Design Thinking & Problem-Solving Foundation - AI Academy

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to Design Thinking and product-oriented problem-solving, with a strong focus on identifying meaningful problems before designing solutions. Using the Double Diamond framework (Discovery → Define → Develop → Deliver) and core Product Management practices, participants learn how to explore complex problem spaces, understand user needs, and translate insights into actionable concepts.

The workshop uses language exam preparation as a practical and relatable case study, allowing participants to work within a real-world context supported by actual data. Throughout the session, participants build and refine a Product Thinking Canvas, guiding them from initial problem exploration to a tested prototype.

The workshop is structured into five progressive modules:

1. Problem Mindset - Why Start with the Problem

• Importance of problem-first thinking
• Common pitfalls of solution-driven approaches
• Introduction to the Product Thinking Canvas

2. Discovery - Understanding the Problem Space

• User research methods (interviews, surveys, secondary research)
• Exploration of the language learning ecosystem
• Insight gathering and clustering

3. Define - Identifying the Core Problem

• Persona creation
• Jobs-To-Be-Done (JTBD) framework
• Crafting clear problem statements and points of view

4. Design / Develop — Exploring Solutions

• Ideation techniques (e.g., Crazy 8)
• Prioritization methods (e.g., Kano model)
• Defining a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

5. Deliver - Prototype, Test, and Learn

• Storyboarding and user flows
• Rapid prototyping using AI tools
• Testing, feedback collection, and iteration

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

• Apply a problem-first mindset to product and innovation challenges
• Conduct effective discovery research to understand users and contexts
• Define clear and meaningful problem statements grounded in real insights
• Use frameworks such as personas and Jobs-To-Be-Done to structure thinking
• Generate and prioritize solution ideas aligned with user needs
• Design a focused Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
• Build and test basic prototypes to validate assumptions
• Iterate based on user feedback and learnings
• Use a Product Thinking Canvas to connect problem, strategy, and solution

This workshop follows a highly interactive, practice-based learning approach:

• Learning by doing: Each concept is immediately applied through guided exercises
• Real-world case study: Participants work on a realistic and relatable problem space
• Collaborative work: Group discussions, peer interviews, and co-creation activities