The Danger of Design Thinking Training: How We Bribed Our Way to Mediocrity in Design Thinking

I bribed my driving instructor to get my driving license❗️

- said the driver I hired in Thailand.

🤬 I was stunned as I recalled some nerve-wracking moments when the driver navigated dangerously close to cliffs on mountainous roads. It could have been disastrous for my family and me.

😱 As shocking as it sounds, this is similar to the state of many so-called design-thinking practitioners and trainers today—self-proclaimed experts after attending a three-day workshop or, worse, learning from a YouTube video.

🤝🏻 At the HPI d–school in Potsdam, participants learn Design Thinking over eight months, working on at least three projects under close supervision (1 coach to 5 participants). They receive personalized feedback on their methods and areas for improvement.

👁️ If you claim expertise in Design Thinking without experienced eyes observing and providing feedback, how do you know if you're any good?

Nearly 95% of people I've met who claim Design Thinking experience are terrible at interviewing. Without proper qualitative interviews, you can't surface meaningful insights, leading to subpar outcomes - sometimes detrimental to the company even.

⛔ It's like my driver who bribed his way to get his driving license without attending an official test.

The inevitable outcome?

👎 Someone's bound to get hurt—much like how this rushed approach has jeopardized the integrity of Design Thinking.

➢ This is why Design Thinking often gets a bad rap.

☠️🔪 So here's the reality check: We've killed Design Thinking. 🩸

The three-days Design Thinking Training workshops, followed by the false belief that anyone can master it in the short 3 days, have led many astray.

🧐 It's time to rethink how we teach and practice Design Thinking.

📉 Are we genuinely equipping people with the necessary skills or setting them up for failure? Let's aim for deeper understanding and true mastery, not just surface-level knowledge.

👍 Like and 🔄 Repost to spread awareness. Please do share your thoughts or experiences.

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[About the Author]

Jentz has a deep background in innovation and design across Europe and Malaysia. Committed to enhancing design practices, Jentz aims to help position Malaysia as a hub for creative and impactful solutions. Join him in exploring the potential of design thinking to tackle immediate challenges and inspire transformative change and innovation.