What to Prepare Before a Design Thinking Course in Singapore: A Practical Starter Guide
Attending a Design Thinking course can be a useful way to develop problem-solving, creativity and innovation skills. But getting the most out of the experience begins before entering the classroom.
Many professionals attend training hoping to find better ways to address workplace challenges. However, identifying a relevant problem, understanding its context and recognising what remains unknown can make the learning experience more meaningful.
Whether you are new to Design Thinking or exploring a WSQ Design Thinking certification in Singapore, a little preparation can help you connect the techniques you learn with situations you encounter at work.
Why Prepare Before a Design Thinking Course?
Design Thinking is a human-centred approach to problem-solving that emphasises understanding people, challenging assumptions and developing solutions through experimentation.
The Design Council's Double Diamond framework illustrates this principle by encouraging teams to explore and define a problem before developing and testing possible solutions.
Unlike training focused primarily on acquiring technical information, Design Thinking benefits from curiosity, observation and a willingness to question existing practices.
You do not need prior design experience or a completed project to begin learning. However, reflecting on a real challenge beforehand can make it easier to recognise where the methodology could be useful. The following preparation activities are optional suggestions, not formal prerequisites for a Design Thinking certification.
1. Bring a Problem, Not a Predetermined Solution
A common mistake in problem-solving is assuming that the first proposed solution addresses the underlying issue. Imagine a customer service team receiving repeated enquiries about appointment changes. Their initial response might be to introduce an AI chatbot.
However, further investigation could reveal that customers cannot easily find accurate rescheduling information, or that different communication channels provide inconsistent instructions. The challenge is therefore not necessarily the absence of a chatbot.
Before attending a Design Thinking course, identify one situation where people repeatedly experience difficulties. Describe what is happening without immediately deciding how it should be fixed.
For example, instead of stating, "We need to automate customer service," begin with, "Customers frequently contact our team because they struggle to find the information needed to reschedule appointments."
This creates room to explore different explanations and possible solutions.
2. Identify Who Experiences the Problem
A business problem often affects several groups of people, each with different needs and expectations. An inefficient approval process, for example, may frustrate employees submitting requests, managers reviewing them and customers waiting for outcomes.
Before training, consider who experiences the issue directly and how it affects their activities.
You might recall specific customer complaints, observe where colleagues encounter difficulties or identify recurring questions that employees struggle to answer.
Distinguish what you have actually observed from what you believe might be happening. A complaint is evidence that someone experienced a problem, but it does not necessarily explain the underlying cause.
This distinction is central to human-centred research. Stanford University's d.school Design Project Guide also highlights the value of exploring problems where understanding people and identifying the right opportunity are essential.
3. Gather Useful Context Without Overcomplicating It
You do not need to conduct an extensive research project before attending a course.
Instead, gather a small amount of relevant information that can help you explain the situation clearly. For example, a professional working on appointment scheduling might bring anonymised examples of repeated enquiries, a simple overview of the current process and observations about where delays occur.
This information provides a starting point for exploring the challenge during learning activities, where permitted by the course. Avoid bringing confidential documents, identifiable customer information or sensitive business records without appropriate authorisation. Where possible, use anonymised information or a fictional scenario based on the general nature of the problem.
The purpose is not to arrive with a fully validated research conclusion. It is to understand enough context to ask better questions.
4. Be Prepared to Challenge Your Assumptions
Design Thinking requires more than generating creative ideas. It involves being willing to reconsider what you believe about a problem. For example, a manager may assume employees avoid using a new digital system because they dislike change. However, conversations with employees might reveal that the system increases administrative work or does not support essential tasks.
Both explanations suggest very different responses. A useful preparation exercise is to write down what you currently believe about your chosen problem, what evidence supports those beliefs and what you still need to investigate.
During training, these assumptions can become starting points for discussion, research exercises and problem reframing. The aim is not to prove that your original understanding was correct, but to become more comfortable updating your perspective when new information emerges.
5. Know What You Want to Learn
Different professionals attend Design Thinking training for different reasons. A business owner may want to understand customers more effectively, while a project manager may be interested in facilitating collaborative problem-solving. Someone working in digital transformation might want to evaluate ideas before investing in new technology.
Having a personal learning objective helps you recognise which activities and techniques are most relevant to your work. Rather than setting a vague goal such as "become more innovative," identify a capability you want to strengthen.
For example, you might want to learn how to conduct better user interviews, frame ambiguous problems, facilitate idea generation or test an early concept. You can then ask the trainer how the course activities relate to that objective.
What Should You Expect From a Design Thinking Course?
Course structures vary between training providers, but Design Thinking programmes commonly introduce activities involving user understanding, problem definition, ideation, prototyping and testing.
At Emerge Creatives, the WSQ Advanced AI Design Thinking programme is structured around these five phases, with AI-supported methods integrated into selected activities.
The published curriculum includes customer interviews, empathy mapping, problem statements, idea evaluation, prototyping and user testing.
Training activities may use prepared exercises or group scenarios, so learners should check with their provider before assuming they can use a specific workplace project throughout the programme.
For WSQ courses, participants should also confirm the applicable attendance, assessment and certification requirements directly with the provider.
The most useful mindset is to approach training as an opportunity to practise unfamiliar methods, receive feedback and explore alternative ways of thinking.
A Simple Preparation Checklist
Before attending your first Design Thinking course, consider these five questions:
What is one workplace challenge I would like to understand better?
Who experiences this problem, and what have I actually observed?
What information can I discuss without breaching confidentiality?
Which assumptions might I need to reconsider?
What specific problem-solving capability do I want to develop?
You do not need complete answers. These questions are intended to help you arrive with a clearer learning purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need design experience before joining a Design Thinking course?
Not necessarily. Many introductory Design Thinking courses are designed for professionals from different backgrounds. However, prerequisites vary, so check the entry requirements of the specific programme before registering.
Can I use my own workplace problem during training?
It depends on the provider and course structure. Some programmes include opportunities to discuss workplace challenges, while others use predetermined exercises or group projects. Confirm with your trainer and avoid sharing confidential business information without authorisation.
Is preparation compulsory for WSQ Design Thinking certification?
Not as a general requirement. Any mandatory preparation, attendance or assessment conditions depend on the specific course. The preparation activities in this article are suggestions intended to support learning, not official WSQ requirements.
Conclusion: Better Preparation Starts With Curiosity
Getting ready for a Design Thinking course does not mean memorising frameworks or arriving with an impressive business idea.
It means becoming more aware of the problems around you, recognising the people affected and being willing to question your initial assumptions.
By bringing curiosity, relevant observations and a clear learning objective, professionals can connect classroom activities with the real challenges they hope to address.
You do not need to know the solution before attending a Design Thinking course. Understanding what you want to explore is already a valuable starting point.
Last Words
I will be adding more articles on Design Thinking, Strategy and Innovation throughout the year. Articles of these 5 Step Action Plan and Modern Soft Skills will be added periodically to give my readers a broader insights to how to crush complex problems, overcome future challenges and spot AI opportunities.
Check out more articles via my blog: https://www.emerge-creatives.com/blog-1
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About the Author
Daniel Ling is a regional ex-Design Leader turned educator, and business owner of Emerge Creatives, an registered SSG training provider (RTP) to deliver modern soft skills to professionals through Design Thinking, Business Strategy, and AI Innovation.
With over 15 years of experience in the financial and e-commerce tech industries- including key leadership roles at Lazada, NTUC Income, OCBC, and DBS- Daniel has led cross-regional design teams, built design functions from the ground up, and spearheaded large-scale transformation initiatives. But beyond industry success,
Daniel has reinvented himself as a “designer in a business suit”- equally fluent in creative strategy and commercial impact.
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