This unique and valuable two-day workshop will be led by 3 instructors who have taught students at Stanford University/d.school in the US, the birthplace of design thinking, and will allow participants to experience Silicon Valley-style facilitation, which is fast-paced and keeps participants entertained.
Overview
- In a borderless society, proactively creating new value requires individuals to acquire leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Design Thinking is an effective foundation for this as methodology for creating “INNOVATIONS”. Recently, many companies both in Japan and overseas have been actively adopting Design Thinking.
- The program will make students engage in several types of workshops with varying participants. Through these workshops, participants will experience and understand the concepts of Creative Confidence and User Centric, which are the essence of Design Thinking, and most importantly, aim to strengthen your creativity. This program will be an authentic experience of a workshop held at Stanford University/d.school in the United States, the birthplace of design thinking. We have invited 3 US facilitators and instructors: Thomas Both, David Janka, and Scott Witthouft. These 3 professional designers and educators teach Design Thinking at Stanford University/d.school, the University of Texas at Austin, and at various organizations around the world.
| 📂 Category | Innovation |
| 📌 Keywords | Design Thinking, Issue Identification, Empathy, Ideate, Test |
| 🎯 Objectives | Through experience, you will understand design thinking not as a "how-to" for creating innovation, but as a concept of Creative Confidence & User Centirc |
| 🌐 Language | English |
| 👥 Target Participants | Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral students |
| 🗓 Format | 2 days (in person) |
| ✅ Past & Upcoming Sessions | Day 1: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9:00-18:00 Day 2: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 9:00-18:00 Held annually since 2018 |
| 📍 Venue | S4-202/203, Ookayama (tentative) |
| 🌟 Recommended for | - Students who want to understand the essence of design thinking. - Students who want to strengthen my own creativity. - Students who want to develop new value and establish it in society. - Students who want to experience a workshop at Stanford University's d.school in the United States. - Students who want to build a new network of international and Japanese students. |
| 📊 Points | 14 points in total (Points to be awarded to students enrolled in the courses for credits. Please refer to the syllabus for details.) |
| 🎟️ Capacity | Around 35 participants If you want to join the workshop; Please fill out the Early Registration Form on the webpage below. Registration deadline: Friday, October 9. https://www.total.titech.ac.jp/en/open_20261031/ In case of over-subscription by the deadline, a selection process will be conducted. In such cases, the English proficiency assessment (including self-assessment; a score more than TOEIC 750+ or TOEFL iBT 80+ is desirable) and the stated purpose of participation—details of which are to be provided in the advance application form mentioned above—will be taken into consideration. Please apply only if you can attend the entire schedule (Days 1 and 2) and strictly adhere to the rule against arriving late or leaving early during any session. |
Main Content
Day 1:
- Workshop 1: Advertisement Creation
- Workshop 2: Observation in the fields
- Workshop 3: Synthesis
- Debriefing & Reflection
Day 2:
- Workshop 4: Radical Ideation & Prototyping
- Workshop 5: Reframing-why and how-
- Personal Reflection and Program Reflection
- Well-done party (voluntary)
Facilitators
Thomas Both:
Thomas is a designer and design educator whose passion is helping people understand the practice of human-centered design—and their ability as designers—to innovate how they learn, think, and solve problems. He is director of the Designing for Social Systems program at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) at Stanford University. In this program, he teaches professionals how to apply design thinking to complex social challenges and facilitates workshops for social impact leaders to develop a more human and strategic practice.
David Janka:
Design consultant and creative strategist; former Fellow and current lecturer at the Stanford University d.school. David has a medical degree from Stanford and works to integrate design thinking principles into medical education, healthcare delivery, and medical device design.
Scott Witthouft:
Professional space and product designer; Associate Professor of Practice at University of Texas at Austin; former Fellow and lecturer at the Stanford University d.school. Scott is author of the book “Make Space,” a tool for designing collaborative spaces. He has a professional background in structural engineering.
Past Event Records
Voices from Participants
- The way you think can affect you! Joining this workshop might help you discover how the way you think and help you with the mindset of thinking in a logical way (as the title~ help you to design your thinking especially creative thinking!) (D1)
- A great opportunity to challenge your creativity and learn new methods that can be applicable for your research and career.(D2)
- It was good opportunity to talk other student with different background. Also, If someone is struggle with their research, It is a good chance to rethink and see their research in a different perspective. (M1)
- If you are wondering how to think more deeply and creatively in your research or daily work, don’t hesitate—just click the registration link below and join the workshop. (D1)
- Through this workshop, I realized that I had overlooked many wonderful and useful thinking tools, such as mind maps, and it gave me a chance to start using them again. In addition, I learned several new concepts, including Why–How Laddering and Prototyping, which help reduce external distractions and encourage more logical thinking. In fact, I bought a whiteboard for my room soon after the workshop, and it has been extremely helpful for both my daily life and my work. If you want to improve the way you think or are interested in becoming an entrepreneur, I strongly recommend registering for this workshop and giving it a try.(B1)
- As an undergraduate freshman, I initially expected to struggle with understanding the lectures in this workshop. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the program was accessible even to complete beginners in the field especially because it focused on project based learning. Moreover, the participants were incredibly welcoming. I had the opportunity to work closely with master’s and PhD students who were thoughtful, supportive, and actively encouraged me to engage in discussions. Overall, this workshop was an incredibly valuable and fun experience for me as a freshman.(B1)
- This workshop is a great opportunity to experience design thinking in a fun and hands-on way. The activities are engaging and well-structured, and the facilitators create an open atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in creativity and problem-solving, even without a design background.(M1)
- I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to try something new but can't seem to break out of their shell. This fulfilling two-day workshop will give you powerful tools, approaches, and an important mindset! (D2)
- I'd heard the term "design thinking" often, but I had always wondered what it really meant. (It was familiar enough that it was even included in required courses, but I couldn't really grasp its merits and even thought it seemed a little shady...!) However, through the workshop's cycle of ① interactive lectures → ② physical activities that really brought home the significance → ① → ②... I began to understand that design thinking is not just a foreign word! It's true. It's an amazing two days learning from young Stanford professors at the forefront of design thinking. Apply now! (M2)
- This workshop is a valuable opportunity to develop creative problem-solving skills through practical activities and discussions. It's highly stimulating for anyone interested in design and innovation, as well as anyone who wants to think about things from a new perspective. Don't miss this opportunity to network with like-minded peers and learn from passionate instructors! (M1)
- I was able to learn Design Thinking in a practical way, something a little different from what I learned in classes at Tokyo Tech. (B4)
- Come this class to notice small details in your life and new opportunities for improvements to the science. This workshop will change your mindset to thinking about your personal and professional life.(B1)
- If you want to escape from your research life, try this workshop. Although it's 2 days on the weekend, it's really fun to do collaborate with new friends, learn something mind-opening things from amazing native English speaker instructors.(M2)
- I decided to attend the workshop to reskill my design thinking. However, this provide me a new perspective of design thinking following the basic framework and interactive activities. Although, I’m quite sleepy the class make me active almost all the time. (M2)
- I strongly encourage everyone to participate in this event at least once, as it offers an invaluable learning experience. The mentors are not only highly skilled experts in design systems but also exceptional at sharing their insights and experiences in a way that is both engaging and inspiring. Their ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in exciting, interactive ways makes this event a must-attend for anyone looking to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from the best and be part of a truly enriching experience!(D1)
Event Report
Contact Faculty
Keisuke Yamada, Specially Appointed Professor, Center for Entrepreneurship Education
📩 yamada.k.9f82 [at] m.isct.ac.jp