The HPI School of Design Thinking is a founding member of the Global Design Thinking Alliance (GDTA). The Global Design Thinking Alliance is a network of institutions that teach, research and further develop the methods and mindsets of Design Thinking. It was founded in September 2017 during the d.confestival in Potsdam.

The GDTA network of institutions promotes excellence in Design Thinking education and research. The alliance aimes to become the global platform for the exchange, debate and exploration on best practices in Design Thinking education, training and research. The GDTA enables encounters and creates learning opportunities for both experienced and aspiring Design Thinkers from a wide range of disciplines. In this way, the network facilitates the lively debate needed to inform and drive the development of Design Thinking education.

The GDTA currently consists of 30 member institutions who are eager to intensify their dialogue and exchange on Design Thinking. The GDTA hosts the monthly event series "GDTA Spotlight" and the annual Global Design Thinking Conference. 

Professor Ulrich Weinberg, Director of the HPI School of Design Thinking, is the first GDTA president. Since September 2021, Richard Perez, Founding Director of the Hasso Plattner D-School Afrika, is General Secretary of the GDTA.

The founding members of the GDTA are the Department of Management of the London School of Economics, Genovasi d.school Malaysia, Hasso Plattner D-School Afrika at University of Cape Town, Ivey Business School (Western University), Open Lab Stockholm, Communication University China (CUC), University of Technology Sydney, University of British Columbia, Queensland University of Technology, V&A Museum Dundee, and HPI School of Design Thinking.