An NPTEL primer from IIT Madras on the design thinking process: empathise, analyse, solve and test, with workshops and stories.
Paid certificateDesign & UX
Self-pacedBeginner
Design thinking
A free 10-hour Open University course on how designers think, with a focus on composition and presenting complex information.
Taught byOpenLearnAbout this course
Adapted from Open University design study material, this short course looks at how design shapes everyday objects and behaviour and why involving other people matters. It then works through the principles of composition, such as structure, repetition, symmetry, proportion and emphasis, before tackling the design of complex information.
Best for: Beginners who want a quick, free taste of design thinking from a university source.
What you will be able to do
- Recognise how design shapes products and behaviour
- Apply principles of composition such as symmetry, proportion and emphasis
- Use positive and negative space deliberately
- Approach the design of complex information
Syllabus and your progress
Tick modules off as you finish them on OpenLearn.
0 of 4 modules done
Plan your pace
At 4 hours a week you would finish in about 3 weeks, using the course time estimate above.
Progress is saved in this browser only. No account needed.
Cost and certificate
Free certificate
Free statement of participation on completion from The Open University.
OpenLearn sets the terms and can change them. Check the course page before you commit serious time, and tell us if something changed.
Quick answers
- Is Design thinking really free?
- Yes, the course material is free on OpenLearn. Free statement of participation on completion from The Open University.
- How long does Design thinking take?
- Plan for about 10 hrs in total (Provider estimate: 10 hours). It is self-paced, so you can go faster or slower.
- Do I need experience before Design thinking?
- No. It is a beginner course with no prerequisites listed.
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