By the end of the course, you will have a broad understanding of the application of creative approaches, processes and tools, including how to:

• Articulate the components of creative work, and the skills (and biases) that are involved.
• Apply creative processes and tools yourself.
• Manage the application of creative processes and tools by others.
• Develop confidence in your creative skills, and in your ability to improve those skills.
• Represent your own creative skills and experiences, and promote and elicit those of others.

Creativity, Problem Solving, and Design Thinking are interconnected concepts that involve innovative approaches to finding solutions and generating ideas to address complex challenges. Here's a brief explanation of each:

• Creativity: Creativity refers to the ability to think imaginatively and come up with novel ideas, concepts, or solutions. It involves thinking "outside the box" and finding unique ways to approach problems or create new products, services, or artistic expressions.
• Problem Solving: Problem-solving is the process of identifying, analysing, and resolving issues or obstacles in a systematic and effective manner. It involves critical thinking, data analysis, and decision-making to arrive at the best possible solution.
• Design Thinking: Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that focuses on understanding the needs and desires of the end-users. It involves empathising with users, defining problems, brainstorming creative ideas, prototyping solutions, and testing them iteratively to develop innovative and user-friendly products or services.

These three concepts often complement each other and are widely used in various domains, including business, technology, education, product development, marketing, and social innovation. By integrating creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking, individuals and teams can tackle complex challenges and develop innovative solutions that cater to the needs of users and customers effectively.

The scope of Creativity, Problem Solving, and Design Thinking is vast and extends across various domains and industries. These skills are highly valued in today's dynamic and competitive world, where organizations seek innovative solutions and strategic thinkers to address complex challenges. Here are some key aspects of their scope:

• Business and Entrepreneurship: In the business world, creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking are crucial for identifying opportunities, developing innovative products or services, enhancing customer experiences, and staying ahead of the competition.
• Product and Service Development: These skills play a pivotal role in designing user-centric products and services that meet the needs and preferences of consumers. Design thinking helps create intuitive and engaging user experiences.
• Technology and Innovation: In the technology sector, creativity and problem-solving are essential for developing new technologies, improving existing products, and finding efficient solutions to technical issues.
• Marketing and Advertising: Creativity is at the core of crafting compelling marketing campaigns and advertisements that capture the attention of the target audience. Problem-solving helps identify the most effective marketing strategies.
• Education and Training: Creativity and problem-solving skills are vital in educational settings to foster critical thinking and enable students to approach learning from multiple perspectives.
• Social and Community Development: Design thinking and problem-solving can be applied to address societal challenges, such as healthcare, poverty, and environmental issues, with user-focused and impactful solutions.
• Leadership and Management: Leaders who possess creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking abilities can lead their teams effectively, make informed decisions, and drive innovation within their organizations.
• Art and Design: These skills are fundamental in the fields of art and design, enabling artists to produce original and thought-provoking works that inspire and engage audiences.
• Research and Development: In research and development (R&D) settings, creativity and problem-solving are critical for developing breakthrough innovations and pioneering new technologies.
• Personal and Professional Growth: Emphasizing creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking in personal development can lead to improved decision-making, adaptability, and resourcefulness in everyday life and career.

• Articulate the components of creative work, and the skills (and biases) that are involved.
• Apply creative processes and tools yourself.
• Manage the application of creative processes and tools by others.
• Develop confidence in your creative skills, and in your ability to improve those skills.
• Represent your own creative skills and experiences, and promote and elicit those of others.
• Understand the context for creativity within the wider world.
• Use design thinking to evaluate the human components of a given situation.
• Rewrite your own job description to emphasise creativity.
• Evaluate your own creative knowledge and self-efficacy.

Nathan Crilly is Professor of Design at the University of Cambridge. He conducts research into how products, systems and services are designed and developed, focussing on designers’ creativity and users’ experiences. Nathan combines a variety of research approaches in his work, including experimental and qualitative methods of empirical investigation, and scholarly methods for conceptual development. This work is interdisciplinary in nature, connecting ideas, methods and findings from different research traditions. In addition to his individual research, he has collaborated with researchers specialising in engineering, product design, psychology, computer science, complexity science, education, anthropology and philosophy. Nathan is a Fellow of the Design Research Society, and serves on the Editorial Boards for Design Studies and the International Journal of Design Creativity & Innovation. Before joining Cambridge University, Nathan held technical roles in the aerospace, software and consulting industries. He continues to consult on product development and user research issues for multi-national organisations, SMEs and startups. At Cambridge, Nathan has developed and delivered courses focussing on engineering design, user-centred design, systems thinking, creativity, problem solving, sketching, visual representation, and verbal communication. He is an external examiner for the ‘Innovation Design Engineering’ double Masters programme run jointly by Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. Nathan also delivers talks and training internationally on his research topics (e.g. creativity, problem-solving), the research methods he uses (e.g. interview techniques, literature review) and various aspects of research communication (e.g. writing, presenting).

You will benefit from this course, if you are a:

• Early- to mid-career professional
• Work in a non-‘creative’ field
• You manage or deal with people
• Team Lead
• Manager
• Work in a senior role

Our certificated courses reflect the Cambridge experience and values, with low student to tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards. Our learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address global challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration. Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing what is expected of you and how to meet those expectations.

Throughout your online learning experience, you will have access to your course tutor, who will help facilitate your learning and provide you with support and guidance during your studies. You can interact with your tutor through a range of media, such as live sessions, discussion forums, email or canvas messaging.

Each course includes a balance of:

• Interactive learning and real-world application so you can directly apply what you’re learning to your own context.
• Diverse teaching methods to enhance learning outcomes which will be delivered via learning activities such as University of Cambridge academic led videos, quizzes and group work.
• Optional live sessions (1 hour) with University of Cambridge academics and tutors to deepen your understanding of the week's material. These sessions may include an informal Q&A, a short lecture or a breakout activity that builds on the content introduced that week. All sessions are recorded and made available to stream so you can catch up whenever suits you.
• Guided critical thinking via our reflective workbook so you can collect, structure and summarise information and your thoughts as you progress through the course.

A level of spoken and written English sufficient to allow you to participate and succeed in the course (we recommend that you have an English Language level equivalent to an IELTS score of 7.

Evidence your learning with a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge Online on successful completion.

The value of Creativity, Problem Solving, and Design Thinking Certification lies in the recognition and validation of the skills and knowledge acquired in these essential areas. Here are some key benefits of earning such a certification:

• Demonstrated Expertise: A certification showcases your proficiency in creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking methodologies, providing tangible evidence of your abilities to potential employers or clients.
• Career Advancement: Certification enhances your resume and increases your competitiveness in the job market. It can open up new career opportunities and may lead to promotions within your current organisation.
• Industry Recognition: Employers and organisations often value certified professionals as they demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and staying updated with the latest trends and best practices.
• Enhanced Skills: Going through the certification process helps you refine your creativity, problem-solving, and design thinking skills, making you more effective in tackling complex challenges.
• Credibility and Trust: Certification adds credibility to your expertise, instilling trust in employers, clients, and colleagues, as they know you have met specific standards of knowledge and competence.
• Versatility: These skills are applicable across various industries and roles, allowing you to contribute creatively and effectively in diverse contexts.
• Innovative Mindset: The certification fosters an innovative mindset, encouraging you to approach problems and tasks with fresh perspectives and encouraging continuous improvement.
• Team Collaboration: Certified professionals often become effective team members, contributing to collaborative problem-solving and design processes to achieve collective goals.
• Entrepreneurial Success: For entrepreneurs and business owners, certification equips them with valuable skills to innovate, strategise, and design products or services that meet customer needs and stand out in the market.
• Personal Fulfillment: Achieving a certification in these areas can bring a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment, knowing you have acquired valuable skills that can make a positive impact on your career and the organisations you work with.

During your online learning journey, you will have the valuable opportunity to engage with a dedicated course tutor. They will play a crucial role in facilitating your learning and offering support and guidance throughout your studies. You can easily interact with your tutor through various mediums, including live sessions, discussion forums, email, or the canvas messaging system.

• Sufficient internet speed and stability for video streaming (2 Mbps up/down).
• No specialist software or equipment is needed.