Five transformational modules
Over the course of four months, participants will take part in five course modules that encourage different modes of thinking and doing. Modules will be led by dedicated design practitioners, making up the course faculty. Each module takes three weeks to complete, including preparation material, workshop participation and engagement, journal progress and assignment submission.
Online Delivery
The program is designed exclusively for online delivery and engagement. As our world continues to shift and parameters are redefined, the program may evolve to include blended course material and interaction. For the here and now, an online delivery adheres to the original intention of the program: to increase capability and connectedness among our innovation leaders of industry.
Module 1 - Personal Manifesto
Think and act like a designer. Fellows build their personal manifesto - their bold vision for the change they want to see in the world that will form the gateway to all subsequent modules. After looking inwards they portal out and seek to understand the context of the world around them to refine their point-of-view. They will learn to master the art of observation and questioning, challenging their assumptions and positions.
Module 2 - Ideation and Creative Performance
Starting the creative engines! Fellows are brought into a virtual environment to master ideation, where they will learn about the conditions that create good ideas and learn to shape options anchored to their vision and ambition. This module will explore the human attributes of creative performance and the science behind strategic conversations designed to support ideation.
Module Three - Prototyping the Future
Free up space for deeper thinking. Ideas are stepping-stones, not solutions. On paper, ideas are only as good as the ink they are written. In reality, ideas shape experience, behaviour and create impact. To get there, Fellows will learn how to ‘master prototyping’ and how to crash test their ideas by making them tangible, be it digital or physical. Here they will learn what works and what needs work. This means solving new and unforeseen challenges and communicating the future through storytelling.
Module Four - Beyond Truth
Validation is key to learning if your purpose, project or idea will have the impact you intend it to. Fellows will explore the facts (objective) and the feelings (subjective) that underpin their project and learn the necessity of failure - to kill your darlings! Mastering the science of falsifying not verifying your assumptions is key to the ‘pivot or persevere’ challenge. Fellows will dare to step up.
Module Five - Embed a culture of design
Desire fuels action - you have to ‘want’ to change to do so. Fellows will explore a new way of working and how to embed a culture of design within their organisation, demystifying design by implementing their game-plan without losing their centre of gravity.
Graduation
Future leaders are designers! To graduate from the program and be admitted as a Design Pioneer Fellow, each participant will have to make their case and defend their position before a panel of fellows and their peers - this includes faculty, organisation members, friends and family.
Be guided by esteemed faculty and mentors
Don’t go it alone. Join the fellowship - a network of bold creatives and disciplined leaders who bring their own experiences and expertise to the table. Share in the learnings of those who have gone before you and be mentored by peers within your industry or another.