Do you want to enhance your problem-solving skills and learn how to innovate? Then consider a design thinking certification.
Design thinking is incredibly valuable in today’s workplace. It equips us to tackle complex challenges, come up with novel ideas, and develop innovative, user-tested solutions with a high chance of success.
Unsurprisingly, many of the world’s most successful brands are built on a design thinking culture—including IBM, Google, Airbnb, and Nike.
Whether you want to enhance your company culture, boost your own employability, or simply get better at your job, a design thinking certification is a great investment in 2025 and beyond. Keep reading for practical advice on how to obtain a design thinking certification—as well as the best course providers to consider.
- What is a design thinking certification?
- Is a design thinking certification worth it?
- Who should consider a design thinking certification?
- The 10 best design thinking certification courses in 2025
- How to choose a design thinking certification
Let’s begin!
What is a design thinking certification?
Design thinking is all about solving problems in a user-centric way. It’s both a mindset and a methodology that emphasises empathy, collaboration, and iterative prototyping to come up with innovative solutions.
When implemented correctly, design thinking can help you tackle all kinds of complex challenges. As such, it’s popular not only among designers but also among entrepreneurs, leaders, and indeed anyone who needs to solve tricky problems.
A design thinking certification is a formal qualification in design thinking, obtained through a dedicated course or program. You can expect to learn the fundamental principles of design thinking (such as empathy and user-centricity), the end-to-end design thinking process, and the various tools and methodologies used at each stage.
There are several different schools and institutions that offer design thinking certifications and they all vary in terms of how they teach and assess design thinking skills. We’ll compare some of the best design thinking certifications later on in this post. First, let’s consider why you might want a design thinking certification in the first place.
Is a design thinking certification worth it?
A design thinking certification can be incredibly valuable—especially if you work in a field that requires creative problem-solving, innovation, and user-centricity. A design thinking certification will equip you with practical skills and tools-related knowledge you can apply to many different challenges, allowing you to lead, problem-solve, and innovate with confidence.
A design thinking certification will:
- Teach you valuable skills, tools, and methodologies that can be applied to almost any profession
- Demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and development—an impressive quality that may help you stand out in the job market
- Provide opportunities to network and connect with fellow learners, industry experts, and professionals in your current field
Of course, a design thinking certification alone isn’t an automatic ticket to success. It’s up to you to make the most of your chosen course and to seek real-world opportunities to apply and develop your design thinking skills.
Still, with expert instruction and a structured curriculum, a design thinking certification is an excellent place to start if you want to become a better, more user-centric problem-solver and innovator.
Who should consider a design thinking certification?
Design thinking isn’t just for designers; it’s beneficial for a whole host of professions and industries. Anyone who wants to improve their problem-solving skills, foster a more innovative team or company culture, and learn how to prioritise the end user in business decisions can make use of design thinking. This includes:
- Designers and creatives—including UX designers, UI designers, graphic designers, product designers, content designers, and service designers
- Entrepreneurs and start-up founders
- CEOs, business leaders, and managers
- Product owners and product managers
- Marketing, branding, and customer service professionals
Ultimately, if you want to bring a more creative, innovative, and empathetic mindset to your work, a design thinking certification can be a great investment.
On that note, let’s compare some of the best design thinking certifications available in 2025.
The 10 best design thinking certification courses in 2025
Provider |
Duration |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
2-3 months, 4 hours/week |
$1,298 |
|
|
6 weeks, 8 hours/week |
$2,300 |
|
|
18 weeks - 1 year |
Starting at INR 70,000 + GST |
|
|
5+ months, 4 hours/week |
$1,697 |
|
|
7 weeks, 6-8 hours/week |
$1,750 |
|
|
3 months, 6-8 hours/week |
$3,300 |
|
|
6 months, 5-8 hours/week |
$2,730 |
|
|
12 hours |
€495 |
|
|
6 hours |
$59/month |
|
|
5 weeks, 3 hours/week |
$2,450 |
1. IDEO U Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate
IDEO is an award-winning global design firm that helps companies innovate and problem-solve with design thinking. Through their online school, IDEO U, you can access a variety of courses and certificate programs—including the Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate.
Format and duration:
The Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate is an online cohort-based program that takes 2-3 months to complete at a pace of 4 hours per week.
What you’ll learn:
The program comprises two online courses: “Insights for Innovation” and “From Ideas to Action”. In the former, you’ll learn how to turn customer needs into human-centred solutions. In the latter, you’ll learn how to prototype, experiment, and iterate to move your ideas forward.
You’ll gain techniques to better understand the social, emotional, and physical needs of your customers, learn ideation methods for effective brainstorming, and work on real-world project challenges.
Once you’ve completed both courses, you’ll receive a downloadable certificate of completion.
Price:
The IDEO U Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate costs $1,298 USD.
2. University of Cambridge Online: Creativity, Problem Solving and Design Thinking Certificate
Do you want to boost your creative skills and your confidence? Then consider this Creativity, Problem Solving and Design Thinking Certificate offered by the University of Cambridge Online.
Over the course of 6 weeks, you’ll follow a structured approach to idea generation, exploration, and development. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a strategic leader, or an employee, this program will equip you to tackle all kinds of challenges in the workplace.
Format and duration:
This is an online course comprising a mix of interactive learning, group work, and optional live sessions with expert tutors. The course takes 6 weeks to complete at a pace of 8 hours per week. Upon completion, you’ll gain an official Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge.
What you’ll learn:
The course focuses on the role of creativity in problem-solving. You’ll learn how to articulate the components of creative work and the skills and biases that are involved, how to apply creative processes and tools, and how to manage the application of creative processes and tools by others. Most importantly, you’ll develop confidence in your own creative problem-solving skills.
Price:
The Creativity, Problem Solving and Design Thinking Certificate costs $2,300 USD.
Learn more about the University of Cambridge Online Creativity, Problem Solving and Design Thinking Certificate.
3. AND Academy UX/UI Design Courses
AND Academy is a design upskilling platform launched by the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)—a leading design school in New Delhi, established in collaboration with Kingston School of Art, London.
They teach design thinking as part of their UX/UI programs—a great option if you’re an aspiring designer and want to learn the whole gamut of UI and UX skills, as well as the role that design thinking plays in creating user-friendly products.
Format and duration:
Depending on your goals and availability, AND Academy offers three different options for learning UX/UI design and design thinking:
The UX/UI Certificate—a foundational part-time course that takes 18 weeks to complete, comprising 110+ hours of live sessions
The UX/UI Diploma—a 34-week part-time course comprising 210+ hours of live sessions
The UX/UI PG Diploma—a 1-year advanced program comprising 310+ hours of live sessions
All of AND Academy’s courses are taught via live, interactive online classes with the support of expert practitioners. You’ll complete practical projects, build out your design portfolio, and receive support with finding your first job in the field.
What you’ll learn:
The AND Academy courses will teach you everything you need to get hired as a UX/UI designer—including design thinking. Start with user research, the fundamentals of UX, and visual design, before diving into UX strategy, brand experience design, and the Design Sprint methodology. You’ll graduate with both a design thinking mindset and practical knowledge of essential methods and tools, leaving you ready to problem-solve and innovate in the real world.
Price:
- Certificate in UX UI Design: INR 70,000 + GST (EMI starting at INR 8,075 per month)
- Diploma in UX UI Design: INR 1,20,000 + GST (EMI starting at INR 7,170 per month)
- PG Diploma in UX UI Design: INR 1,80,000 + GST (EMI starting at INR 8,463 per month)
Learn more about AND Academy’s UX UI design courses.
4. IDEO U Advanced Design Thinking Certificate
If you’ve already covered the design thinking basics, deepen your knowledge with the IDEO U Advanced Design Thinking Certificate—a follow-on from the Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate (the first option on our list).
Format and duration:
This is a cohort-based online program. You’ll need around 5 months to complete all courses within the program, at a pace of 4 hours per week.
What you’ll learn:
The IDEO U Advanced Design Thinking Certificate comprises two core courses and an advanced elective. The core courses are Storytelling for Influence, where you’ll learn how to craft a narrative to motivate and inspire, and Unlocking Creativity, which takes you through a series of exercises to overcome common barriers to creativity.
You can then choose from two advanced electives: Designing a Business, or Human-Centred Service Design.
Price:
Altogether, the two core courses plus one advanced elective course comes to $1,697 USD.
Learn more about the IDEO U Advanced Design Thinking Certificate.
5. Harvard Business School Online: Design Thinking and Innovation
Harvard Business School Online offers flexible, online courses on a range of topics spanning marketing, strategy, business essentials, and leadership and management. Among them is the Design Thinking and Innovation course, a 7-week program for innovation managers, entrepreneurs, product managers, developers, and marketers.
Format and duration:
This is an online self-paced course with regular deadlines. The course takes 7 weeks to complete at a pace of 6-8 hours per week.
What you’ll learn:
The course is broken down into 7 modules, all geared towards helping you uncover innovative solutions to your most challenging business problems. You’ll learn how to define user needs and pain-points, how to conduct research, ideation techniques, how to apply research-based personas and behaviour models, and how to develop and communicate your ideas.
Price:
The Design Thinking and Innovation course costs $1,750 USD.
Learn more about the Harvard Business School Online Design Thinking and Innovation course.
6. MIT Sloan Executive Education: Mastering Design Thinking
If you want a design thinking certification from a renowned business school, consider Mastering Design Thinking with MIT Sloan Executive Education. Delivered in partnership with Emeritus, this course is ideal for individuals and teams who want to adopt the powerful practice of design thinking in their organisation.
Format and duration:
This online course takes 3 months to complete at a pace of 6-8 hours per week. You’ll learn through interactive videos, practice quizzes, presentations, assignments, and discussion forums.
What you’ll learn:
By the end of the course, you’ll be well-versed in the design thinking process. You’ll learn how to identify and assess opportunities for innovation, how to create clear product specifications based on customer needs, how to prototype, and how to evaluate the economics of product development. You’ll also learn how to design products with sustainability in mind—a critical topic in today’s climate.
Price:
The MIT Sloan Executive Education course costs $3,300 USD.
Learn more about the MIT Mastering Design Thinking course.
7. Cornell University Design Thinking Certificate Program (Online)
This is a design thinking certification for everyone: UX designers, marketers, product managers, engineers, consultants, systems analysts, and entrepreneurs. With the Design Thinking Certificate Program by Cornell University online, you’ll master a human-centred approach to designing and improving products, experiences, and systems at any scale.
Note that, in order to be successful in the program, you’ll need to be familiar with descriptive statistics visualisation.
Format and duration:
This is an online, instructor-led program that takes 6 months to complete at a pace of 5-8 hours per week.
What you’ll learn:
The Cornell University Design Thinking certification will show you how to apply design thinking in the real world. You’ll start by defining the problem you want to solve, then gather user insights and emotions to craft personas.
You’ll then learn how to generate, prototype, and test your ideas, iterating until you have a viable solution. You’ll come away with practical tools, methodologies, and expertise to implement design thinking in your everyday work.
Price:
The Cornell University design thinking certification costs $2,730 USD.
Learn more about the Cornell University Design Thinking Certificate Program.
8. GrowthTribe Design Thinking Certificate
If you’re looking for a lightweight, beginner-friendly design thinking course, try GrowthTribe’s Design Thinking Certificate. The course is taught by Kevin Hawkins, an award-winning design leader with experience at Booking.com, PwC, EY, and GAP Inc.
Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or product manager, or simply want to improve your problem-solving skills, the GrowthTribe course will equip you to adopt a customer-centric approach and drive innovation.
Format and duration:
The GrowthTribe Design Thinking Certificate is delivered online in a self-paced format. You’ll have access to a variety of learning materials including quizzes, video lessons, and case studies, and you’ll have the opportunity to interact with fellow students and course instructors via the online community. The course takes approximately 12 hours to complete.
What you’ll learn:
Throughout the course, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the entire design thinking process. You’ll learn how to conduct empathy-driven user research and acquire techniques for generating innovative ideas.
You’ll then learn how to create prototypes and test them with real users, covering core concepts such as usability heuristics and visual hierarchy principles. Last but not least, you’ll learn how to effectively communicate your ideas and deliver impactful presentations that inspire action.
Price:
The course costs €495 (approximately $550).
Learn more about GrowthTribe’s Design Thinking Certificate.
9. University of Virginia Design Thinking for Innovation (via Coursera)
If you haven’t already got a Coursera subscription, it might be worth getting one to access the Design Thinking for Innovation course by the University of Virginia.
This beginner-level course is part of a broader specialisation course (Leading the Modern Day Business Specialization). But, if you simply want a short introduction to design thinking, you can take it as a standalone module and earn a shareable digital certificate for LinkedIn.
Format and duration:
The course takes around 6 hours to complete, making it one of the shortest design thinking certifications on our list. You’ll work your way through a series of reading and video materials, at your own pace, and complete a final assignment in order to gain your certificate.
What you’ll learn:
The Design Thinking for Innovation course is broken down into 5 core modules. You’ll start with an introduction to design thinking, learning what design thinking is and why it’s so valuable. You’ll then explore what it means to adopt a design thinking mindset before moving on to idea generation and experimentation.
This isn’t the most comprehensive design thinking course by any means, but it provides a solid starting point if you’re new to the topic and want to dip your toes in.
Price:
The course is available with a Coursera subscription which costs $59 per month.
Learn more about the Design Thinking for Innovation course by the University of Virginia.
10. BrainStation Design Thinking Certification
BrainStation offers a variety of in-person and online courses in areas such as data science, digital marketing, design, and development. Their programs aim to provide practical, industry-relevant training for individuals and organisations.
Among their offerings is the Design Thinking Certification, a hands-on, project-based program taught by industry veterans.
Format and duration:
The BrainStation Design Thinking Certification is delivered online, with classes taking place at set times. You’ll attend 5 weeks of live online classes, with each class spanning 3 hours.
What you’ll learn:
The course comprises three core units: Empathize & Ideate, Prototype & Test, and Crystallize & Pitch. First, you’ll learn how to conduct user research, create user personas, and take part in rapid ideation. You’ll then learn how to create prototypes, gather valuable feedback, and iterate on your solutions. Finally, you’ll learn how to crystallise your solution and pitch it to others in order to gain buy-in.
Price:
The course costs $2,450 USD upfront, or you can pay in instalments.
Learn more about the BrainStation Design Thinking Certification.
How to choose a design thinking certification
We’ve outlined some of the best design thinking certification courses available—but how do you go about choosing one? Here are some practical tips to help you make an informed decision.
Define your learning goals. Before you sign up for a design thinking course, be clear on what you hope to achieve. Are you looking for a lightweight introduction to the topic or a robust program that will transform how you work? This will help you find a program that best aligns with your objectives.
Consider your budget. Some design thinking certification programs cost thousands; others can be accessed for the price of a monthly subscription. Your budget will determine what courses you can realistically consider. Note that many of the more expensive programs offer payment plans, so you may be able to spread the cost over several months.
Weigh up your availability. Consider how much time you can commit to a design thinking certification and how it should fit into your current schedule. Are you willing and able to study full-time, or do you need a more flexible option? Can you attend live lessons at fixed times, or would a self-paced course suit you better?
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few options, be sure to vet the course provider and the curriculum thoroughly. You want to make sure you’re getting good value for money, and that you’ll achieve your desired outcomes. Check reviews and testimonials from past and current students, and request a thorough breakdown of the syllabus if it’s not available online.
Ultimately, it’s important to do your research and be as clued-up as possible before you commit. Getting a design thinking certification should be an enriching and enjoyable experience, so make sure you choose a course that will deliver that for you.
Want to learn more about design and design thinking? Check out these guides:
- A Glossary of 50+ UX/UI Terms All Designers Should Know
- 18 Design Thinking Books Everyone Should Read
- The 10 Best UX Design Courses and Certifications to Consider in 2025
Next Steps To Learn Design Thinking
For those eager to take an active step towards mastering design thinking, we encourage you to consider enrolling in our UX UI Design courses. Our programs are designed to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and hands-on experience necessary to use design thinking to become a proficient UX UI designer.
To dive deeper into the world of UI/UX design itself, consider taking the following steps:
- Watch this session by Shiva Viswanathan, Design Head of Ogilvy Pennywise, and Naman Singh, Product Experience Designer at RED.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our UX UI Design courses - all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
