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Certificate Program

Design Thinking Coach

  • Design Thinking

Overview

Shape creative collaboration, activate innovation teams

Collaboration, creative problem-solving, and innovation don’t happen by themselves. The key lies in skilled facilitation and guidance of such processes. The "Design Thinking Coach" certificate program equips you with the necessary know-how and skill set to do just that – from the facilitation of creative teams to format conception, you’ll be empowered to enable creative problem-solving and innovation.

Content

Key Facts

Target group

The program is designed for individuals who want to skillfully accompany agile processes and teams. You will expand your Design Thinking knowledge with advanced skills to coach teams. It is ideal for professionals, managers, coaches, and consultants who want to deepen their facilitation and coaching competencies and elevate them to a professional level.

What you can expect

  • High practical component: Experience-based learning as a didactic model and a particularly high practical component with a wide range of opportunities to try things out.
  • Small teams: Close supervision by one Design Thinking coach per team (max. six people) in our on-site training sessions.
  • Continuous individual feedback from experienced Design Thinking coaches.
  • Learning videos and materials (e.g. prompting cheat sheets)
  • Coaching manual: Provision of a detailed coaching manual and a comprehensive digital set of method cards.  
  • Alumni program: Carefully orchestrated learning experience and structure of lifelong learning even after graduation: Participation as alumni in varied masterclasses and exchange formats.
  • Alumni network: Inclusion in the large HPI alumni network of Design Thinking Coaches.
  • Teaching and research: Unique combination of teaching and research on the HPI campus.
  • Certificate from the renowned Hasso Plattner Institute
  • Catering: Full board on in-person dates

Language

Bilingual (German/English)

The general program language is English, so are the presentations and materials.

When + Where

Module 1:
Location: HPI d-school in Potsdam
Date: July 1 – 3, 2026 (German)
Date: September 9 – 11, 2026 (English)

Module 2:
Location: online, self-paced learning
Date: available after module 1 (English)

Module 3b:
Location: HPI d-school in Potsdam
Date: September 23 – 25, 2026 (English)

Module 4:
Location: HPI d-school in Potsdam
Date: October 12 – 14, 2026 (English)

Module 5:
Date: November 10 - 12, 2026 in Potsdam at HPI + 1 day online prep about 2 weeks before(English)

In-house training program

For groups of ten or more participants, we also offer an in-house training program for Design Thinking coaches.

Interested? Send us an e-mail to certification-program@hpi.de

Customized for organizations

We will be happy to prepare an individual offer for you and your organization on request.
Interested? Send us an e-mail to info-pdt@hpi.de

Book your place

Design Thinking Coach

Date
Date
01.07.2026 - 13.11.2026
Duration
16 days (combination of in-person and online modules)
Languages
Bilingual (German/English)
Format
Hybrid
Place
Hasso Plattner Institute
Campus II
August-Bebel-Str. 88
14482 Potsdam
Link to Location
Costs

13,250.00 €
plus VAT

Early Bird Price

Special Price: 12,900.00 €
Valid Until: 2026-05-31
The Early Bird price is valid until one month before the start date (plus VAT).

Contact & Advice Book now
Date
09.09.2026 - 13.11.2026
Duration
16 days (combination of in-person and online modules)
Languages
English
Format
Hybrid
Place
Hasso Plattner Institute
Campus II
August-Bebel-Str. 88
14482 Potsdam
Link to Location
Costs

13,250.00 €
plus VAT

Early Bird Price

Special Price: 12,900.00 €
Valid Until: 2026-08-08
The Early Bird price is valid until one month before the start date (plus VAT).

Contact & Advice Book now

Objectives

The "Design Thinking Coach" program aims to elevate your coaching and innovation process facilitation skills to a professional level:

  • You will learn versatile methods and tools to confidently guide teams through the entire Design Thinking process and help them unlock their potential.
  • We support you in further developing your own coaching style so that you can respond flexibly to different team dynamics.
  • You will be empowered to design and successfully implement customized Design Thinking formats.

About the program

The "Design Thinking Coach" certificate program represents the pinnacle of Design Thinking training. Building on an in-depth, multifaceted exploration of Design Thinking, you will expand your skills to include coaching techniques and the conception of various Design Thinking formats. In practice-oriented modules, you’ll learn how to guide teams through design thinking processes and effectively design workshops and projects. Through intensive learning experiences and personalized feedback from experienced coaches, you will further develop your own coaching style and be well-equipped to succeed as a Design Thinking coach in a variety of contexts.

Program structure:

The program consists of 5 modules that build on each other. The total duration of the program is 16 days. A later entry to module 3 is possible with appropriate proof of previous experience.

Graphic program structure Design Thinking Coach

Agenda

  • Worthwhile experiential learning journey

    If you want to learn how to teach design thinking, this program should be at the top of your list. The HPI team has put together an unmatched curriculum that is action-oriented. The program is an intensive and extremely rewarding experiential learning journey. I had one "aha moment" after another! The program is taught by an incredibly diverse pool of talented practitioners who bring new theoretical perspectives and creative ways to apply methods in practice. Thank you to the HPI team for always going the extra step to help me achieve my Goals!

    Stefanie Hammer Hammer communications

  • I am really glad that I decided to do the program with you. All of the modules in Potsdam were relevant and substantial. The online module is always a great reference resource. And the finale in Frankfurt was a fantastic experience anyway.

    Stefan Porsche

  • What really fascinated me about HPI and you coaches is the great balance between professional support for participants learning design thinking and the tangible personal connection you build with them. From a didactic point of view, I think that's exactly what you need to learn and grow. However, from my own experience as a lecturer at the University of Oldenburg, I also know that this is really not easy to achieve—it takes more than just a few methods. For me, this quickly led to the realization at HPI that Design Thinking is much more than just a toolbox of methods that you simply have to fill. In this respect: THANK YOU!

    Max-Simon Gündert

  • You coaches created a space in which our curiosity, our skills, and we ourselves could grow. For me, throughout the entire training program, you were a compass, sparring partners, mentors, and a reliable anchor in challenging moments.
    With your presence, patience, and clarity, you guided me and us through this intensive learning journey. I will take with me the many moments, big and small, as well as your encouraging words—they will continue to have an impact. A big thank you to the entire HPI d-school team! What an experience!

    Photo of Daniela Heck

    Daniela Heck

Your program leads

All dates

  1. 01.07.2026 - 13.11.2026

    Design Thinking Coach

    Hybrid

    Duration

    16 days (combination of in-person and online modules)

    Place

    Potsdam

    Languages

    Bilingual (German/English)
    13,250.00 €
    Book now
  2. 09.09.2026 - 13.11.2026

    Design Thinking Coach

    Hybrid

    Duration

    16 days (combination of in-person and online modules)

    Place

    Potsdam

    Languages

    English
    From 12,900.00 €
    Book now

Frequently asked questions

Contact

Do you have any questions? We will be happy to help you.

Elisabeth Höpner
Program Manager Certification Program
+49 331 5509-582
certification-program@hpi.de
Contact form
Mitarbeiter:innenfoto

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