This 6-week HCD bootcamp provides three big bangs for your buck:

Training bang: Get to learn HCD mindsets and skills from a highly experienced practitioner.
Project bang: Get to apply HCD theory to your own live project (don’t worry if you don’t have one, we can create a brief for you).
Coaching bang: Get support and expert coaching as you go.

Join the session as an individual, or with a few of your team. If there are more of you, reach out and let’s talk about running it in-house for your team.

How it works

Participants bring a real challenge or opportunity to explore using HCD. Each week introduces key mindsets and methods aligned to the end-to-end design process.

Between sessions, participants apply what they learn directly to their project.

Coaching is available each week to support progress, unblock issues, and go deeper.

Week 1: HCD foundations

We will cover:

HCD mindsets: curiosity, empathy, openness to learning
Double diamond & iterative design cycles
Case studies
Real project selection & planning
Planning your project to the design process
Recruiting research participants

Between Weeks 1 and 2 we expect you to recruit some research participants.

Week 2: Discovery

We will cover:

Key mindsets: listening deeply, seeing context, avoiding assumptions
Qualitative research methods
Other discovery activities
Creating a research plan and discussion guide

Between Weeks 2 and 3 we expect you to conduct some research activities. The coaching can be to help with preparation or to observe and give feedback on your research.

Week 3: Define

We will cover:

Analysis and synthesis techniques
Methods for sharing insights (such as journey maps, insights reports and personas)
Problem/opportunity framing

Between Weeks 3 and 4 we expect you to do analysis and synthesis on your research data.

Week 4: Develop

We will cover:

Idea generation techniques and practical activity
Documenting concepts for prototyping

Between Weeks 4 and 5 you can run your own idea generation workshops.

Week 5: Deliver

We will cover:

Early stage conceptual prototyping
More detailed prototyping
Practical low-fidelity prototyping activities
Preparing for prototyping

Between Weeks 5 and 6 we expect you to conduct some prototyping activities.

Week 6: Documentation and showcases

We will cover:

Ways of documenting and using deliverables
Applying HCD beyond the bootcamp
Reflections and showcases

Delivery

6 x small group sessions – (~2hrs/week)

Option for weekly 1:1 or group coaching session (30mins/wk)

About the facilitator

The HCD bootcamp is facilitated by Iain Barker, a highly experienced practitioner with 30 years experience shaping and conducting customer research.

Why learn from Iain?

Iain was a co-founder of Meld Studios, a much lauded strategic design firm who were in 2022 awarded Design Team of the Year by the Good Design Awards.

Iain has 30 years experience working with public and private sector organisations in both Australia and the UK.

What attendees said about our recent workshops

"I loved this 3 day workshop!"
"Inspired me to think more holistically about using HCD principles and techniques. I feel confident I can influence and create change."

"Thanks for a fun and informative introduction to Human Centered Design. Great facilitation and group activities. I really enjoyed the 3 day course."

"So great to see/hear work with optimism and creativity having such meaningful impact in what can otherwise be dry business/gov strategies. Definitely received so many answered to roadblocks in our current customer focus and cultural change. Thank you."

"This is the only service design course I know of that addresses the intersection between tools, socialisation and organisation/of project activities. You nailed it."

"When asked “is there anything from the past 3 days that you think you could apply to your work?” …… I am struggling to think of anything that I won’t apply to work!"

Cancellation

Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. You can also transfer your registration to a colleague.