Design Thinking for Creative Problem Solving

About this class

This course is a collaboration between VCUarts Qatar and BlackRook Academy.

This experience-led course introduces Design Thinking as a creative, human-centered approach to solving complex challenges.

Designed for VCU alumni and creative professionals, the programme explores how Design Thinking can be applied within participants’ current professional practice to generate innovative ideas, strengthen collaboration, and develop practical solutions.

Delivered through an artistic lens, the course combines discussion, reflection, and hands-on activities to examine the evolving landscape of the creative industries.

Participants will explore Design Thinking methodologies while working on real-world challenges drawn from their own professional contexts.

By the end of the course, participants will have a practical understanding of the Design Thinking process and an adaptable framework they can use to identify opportunities, reframe challenges, and develop creative solutions across a range of disciplines.

Class Outline

Module 1: Design Thinking & the Creative Industries

• What is Design Thinking?
• Understanding today’s creative landscape and emerging challenges.
• Exploring the creative toolkit: How designers think and communicate.
• Introduction to Design Thinking methodologies and problem-solving frameworks.

Module 2: Workshop – Bring a Problem

• Applying Design Thinking to real-world professional challenges.
• Creative strategies for ideation, collaboration, and innovation.
• Collaborative workshop: Sharing, testing, and refining ideas.
• Future-proofing your practice through Design Thinking.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is designed for:

• Creative professionals seeking new approaches to innovation and problem-solving.
• Designers, artists, architects, and creative practitioners.
• Educators and facilitators looking to integrate Design Thinking into their teaching and practice.
• Entrepreneurs and business professionals interested in human-centered innovation.
• VCUarts Qatar alumni and professionals working in multidisciplinary teams.
• Anyone looking to strengthen their creative confidence, collaboration, and strategic thinking skills.

No previous experience with Design Thinking is required.

What You Will Learn

Throughout the course, participants will:

• Understand the principles and stages of the Design Thinking process.
• Explore the role of Design Thinking in addressing contemporary challenges within the creative industries.
• Learn practical tools for identifying, reframing, and solving complex problems.
• Apply human-centered design methodologies to real-world professional challenges.
• Develop creative strategies through ideation, collaboration, and rapid problem-solving.
• Gain practical techniques for integrating Design Thinking into everyday professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Integrate Design Thinking into their own professional and creative practice.
• Understand the principles and stages of the Design Thinking process.
• Analyze current challenges affecting the creative industries.
• Apply Design Thinking methodologies to real-world professional projects.
• Develop creative, human-centered solutions through collaborative problem-solving.

Materials Needed

Please note: VCUarts Qatar reserves the right to cancel classes if minimum enrollment is not met. Any fees already paid will be fully refunded.

No specialist materials are required for this course. Participants will need:

• A computer or laptop with a stable internet connection.
• Access to Zoom.
• A notebook or digital note-taking application.

Schedule

Start: Sat, Sep 26, 2026
End: Sun, Sep 27, 2026
Lessons: 2
Days: Saturday and Sunday
Time: 5:00 – 8:00pm (Doha Time)
Location: Online
Cost: 1200 QAR (10% discount applies for VCUarts Qatar and Education City Community)

Collaborators

BlackRook Academy is a dynamic training provider specializing in digital skills and employability coaching, with a particular focus on social media content creation. Launched in early 2023, their bootcamps—delivered in partnership with City of Wolverhampton College and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority—offer immersive training in Walsall, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton. 

This course will be delivered by Emily, BlackRook Academy’s Head of Quality and Curriculum. Specialising in new media practices and digital literacy, Emily leads on the development of curriculum that connects hands-on technical skills with a deep understanding of the cultural and ethical implications of new media. She brings an innovative, practice-led teaching style to every session, combining her academic expertise with real-world creative projects to ensure learners gain both conceptual insight and practical skills they can apply immediately.