Program Overview

Introduction to Futures-thinking for Creative Businesses

The Futures-thinking for creative businesses program is designed to teach a design-thinking approach to creative problem-solving, focusing on innovation, building capacity, and generating new perspectives and big ideas. This course goes beyond design and futures-thinking, integrating systems-thinking to help participants identify the causes of problems and create solutions for tomorrow.

Program Details

• 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

What You'll Study

By the end of the course, participants will have a valuable understanding of the importance of taking a holistic approach to design-thinking, futures-thinking, and systems-thinking. The course covers:

• 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 to frame the challenge, look back to look forward, and make sense from data to produce customer insights
• Framing the problem: building a clearer picture of the challenge and reframing it to ensure focus
• Develop and deliver: exploring different ways of answering the challenge, experiencing various idea generation techniques, and getting started with prototyping and testing early-stage concepts
• Bridging learnings and practice: reflecting and experimenting with new ways of working within design practice

How You're Taught

The course combines lectures, discussions, and informal learning spaces for exploration, discussion, critique, and shared learning. Slides, templates, and workbooks will be available for download after the course.

Tutor Profile

Yvonne Richardson is a creativity strategist and educator with over 20 years of innovation experience. She has a background in psychology, strategic marketing, and brand-building, and is currently a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University in the School of Art and Design.

Careers and Employability

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible. This digital credential is secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud, and can be shared seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online.

Campus and Facilities

The course is based in the Nottingham School of Art and Design on the City Campus. Participants will have access to the library, study spaces, IT facilities, and learning resources.

Entry Requirements

• Level: Intermediate / Professional
• Entry requirement: Experience of working in a creative environment, but no formal qualifications in design are required.
• Age requirement: Participants must be over the age of 18.

Fees and Funding

• Course fee: ｣495
• Payment terms: Payment is due at the time of booking, with the option to secure a place with a ｣200 deposit if booking more than two months in advance.