From now on, students of all disciplines and universities can apply for the academic Design Thinking programs at the HPI School of Design Thinking. The Basic Track and the Global Design Thinking Workshop will take place in a mainly virtual format. 

Within the academic Design Thinking training at the HPI D-School you learn creative and networked thinking as an innovative approach and apply it in cooperation with project partners from companies, NGOs and political institutions. Together with international students from a wide range of disciplines, you will develop innovative solutions for practical problems in small teams.

Our virtual learning concept

Due to the Corona pandemic, we redesigned all programs for a new online format. Using the flexible Design Thinking mindset and our experience from the past three semesters, we have created an interactive, networked and secure learning environment in virtual space. We work with different digital tools, such as the virtual whiteboard Miro, the video conference platform Zoom and the HPI-owned learning platform openHPI platform.Teaching in the virtual space makes it possible to open the programs to students from all disciplines and universities, regardless of their location.

If the applicable hygiene measures in the winter semester allow it, the virtual learning format will be flexibly supplemented by hybrid elements. This means that students can participate in the teamwork both in the HPI D-School rooms and online.

Basic Track in winter semester 2021/22

As part of the academic training in Design Thinking, students acquire the necessary skills to help shape the future successfully. An introduction to the mindset and the innovative approach is offered by the Basic Track, which is the first part of the one-year Design Thinking training. The Basic Track takes place on two obligatory program days (Tuesdays and Fridays) per week and consists of live inputs from our program and coaching teams as well as teamwork in the digital space. The small, diverse teams are always accompanied in their work process by a Design Thinking coach.

In exchange with each other, students go through different phases of the innovation process and develop creative ideas and human-centered prototypes. They learn to establish an open culture of failure as a necessary part of solution development and how to benefit from it.

Information about the Basic Track application

We are looking forward to receiving your applications for the Basic Track until August 10th, 2021 via our online platform. Students of all disciplines can apply, participation in the program on site in Potsdam is not a prerequisite.

For a successful application, we need the following documents:

- Curriculum vitae
- Certificate of enrollment
- T-Profile

The so-called “T-profile” on the one hand represents your expertise in a specific field (through the vertical part of the letter “T”). In addition to your academic education, you also have many complementary skills and interests as well as a broad general knowledge (shown in the horizontal section of the “T”). The “T-profile” can be individually designed as text, picture, diagram or photo.

Many “T-shaped people” meet at the HPI School of Design Thinking: Here you can work collaboratively beyond disciplinary boundaries and use your skills creatively together with others.

You can find further information and important dates about the Basic Track application on our website.