hand the transformational effect design thinking can have on communities, businesses, and individuals. It’s her mission to make design thinking and its benefits accessible to everyone committed to solving problems and driving positive change in Scotland. In her creative practice she tinkers about with the Scottish folk tradition through performing folk songs and storytelling and she’s always up for chats about heritage, storytelling, music and all things Scotland.

GDTA Spotlight Special – Value-Based Engineering with Design Thinking

In our session held via zoom on March 10th. 2022, from 9:00 – 11:30 am (EST) / 3:00 – 5:30 pm (CET) via Zoom, we collaborated with the IEEE Standards Association and Vienna University of Economics and Businesss to talk about “Value-Based Engineering in Design Thinking”. 

For more information about the event, agenda and speakers please visit the GDTA Spotlight Special website.

At the GDTA Spotlight Special on March 10th, 2022, we introduced the IEEE 7000 standard on ethical concerns during system design. Together with DIDx, IBM, and SAP representatives, we discussed how organizations will implement it and bring a value-based design to life.

GDTA Spotlight – “Measuring Design Thinking Competencies and Building Experimentation Skills: An Update from the UVA Darden School of Business” with Jeanne Liedtka

In our session held via zoom on February 17th, 2022 at 3:30 pm (CET) / 9:30 am (EST), we welcomed our speaker Jeanne Liedtka from UVA Darden School of Business. 

Jeanne Liedtka, United Technologies Professor of Business at the University of Virginia’s Darden School, reported on two major initiatives currently underway at Darden – one on the development and trial of an instrument aimed at measuring design thinking competencies and the second on work underway to create teaching materials specifically on the design and execution of DT experiments.

Jeanne Liedtka, United Technologies Corporation Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia – Darden School of Business

Jeanne M. Liedtka is a faculty member at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business and former chief learning officer at United Technologies Corporation, where she was responsible for overseeing all activities associated with corporate learning and development for the Fortune 50 corporation, including executive education, career development processes, employer-sponsored education and learning portal and web-based activities.

At Darden, where she formerly served as associate dean of the MBA program and as executive director of the Batten Institute, Jeanne works with both MBAs and executives in the areas of design thinking, innovation and leading growth. Her passion is exploring how organizations can engage employees at every level in thinking creatively about the design of powerful futures.

Her current research focuses on design-led innovation in the government and social sector, as does her most recent book, Designing for the Greater Good. Her previous books include: The Catalyst: How You Can Lead Extraordinary Growth (winner of the BusinessWeek best innovation books of 2009); Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Tool Kit for Managers (winner of the 1800 CEO READ best management book of 2011) and its accompanying field guide, The Designing for Growth Field Book: A Step by Step Guide; The Physics of Business Growth: Mindsets, System and Process; and Solving Business Problems With Design Thinking: 10 Stories of What Works.

GDTA Spotlight – “Design Thinking at Universidad Mayor: The Journey of the first Latin American D-School” with D-School Chile

At our GDTA Spotlight session on January 18th, we were welcoming our speakers Isabella Stranger, Gastón Roca and Yael Gitman from D-School Chile. They talked about how the first Latin American D-School came to life at the very core of a Chilean University, what they have built in 3 years of history, and what challenges they are hoping to tackle next.

Isabella Stranger is Program Manager and Professor at D-School Universidad Mayor. She has a bachelor and master’s degree in Business Administration as well as studies in Intellectual and Industrial Property, Creativity and Design Thinking, and Effective Teaching. She is focused on spreading the design thinking mindset through Design Thinking Undergraduate Programs at Universidad Mayor.

Gastón Roca is a director/ screenwriter/ and cinematographer in film and television. He has a master’s degree in Liberal Arts and is Program Manager and Professor at the D-School of Universidad Mayor. Gastón is focused in stimulating creativity and creative collaboration through Design Thinking  among  Universidad Mayor Faculties, collaborators and project partners.

Yael Gitman is Program Manager and Professor at D-School Universidad Mayor. She is a Physiotherapist, Master in Sports Medicine, with studies in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy and is a certified Design Thinking Coach. Yael has clinical experience in the prevention and treatment of muscle-skeletal conditions as well as teaching at several undergraduate courses. Currently, she aims to strengthen the Design Thinking community within the university and help inspire all members to become design thinkers.

GDTA Spotlight – “Teach to Start Up!” with Prof. Dr. André Bresges, Executive Director of the Institute for Physics Didactics at the University of Cologne

At our GDTA Spotlight session on  December 14th, Prof. Dr. André Bresges, Executive Director of the Institute for Physics Didactics at the University of Cologne talked about “Teach to Start Up”. 

Universities worldwide are shifting their focus on three pillars: Research, Teaching, and Community Service. Especially for public universities, it is important to show how scientific work gives back to the communities that support it. It acknowledges, furthermore, that universities foster growth and well-being for their surrounding communities.

How might a large university become more sensitive and develop insights into the needs of their surrounding community? Two structures within universities come into focus: Startup and teacher education centers. Both structures or agencies are completely separated by background, culture, and personnel. But both typically have an extended community network: Markets and market players, on the one hand, schools and families on the other. And both worlds can be connected by one idea: Design Thinking.

In his talk, he explained the Idea of Colognes’s “Teach to Start-Up!” approach and showed examples of how Design Thinking connects people of the same community, who may be worlds apart, in a structured process.

Prof. Dr. André Bresges studied Physics and Technology Education at University Duisburg, in the center of the “Ruhrgebiet” when it was threatened to become the “rust belt” of Germany. After his PhD, he made postdoctoral studies in neurosciences, where he studied brain activities of young drivers learning to drive a car, and mass behavior of drivers in a traffic jam. His fascination for the collaborative behavior of humans in unfamiliar and complex situations is the mainstay of his research, and explains his interest in Design Thinking as technique to navigate uncertainty.

GDTA Spotlight – “Innovation Pace in Times of Pandemic: Research Insights” with Maria Stashenko, Director, Design Thinking Center Moscow

At our GDTA Spotlight session on November 12th, Maria Stashenko, Director, Design Thinking Center Moscow, talked about “Innovation Pace in Times of Pandemic: Research Insights”.

For most of us, a pandemic is the hardest period in our life, which not only slows down but also stops economies, cities, nations and yes, companies. Is life really slowing down, or something else happens when Force Majeure dictates new rules? At the Design Thinking Center in Moscow we were brave enough not only to keep helping create new things these days, but also to observe companies’ innovation strategies and changes in their corporate culture. So, what happens with corporate innovations and design thinking in pandemic? Are companies slowing down or going faster?

If you are interested to learn more about this topic you can find Maria’s presentation here.

Maria Stashenko – Director, Design Thinking Center in Moscow, Russia (Global Design Thinking Alliance member). Harvard Business Review contributor, HS Anhalt and Staffordshire University MA in Design Thinking, scientific editor of more than 15 Design Thinking book editions in Russian. Over 20 years of experience in developing client-centric innovations for leading companies and institutions. Moscow city government advisor in design thinking, service design and HCD.

GDTA Spotlight – “Designing your life” with Joann Halpern, Director, Hasso Plattner Institute, New York

At our GDTA Spotlight session on October 21th, Joann Halpern guided us through a “Designing Your Life” workshop, which has been adapted from Bill Burnett and Dave Evans’ book on this subject. She covered the following topics: reframing negative thoughts, fixed/growth mindsets, well-being, flow, Energy-Engagement Maps, Work View/Life View Reflections, coherence, and Odyssey Plans. She discussed some of the opportunities and challenges that exist when delivering this workshop online.

To learn about upcoming “Designing Your Life” workshops facilitated by Joann Halpern, please visit the website of Hasso Plattner Institute, New York.

Dr. Joann Halpern is the director of the Hasso Plattner Institute, New York and a professor of International Education at New York University. From 2009-2017 she was the founding director of the German Center for Research and Innovation, New York, which was created as a cornerstone of the German government’s initiative to internationalize science and research. Dr. Halpern received her B.A. from Dartmouth College, her M.A. from Harvard University, and her Ph.D. from New York University. She is a recipient of the Harvard University Award for Distinction in Teaching as well as scholarships and fellowships from the German Academic Exchange Service, Fulbright Association, Robert Bosch Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Halpern took part in a summer program at UR in 1988 and has since then stayed in contact with the International Office.

GDTA Spotlight – Design Thinking Africa

At our GDTA Spotlight session on July 29th, Hoda Mostafa and Reham Niazi from the The American University in Cairo as well as Richard Perez, Phuthehi Masilo and Lucille Roberts from the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking at UCT talked about “Building a global virtual d-school: Co-creation and collaboration”.

There are many academic institutions who have limited resources to develop and offer design thinking teaching and learning to their students. Yet the expertise and intent exist in small pockets of passionate educators within these institutions. The American University in Cairo and the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking at the University of Cape Town have recently run an Afrika wide Design Thinking programme that aimed to provide access to under-resourced universities by building both coach capacity as well as access for their local students to participate in Design Thinking programmes. Furthermore AUC recently prototyped a hybrid model with new and interesting models partnering with GDTA.

This session shone a spotlight on these seeds of co-creation and opportunities provided by GDTA collaboration as well as invited members and attendees to contribute ideas in a short facilitated activity.

GDTA PowWow #11 with Tecnológico de Monterrey

At this GDTA session on June 15, 2021, Alejandro Rodriguez, Associate Director for Industrial Design Department at Tecnológico de Monterrey, and his team talked about “Education and Design Thinking: How Tecnológico de Monterrey is applying Design Thinking across all their campus, education and innovation.”

Alejandro Rodríguez, Design Thinking Initiative – National Leader. Alejandro is School of Architecture, Design and Art’s professor at Mexico City, since 2016 he is the responsible to coordinate all design thinking activities (professors, academics, training and consultancy).

GDTA PowWow #10 with The Learning Factory at Penn State University

At our online session on May 18, 2021 Matt Parkinson, Professor and Director of The Learning Factory, College of Engineering at Penn State University, and Jessica Menold, Assistant Professor of Engineering Design at Penn State University, talked about the Design Thinking process that contributed to the development of a new university building, dedicated to Design Thinking and prototyping. Moreover, they shared insights into recent research projects examining, for example, Eastern vs. Western approaches to design, ideation, and prototyping.

Matt Parkinson is a Professor of Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University where he also directs the Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory and the Center for Research in Design and Innovation. At the Learning Factory he coordinates the largest client-sponsored multi-disciplinary capstone design program in the world, with nearly 250 projects a year. His research efforts in the OPEN Design Lab focus on the design of artifacts, tasks, and environments which are robust to human variability (e.g., anthropometry, capability, and preference).

Claudio Dell’Era is Associate Professor in Design Strategy at the School of Management – Politecnico di Milano, where he serves also as Co-Founder of LEADIN’Lab, the Laboratory of LEAdership, Design and INnovation. He is also Director of the Observatory “Design Thinking for Business” of the School of Management –Politecnico di Milano. Research activities developed by Claudio Dell’Era are concentrated in the areas of Design Thinking and Design Strategy. He has published more than 100 chapters in edited books and papers published in conference proceedings and leading international journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Long Range Planning, Technology Forecasting and Social Change, R&D Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Industry & Innovation, Creativity and Innovation Management, Business Horizons, and many others.

GDTA PowWow #8 with The Design Thinking School at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu

Remember the experiments and challenges you faced while starting a new project? Before 2019, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu didn’t dream a small idea would turn into so many new research projects, competitions to encourage students to innovate and the first D-School in Romania. This all happened thanks to the donation received from Mr. Hasso Plattner and 2020 did not stop the plans. At the GDTA PowWow on March 18th, 2021, Raluca Bârsan, Adminmaker and Teaching Professional at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, talked about “ULBS: From a lab idea to excellence in research and a D-School” and shared ULBS’ next steps as well as ideas and best practices.

About our speaker:

Raluca Mihaela Bârsan, Adminmaker at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu

Before working in the public system, Raluca had several roles in continuous improvement departments in the private sector. At Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu her passion for education clicked with her experience in problem solving and starting February 2021, Raluca is the first employee of the first D-School in Romania. She volunteers as a teacher, works part time in the R&D Department of the University and aims to finish her PhD in the near future 🙂 .

GDTA PowWow #7 with Western University: Design Thinking Education without a D.School

Western University is a large, public university in Canada with 11 faculties and schools. Since 2013, they have slowly built up the presence of Design Thinking across the university. And, then came COVID which became a challenge and an opportunity. Darren Meister, Associate Dean, Ivey Business School, Western University; and Natalie Mathieson, Design Thinking Program Coordinator, Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership and Innovation, Western University shared the growth of Design Thinking Education at Western and some future plans.

About our speakers:

Darren Meister, Associate Dean, Ivey Business School

Darren has been involved in Western’s design thinking efforts since 2013. Having done his engineering degree in Systems Design in the 1980s, it came as a great surprise to him when he realized that that wasn’t how everyone was taught to think about problems. He’s led undergraduate and graduate programs in Engineering and Business and currently is responsible for Faculty Development at Ivey Business School. And he’s still pushing the Design Thinking agenda at Western consistently.

Natalie Mathieson, Design Thinking Program Coordinator, Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership and Innovation

Natalie holds a Master of Arts from the University of Toronto, and has taught film, theatre, and communication at various universities in Ontario, Canada. Passionate about service design, Natalie spent a decade working with children and youth in safe haven shelters and hospitals. Natalie joined Western in May 2020 to help animate design thinking practice in the university community.

Session #6 with Jeanne Liedtka, UVA Darden School of Business

In this session, Jeanne Liedtka, United Technologies Corporation Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia – Darden School of Business, discussed her upcoming book “Experiencing Design: The Innovator’s Journey”.

This book was created for all those who want to become design thinkers by truly experiencing it. The authors Jeanne Liedtka, Karen Hold, and Jessica Eldridge point out that the innovative potential of design can only be embraced by changing the ways we think and act. That contains the process of becoming a more real and authentic version of ourselves. Therefore it is necessary to dive deep into design experiences to effect positive impacts not only in yourself, but also in your team and organization. With this guide you will be accomplished successfully through different process phases in your personal design thinking journey.

About our speaker:

Jeanne Liedtka, United Technologies Corporation Professor of Business Administration, University of Virginia – Darden School of Business

Jeanne M. Liedtka is a faculty member at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business and former chief learning officer at United Technologies Corporation, where she was responsible for overseeing all activities associated with corporate learning and development for the Fortune 50 corporation, including executive education, career development processes, employer-sponsored education and learning portal and web-based activities.

At Darden, where she formerly served as associate dean of the MBA program and as executive director of the Batten Institute, Jeanne works with both MBAs and executives in the areas of design thinking, innovation and leading growth. Her passion is exploring how organizations can engage employees at every level in thinking creatively about the design of powerful futures.

Her current research focuses on design-led innovation in the government and social sector, as does her most recent book, Designing for the Greater Good. Her previous books include: The Catalyst: How You Can Lead Extraordinary Growth (winner of the BusinessWeek best innovation books of 2009); Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Tool Kit for Managers (winner of the 1800 CEO READ best management book of 2011) and its accompanying field guide, The Designing for Growth Field Book: A Step by Step Guide; The Physics of Business Growth: Mindsets, System and Process; and Solving Business Problems With Design Thinking: 10 Stories of What Works.

Dr. Assaf Krebs, Co-Director of Design Factory Shenkar

Dr. Krebs holds a B.Des in Visual Communication (Bezalel Academy of Art and Design), and a further BA, MA and a PhD in Classical Studies (Tel Aviv University). He has been working in the field of visual communication for many years and served as a Senior Art Director in Future Brand Israel. Krebs has participated in various art and design exhibitions in Israel and abroad. In recent years he has been part of Material Flow Collective, a group of 12 designers working together on new ecological design thinking methods (Organism 144, the group collaborative design installation will be presented at the Tel Aviv Biennale of Crafts and Design in March 2021). Krebs’ academic research focuses on skins and surfaces as a metaphor and epistemological turn in philosophy, psychoanalytic theory and cultural criticism. He is an MC researcher in COST (CA19129) – Decolonizing Development: Research, Teaching and Practice; a researcher in Fish Skin Lab: Developing Fish Skin as Sustainable Raw Material for the fashion Industry (Horizon 2020); and in Theology in the Age of Anthropocene (The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute).

Dr. Yigal David, Co-Director of Design Factory Shenkar

Yigal David has been acting for more than two decades in several VP and CEO positions in various Israeli telecom corporations. He is specialized in corporate strategy and product development. Yigal, a Shenkar’s Industrial Engineer, holds an MBA and Doctorate degree, both from Middlesex University London. Today, he is a faculty member and a lecturer in the School of Industrial Engineering at Shenkar. His research interests include Entrepreneurial Innovation, Product Development, Emerging Technologies, Voice Sentiment Analysis and Consumer Behaviour.

Daniel Altman, Director of Development and Strategy, Open Innovation 

Daniel is a former chairperson of “Shenkar Students’ Union” and the co-founder of “Dots – Student Entrepreneurship Club”. He is a Shenkar alumnus, holding an M.Sc & B.Sc from the “School of Industrial Engineering and Management”, with a specialization in Innovation,  Entrepreneurship, and Creative leadership. In the past two years, his position was, Shenkar’s ex-president (Former Minister of Education) Prof. Yuli Tamir’s, Advisor for development & strategy. Daniel co-initiated Shenkar’s special projects such as Design Factory Shenkar, SUGAR Network, Global Jamweek, Sustainability R&D Center, and more.

Arne van Oosterom is founder and partner at DesignThinkers Academy. The academy is part of DesignThinkers, a global innovation agency network, which Arne co-founded in 2006. DesignThinkers currently has teams in more than 20 countries.

Arne is internationally recognised as a pioneer and thought leader in the emerging fields of service design and design thinking. Successfully merging business thinking and creative thinking. He is coaching and working on global projects with organisations like Coca Cola, L’Oreal, BOSCH, Cartier, SAP, Philips and ING Bank. Arne supports those organisations in building and leading creative teams. Arne founded the Design Thinking Conference and developed service design thinking coaching and training programs like the DesignThinkers Bootcamp and Creative Leadership Program.

He has been teaching at several universities as well as facilitating in-house training sessions and masterclasses.

Shui Linlin, Head of the Design Thinking Innovation Center at the Communication University of China in Beijing (CUC) and Courtesy Professor at the Center of Design Research at Stanford University

Shui Linlin started her interdisciplinary, innovation-driven design thinking journey at the HPI D-School in 2009. When she came back to her own country, she took on the challenge of setting up the first design thinking school in China. Now she is the director of Design Thinking Innovation Center (DTIC) @ Art Faculty, Communication University of China.

Mrs Shui has the background of computer science and digital games design. And she is an expert of ”Online Game Content Review Committee” of the Chinese Culture Ministry, as well as the director of China Association of Social Art. She was selected as one of the ”Beijing Young Talents” in 2014.