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Description

Design Thinking and AI: Exploring Needs, Ideating and Prototyping New Uses

One day to treat AI as raw material for innovation rather than as a solution in search of a problem

  • 1 day — 7 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Innovation workshops often run into the same pitfall: the tool is chosen before the need. Teams start from an available technology, look for somewhere to place it, and the prototype impresses in a demonstration without ever finding a user. Conversely, teams fluent in design thinking often have little sense of what these tools now make possible.

These 7 hours bring the two approaches together. Each participant runs a complete cycle on a reduced scale: understanding real usage, reframing the problem, generating ideas with the support of generative tools, then building a mock-up and testing a concept with representative users.

Learning objectives

  • Run an exploration phase grounded in observed user behaviour
  • Reframe a problem before considering any technical solution
  • Generate and filter ideas with the support of generative tools
  • Build a mock-up robust enough for user testing
  • Organise a test and draw a go or no-go decision from it

What makes this programme different

A complete cycle covered in one day on a topic brought by the group
Mock-ups produced in session and then put in front of users
An idea-screening grid based on user value and feasibility

Programme

1Exploring and Reframing

Starting from usage rather than from the tool

  • Collecting observed pain points and workarounds
  • Synthesising interviews and spotting weak signals
  • Framing the problem as an open question
  • User profiles and summarised journeys

2Ideating with Generative Tools

Widen the field, then filter

  • Assisted generation of divergent ideas
  • Combining constraints to force originality
  • Screening on user value and feasibility
  • Identifying appealing ideas that have no user
  • Articulating the selected concept

3Prototyping and Testing

Making the idea tangible

  • Rapid mock-ups: copy, screens and scenarios
  • Generating content and visuals for the mock-up
  • Test protocol with users
  • Capturing reactions and gaps against the original intent
  • Go or no-go decision

Who is it for

Innovation managers · product managers · designers and facilitators of design workshops.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with design thinking principles or practical experience in facilitating workshops.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.