Futures-thinking for creative businesses
- Level(s) of Study: Short course; Professional
- Course Fee:
£495
- Start Date(s): Future dates to be confirmed
- Duration: Fridays 9.30 am - 4 .30 pm, two days
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
Future dates to be confirmed, email us to join our waitlist.
Problem-solving and futures-thinking is integral to the creative industries.
It goes beyond what makes good design and is about innovation, building capacity and generating new perspectives and big ideas.
Within the complexities of today’s fast-changing world with disruption around every corner, having the right methodologies and skillset is essential.
This course will therefore teach a design-thinking approach to creative problem-solving towards a future-thinking mindset.
It will help you and your colleagues focus on the most critical factors to design - and save money along the way.
However, this course will go beyond design and futures-thinking and will also integrate systems-thinking, the lens through which you can look at the world, identify the causes of a problem and create solutions for tomorrow.
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This course is for anyone working in a design, creative or research agency, as well as sole-trading creative entrepreneurs. -
It’s for those who are keen to expand their skills in creativity and transform the way they design products, services and communications so that they are guaranteed to be human-centered and future-proof. -
It’ll help you build the essential foundations for delivering effective projects and successful collaborations. -
On successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge.
What you’ll study
By the end of the course, you will have a valuable understanding of the importance of taking a holistic approach to design-thinking, futures-thinking and systems-thinking.
You’ll have a series of tools and processes that you can apply to your own work to increase your creative capabilities.
The blend of theory with pragmatic tools with the emphasis on actionability will ensure your next creative challenge is a success.
- an introduction to design-thinking: futures and system-thinking processes and their role in design
- design thinking meets futures thinking: working on a live challenge you’ll learn to frame the challenge, look back to look forward (key macro and micro trends) and learn how to make sense from data to produce customer insights
- framing the problem: based on insights, you’ll build a clearer picture of the challenge and reframe it to ensure you are focussed
- develop and deliver: you’ll explore different ways of answering your challenge, experience various idea generation techniques and get started with prototyping and testing early-stage concepts
- bridging learnings and practice: there’ll be an opportunity to reflect and experiment with new ways of working within your design practice.
How you’re taught
The course will be a combination of lectures, discussions and informal learning spaces that allow for exploration, discussion, critique and shared learning.
Slides, templates and workbooks will be available to download after the course for future reference.
Careers and employability
Certificate of attendance and digital badge
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by .
Your is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.
They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.
Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the Å·ÃÀ¾ÞÈé School of Art and Design on the City Campus.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Intermediate / Professional
Entry requirement: You should have experience of working in a creative environment, but no formal qualifications in design are required.
You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £495.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
- If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
How to apply
You can book your place via the NTU online store:
Future dates to be confirmed, email us to join our waitlist.
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Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 2813