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Design Thinking College at the German University of Digital Science


Our Vision

At the College of Design Thinking at German UDS, we envision a future where Design Thinking is at the core of digital higher education. Our goal is to develop Design Thinking as a key learning skill for sense-making, intelligence, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving world. We aim to integrate Design Thinking principles across all aspects of education, research, and service, making it an essential tool for mastering digital transformation. By fostering innovation, we seek to redefine the role of higher education in the digital era.

Our Mission

Our mission is to be a hub for cutting-edge research and application of design thinking in higher education and beyond. We strive to:

  • Conduct pioneering research on the principles and practices of Design Thinking.
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration at German UDS.
  • Provide students and faculty with an innovative and inspiring learning experience.
  • Develop new educational and training formats tailored for diverse cultural and organizational settings.
  • Create and sustain a vibrant online Design Thinking community.
  • Promote openness and collaboration as core values in digital education.
  • Leverage Design Thinking for solving complex societal and business challenges.

Why Design Thinking?

Digital transformation is not just about technology—it encompasses social, institutional, and cultural dimensions. Design Thinking helps us to key into these dimensions by fostering radical innovation as well as balancing analytical and creative thinking to drive transformation. Through collaboration and openness, we aim to empower students, faculty, and organizations to navigate digital change effectively.

Who We Serve

We engage a broad community of internal and external stakeholders, including:

  • Students: Offering engaging, supportive, and interactive learning experiences.
  • Faculty & Staff: Providing tools for interdisciplinary cooperation and career growth.
  • Management: Enabling strategic decision-making through Design Thinking insights.
  • External Partners: Supporting businesses, regulators, and funding bodies with Design Thinking-driven solutions.

Our Focus Areas

  • Design Thinking in Research: Advancing foundational and applied Design Thinking knowledge.
  • Design Thinking in Education: Creating innovative Design Thinking curricula and learning tools.
  • Design Thinking in Organizations: Supporting organisational transformation with digital co-creation and coaching resources.

Join us in shaping the future of education and innovation through design thinking!


ACTIVITIES

Design Thinking Tea & Project Colloquium (2025+)

Instructors: Julia von Thienen & Steven Ney
Schedule: Biweekly on Fridays, 4:00 – 6:00 pm CET (first session: May 16, 2025)
Duration: Year-round (across all four academic terms)
Format: Colloquium/Workshop
Modality: Flexible
Enrollment: Open to research staff and postgraduates (Master/PhD) working on design
thinking projects or related innovation initiatives

How to Join: Please contact the instructors to receive invites and updates.

This biweekly colloquium provides a collaborative space for hands-on project work and in-depth discussions in a collegial atmosphere. It is designed to support the advancement of ongoing projects at the post-graduate or research group level, particularly those with a focus on design thinking.

Each session begins with a brief update on all members’ current topics, but the main emphasis is a deep dive into the immediate objectives of one or two participants. These individuals present their projects, and the group contributes their minds and hands to move these efforts forward – doing whatever is needed to support progress. Activities may include joint prototyping or testing, problem-solving, data analysis, assembling test batteries, practicing presentations, or addressing other timely challenges – accompanied by good coffee, tea, and snacks.

The colloquium is designed to be fully flexible across digital and analogue contexts. Whether it takes place in real-life settings – such as cafés, retreat environments, or co-working spaces – or leverages exciting digital environments such as Extended Reality spaces, the format encourages inquiry and lively debate. Reflections on how different environments influence community building dynamics and project outcomes are explored as accompanying research questions.

The colloquium is hosted across design-thinking-oriented research groups, organized by Julia von Thienen and Steven Ney as a cross-group initiative of the College for Design Thinking. It aims to support research and complex projects that extend beyond the scope of individual terms or courses.