Design Thinking in Education: Innovation Can Be Learned

Education needs new ways to prepare individuals and societies for the multitude of changing challenges in the twenty-first century. In today’s world--characterized by digitization, increasing speed, and complexity--design thinking has established itself as a powerful approach to human-centered innovation that can help address complicated problems and guide change in all areas of life. Design thinking formats not only teach skills that benefit people as they expand their ＂toolbox,＂ but also create affective and cognitive outcomes.

This book includes experiences, approaches, and reflections on design thinking in education from different perspectives of renowned design thinking experts from the network of the Hasso Plattner Institute and its School of Design Thinking. Using real-world examples, the book provides insights into requirements and protocols that design thinking practitioners can apply to transform their academic or professional ecosystem. It will be of interest for readers who work in or are interested in a wide variety of educational contexts.

Christoph Meinel is CEO and Scientific Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering gGmbH (HPI) at the University of Potsdam (Germany). ​He has been Vice Dean of the Faculty of Digital Engineering at the University of Potsdam since April 2017. Christoph Meinel holds the Chair of Internet Technologies and Systems and is also active in the areas of cybersecurity and digital education. He is a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (acatech), director of the HPI-Stanford Design Thinking Research Program, honorary professor at the Technical University of Beijing, visiting professor at Shanghai University, professor at Nanjing University, and member of numerous scientific committees and supervisory boards.

Timm Krohn is CEO of the HPI Academy, Potsdam (Germany) which offers advanced training in design thinking for professionals.