We are HPI d-school

Crafting Tomorrow – Imagine, Innovate, Impact 

The d-school of the Hasso Plattner Institute is a world leading university education provider, a pioneer in design thinking training and digital leadership. At the intersection of human and technology, we qualify students and professionals for the challenges of tomorrow.

Our Vision

Our vision is to shape a future where education and empowerment of individuals and teams serve both, the people and the planet. Emphasizing the value of transferring knowledge, from research to implementation we equip our learners to imagine, innovate, and create impact.

Academic Programs - Additional studies in Design Thinking

Participants of the HPI d-school Academic Program

The HPI d-school - Academic Programs' additional Design Thinking studies are aimed at students of all disciplines and nationalities. It is divided into two semesters: the Foundations for Design Thinking and the advanced Design Thinking Studios.

In addition, the HPI d-school offers the Global Design Thinking Workshop twice a year.

In the three programs, students work in small, multidisciplinary teams on practical problems and are accompanied by experienced Design Thinking coaches.

The Wayfinder program complements the offer with the application of Design Thinking for personal development and career. As part of the Design Thinking Studios, students learn to apply the Design Thinking method in projects with more complex problems such as sustainability, climate change, digital health, open innovation and many more.

You want to study Design Thinking at HPI?

Contact us!

Contact Person

Portrait of the Office Assistant for the Chair of Design Thinking and Innovation Research, Janet Klonower

Janet Klonower

Program Coordination

Phone: +49 331 5509-507
Mail: office-d-school@hpi.de

Project partners and memberships

Every semester, we cooperate with partner organizations such as NGOs, large companies, young start-ups, universities and political institutions. Highly motivated and talented students work together with partners from the field to solve complex issues across all industries. Would you like to take a close look at a new product idea from a human-centered perspective? Are you facing internal company development challenges? Are you wondering how you can make your processes and procedures more sustainable? In a partnership, you will receive inspiring solutions for your problem and benefit from extensive research during the design thinking process. 

Find out more

Students, project partners and team members of the HPI D-school work on joint projects

Professional Development - further education for professionals

Participants at an HPI d-school workshop

The HPI d-school - Professional Development is the Hasso Plattner Institute's further education provider for professionals with a top-class educational program in Design Thinking, Tech Leadership, Innovation and Digital Transformation. The programs provide the necessary knowledge, mindset and tools to successfully master the challenges of digital transformation.   

Our workshops and programs take place as open formats for individuals, but also as customized solutions for teams that are tailored to the needs of your company. 

Book now

At a glance

  • Further education for corporates clients & individuals   
  • Customized workshops, tailored to companies needs    
  • Workshops, programs & certification programs   
  • Design Thinking, leadership, innovation and digital transformation 
  • On campus, on premise-, online-, hybrid and blended-formats   
  • Languages: English & German 

Portfolio

Certification program

Customized workshops and programs

Contact Persons

Portrait of D-School Program Manager Elisabeth Höpner

Elisabeth Höpner

Program Manager - Certification Program

Phone: +49 331 5509-582
Mail: certification-program@hpi.de

Portrait of d-School Program Manager Dr. Julia Oberhofer

Dr. Julia Oberhofer

Program Manager - Customized Solutions

Phone: +49 331 5509-565
Mail: info-pdt@hpi.de

Portrait of d-School Project Manager Nina Bruns

Nina Bruns

Project Manager - Open Formats

Phone: +49 331 5509-553
Mail: info-pdt@hpi.de

Design Thinking Research and Innovation

Participants at the HPI d-school doing research
Participants at the HPI d-school doing research

The “Design Thinking and Innovation Research” department researches how the adaptation and integration of human-centered design (HCD) and design thinking in companies leads to sustainable business innovations. There is a particular focus on software-driven product, process and service innovations.

Further Information

We are the Design Thinking hub in Europe 

Would you like to develop creative and innovative solutions for complex problems in a goal-oriented way? The Design Thinking innovation approach we teach offers you the right mindset and methods.  

With Design Thinking, you promote your agile learning and working culture, which is essential alongside the introduction of digital technologies. You work in multidisciplinary teams in a flexible environment and apply an iterative process to develop human-centered products, services or business models. Empower yourself and your projects with Design Thinking! 

Last change: 17/09/2024, Julia Porstendörfer