Level Up↑ Academy #1
#1 DESIGN THINKING
Date: 24 – 26th October
Duration: 3 day session from 09:00 am to 12:30 pm and 01:30 pm to 05:30 pm.
Number of participants: 16-20
Lectures: Kristina Ritter, Eduard von Borries
Over three days, participants will explore the full arc of the Design Thinking process while building the mindset that powers it—openness, curiosity, playful creativity, and the courage to test bold ideas without fear of failure. They will gain hands-on experience with user research, ideation techniques, prototyping, and testing, and discover how these tools can make problem-solving more human-centered, collaborative, and effective.
The workshop will take place in Prague, a city rich in history and cultural diversity, yet facing the pressing question of how to preserve its creative and alternative spaces in the face of urban change. As their main challenge, participants will reimagine the role of these spaces in the city’s future —while also having the opportunity to address other challenges that matter to them. Working in diverse teams, they will craft visions, engage with stakeholders, and prototype concepts.
Facilitation will be led by Kristina Ritter, Product Manager and Design Thinking Facilitator, and Eduard von Borries, Sociologist and Facilitator. Both are alumni of the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking, a leading global institution in collaboration with Stanford University. Together, they bring a blend of strategic thinking, social insight, and creative facilitation to guide participants through an intensive, high-energy learning experience.
- Day 1: Hello – Understand – Observe
The first day introduces participants to the workshop space, the Design Thinking mindset, and the initial phases of the process. The focus is on framing the challenge, building a shared understanding, and gathering insights through observation and research. - Day 2: Synthezise – Ideate – Prototype
On the second day, participants will bring together their findings from the Observe phase to clearly define the challenge at hand. That is the midpoint of the 6 Phase Design Thinking Process. They will then enter a divergent phase of creative ideation, generating a wide range of potential solutions. Finally, each team will select one promising concept and transform it into their first tangible prototype, ready for feedback and iteration. - Day 3: Test – Iterate – Present
The day begins with an introduction to the Test phase and its role in the Design Thinking process. Unlike traditional, linear development processes, prototypes are tested early and repeatedly in short, iterative cycles to validate ideas and uncover potential weaknesses.
Price: 180 EUR, 4.500 CZK
What is included: 3 days’ workshop, lunch, technical equipment
