Empathize with your users
Design
DesignThinking
What is Design Thinking
Design thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user’s pain, analyze challenge, and redefine problems in order to create new strategies and solutions.
As design thinking allows non-designers to use creative tools to address a vast range of challenges, it has been yielding exceptionally positive outcomes. Additionally, this process has been spreading due to the success of its wide range of application in technology, business, government, education, or non-profit.
Five steps that can be repeated in as many ways as needed form the design thinking process. Empathize, define the problem, ideate, prototype – which can also be creating an actionable plan -, test the idea/solution then seek feedback from others.
In simple terms, design thinking is problem-solving at an advantage.
Why is it important
The Design Thinking process provides accurate and meaningful results giving you an important competitive advantage. This customer-centered approach has helped numerous entrepreneurs and engineers develop successful innovative solutions for new products and businesses in the past 2 decades.
Apple, P&G and IBM, to name a few, apply this process beyond their products, it sits at the core of their strategy development and organisational success. It is being used to pull in efficiency, make optimal use of resources, and convert business models to more sustainable practices for the future.
IN NUMBERS
The Design Value Index measured the performance of design-driven, publicly traded companies against the larger Stock market. The results showed that design-led companies have outperformed the S&P 500 in more than 200 % in 10 years.
The human centered approach to achieving innovative solutions.
The human centered approach to achieving innovative solutions.

Design Thinking
Benefits
Design thinking is a process that spurs growth by allowing you to
Speed up innovation.
Give your company a competitive advantage.
Provide a better customer experience.
Have more satisfied customers.
Enjoy a high ROI.

Design Thinking
Benefits
Design thinking is a process that spurs growth by allowing you to
Speed up innovation.
Give your company a competitive advantage.
Provide a better customer experience.
Have more satisfied customers.
Enjoy a high ROI.
TheWorkshops
This workshop aims to show you how to apply mindsets and techniques from human-centered design — like empathy, prototyping, and creativity — in order to communicate in ways that engage, promote understanding and open mindedness to reach innovative solutions that actually work.
This workshop is available for individuals and organisations in two levels.
Design Thinking Fundamentals
Advanced Design Thinking
Details
Who is for
Anyone responsible for driving innovation, growth, as well as improving the customer experience should attend. Past participants included
- Product Manager, Marketing Manager
- R&DManager, and Product Head
- UX Designer, Design Engineer, Art Director
- C-Suite executives including CEO, COO, MD
- Founder, President, Chief Strategy Officer
- Innovation and Growth Consultants
Key Features
The Design Thinking workshop will cover topics such as
- The concepts that drive design thinking
- Concept development phase in design planning and analysis
- Translating customer needs into measurable specifications
- Problem decomposition techniques and solution concepts
- Brainstorming principles and their efficacy in creative thinking
- Prototyping strategy & Rapid prototyping and virtual prototyping
- Service cycle experience map
- Product vs. service systems
- Implications of product architecture on the design process selection
- Types of development processes – staged, spiral, and agile methodologies
Outcome
At the end of the workshop you will be able to
Understand the design thinking process
Identify and evaluate opportunities through customer needs analysis
Create desirable, feasible, and viable solutions based on customer needs
Generate and assess new product and service concepts through applied creativity
Implement a proven method for planning and executing a prototype
Design products and services with sustainability in mind
Plan and manage innovation projects effectively
TheWorkshops
This workshop aims to show you how to apply mindsets and techniques from human-centered design — like empathy, prototyping, and creativity — in order to communicate in ways that engage, promote understanding and open mindedness to reach innovative solutions that actually work.
This workshop is available for individuals and organisations in two levels.
Design Thinking Fundamentals
Advanced Design Thinking
Details
Who is for
Anyone responsible for driving innovation, growth, as well as improving the customer experience should attend. Past participants included
- Product Manager, Marketing Manager
- R&DManager, and Product Head
- UX Designer, Design Engineer, Art Director
- C-Suite executives including CEO, COO, MD
- Founder, President, Chief Strategy Officer
- Innovation and Growth Consultants
Key Features
The Design Thinking workshop will cover topics such as
- The concepts that drive design thinking
- Concept development phase in design planning and analysis
- Translating customer needs into measurable specifications
- Problem decomposition techniques and solution concepts
- Brainstorming principles and their efficacy in creative thinking
- Prototyping strategy & Rapid prototyping and virtual prototyping
- Service cycle experience map
- Product vs. service systems
- Implications of product architecture on the design process selection
- Types of development processes – staged, spiral, and agile methodologies
Outcome
At the end of the workshop you will be able to
Understand the design thinking process
Identify and evaluate opportunities through customer needs analysis
Create desirable, feasible, and viable solutions based on customer needs
Generate and assess new product and service concepts through applied creativity
Implement a proven method for planning and executing a prototype
Design products and services with sustainability in mind
Plan and manage innovation projects effectively
How does it work?
Although presented as linear steps, the phases of design thinking are in reality repeated in different sequences that can be adapted to suit specific challenges.
The Framework
Empathise
Define
Define your users’ needs, their problem, and your insights
Ideate
Ideate by challenging assumptions and creating ideas for innovative solutions
Prototype
Prototype to start creating solutions
Test solutions
Test the solutions to check their validity and efficiency
How does it work?
The phases of design thinking are presented as linear steps, but in practice, the process is not always linear— it can be repeated in different sequences that can be adapted to suit specific challenges.
The Framework
Empathise
Empathize with your users
Define
Define your users’ needs, their problem, and your insights
Define
Ideate
Ideate by challenging assumptions and creating ideas for innovative solutions
Prototype
Prototype to start creating solutions
Prototype
Test solutions
Test the solutions to check their validity and efficiency
TheProcess
This process allows me to understand your expectations and challenges. Identifying your needs enables me to tailor the workshop around your strengths and shortcomings, arming you with the right tools to address future challenges.
Pre-training
Design Thinking training starts with an introductory meeting to define, align, and prioritize your needs and objectives.
Pre-course surveys will be sent to identify learning gaps and understand the mindset of the different members of your team. The surveys and brief would help us decide on the best training format – Live, online or hybrid training sessions, workshop or bootcamp. Once the format is decided, I will design courses relevant to your business challenges and context.
Throughout the Training
The first session kicks off with a clear outline of the training intentions and its desired outcomes.
You will test your learning curve with relevant practical exercises designed to improve and refine the skills highlighted in the brief.
Quickly address any information gap identified during the course and not covered in the brief, if it’s necessary to the learning process.
Throughout the course, you will create an action plan to help you employ the course strategies in real life.
Follow Up
Post-course surveys will be handed out to measure your progress.
You will be provided with the course workbook and exercise handouts to support post-course learning.
TheProcess
This process allows me to understand your expectations and challenges. Identifying your needs enables me to tailor the workshop around your strengths and shortcomings, arming you with the right tools to address future challenges.
Pre-training
Design Thinking training starts with an introductory meeting to define, align, and prioritize your needs and objectives.
Pre-course surveys will be sent to identify learning gaps and understand the mindset of the different members of your team. The surveys and brief would help us decide on the best training format – Live, online or hybrid training sessions, workshop or bootcamp. Once the format is decided, I will design courses relevant to your business challenges and context.
Throughout the Training
The first session kicks off with a clear outline of the training intentions and its desired outcomes.
You will test your learning curve with relevant practical exercises designed to improve and refine the skills highlighted in the brief.
Quickly address any information gap identified during the course and not covered in the brief, if it’s necessary to the learning process.
Throughout the course, you will create an action plan to help you employ the course strategies in real life.
Follow Up
Post-course surveys will be handed out to measure your progress.
You will be provided with the course workbook and exercise handouts to support post-course learning.
Practical & Applicable
The content of the training is based on the most reliable theories and innovative cognitive science discoveries. Nonetheless my own, as well as others’ experience, is the foundation of the activities with which we explore the theories and techniques discussed.
Arabic & English
I deliver all my training in Arabic or English. The choice is yours and is usually based on the organization’s language for team training. As a Business Anchor and communication professor, I’m always up to date on all business and media terminology in both languages.
Flexible Format
You can choose between training sessions, workshops or bootcamps that can be delivered live, online or via a hybrid format. If the desired format doesn’t meet the objectives set by the brief, you will be advised of the most fitting one for your needs.
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Your trainer
Maya Hojeij
Maya Hojeij is a Tv business anchor / host, moderator & MC as well as an adjunct professor of communication in AUD. With 20+ years in television, Maya is one of the first stock watchers on Arab TV, making her one of the most competent and credible media trainers in the ME. This is further enhanced by her academic love and her commitment to nurturing and developing the talents of the Arab youth, enabling them to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Your trainer
Maya Hojeij
Maya Hojeij is a Tv business anchor / host, moderator & MC as well as an adjunct professor of communication in AUD. With 20+ years in television, Maya is one of the first stock watchers on Arab TV, making her one of the most competent and credible media trainers in the ME. This is further enhanced by her academic love and her commitment to nurturing and developing the talents of the Arab youth, enabling them to become the leaders of tomorrow.