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HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN THINKING
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a deeply collaborative, creative methodology that equips teams to uncover real user needs, reframe challenges, and rapidly prototype solutions that truly work for people. In this immersive 1-day course (in‑person or virtual), certified instructors from the Centers for Adaptive Warfighting, Naval X guide intact teams through a dynamic, structured process. Participants bring all voices to the table—those with deep subject knowledge and those who notice the unrecognized gaps—to co-create insights and ideas.
Through group breakouts (6–10 per team) and interactive coaching, teams learn to empathize, define core problems, brainstorm effectively, and test low-fidelity prototypes. By day’s end, every participant leaves with an actionable prototype or concept and a clear path forward.
Instructors are certified by Centers for Adaptive Warfighting, Naval X.
Instructors will train up to 35 participants; ideally participants are part of cohesive teams who have leadership present.
Preferably done with teams, rather than groups of individuals from various workcenters -or- a small group of key leaders (4-8) with 1:1 follow-up sessions with each participant.
Room(s) required for breakout groups of 6-10 people.
Competencies emphasized:
- Creative Thinking – Develops new insights and innovative solutions when traditional approaches fall short
- Problem Solving – Frames complex, ambiguous challenges accurately and tests ideas to address root causes effectively
- Interpersonal Skills & Teamwork – Engages diverse perspectives, creates inclusive dialogue, and leads effective collaboration in cross-functional teams
- Strategic Thinking – Aligns design efforts with user needs and organizational mission to innovate with purpose
- Resilience – Maintains momentum through iterative cycles of testing, failure, and feedback
- Accountability – Develops tangible prototypes and plans that participants commit to advancing post-course
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Facilitate empathy-based discovery to surface user needs, assumptions, and pain points.
Reframe challenge areas into clearly articulated, human-centered problem statements.
Use creative ideation techniques (e.g., divergent brainstorming, “how might we”) to generate a wide solution range.
Build and test low-fidelity prototypes to gather rapid feedback.
Evaluate prototype insights and iterate improvements based on user input and stakeholder input.
Develop an actionable, team-owned roadmap for piloting or integrating a chosen solution.
Course Length and Type :
7.5 hours; in-person or virtual
Class Size:
4-25
Target Audience:
This course is designed for cohesive teams—whether mission-aligned work centers or leadership groups—looking to solve complex challenges affecting service delivery, policy implementation, or internal collaboration. Ideal participants include multi-disciplinary groups (4–8 people at a minimum), with leadership involvement and spaces conducive to breakout work.
Whether facing wicked problems—ambiguously defined challenges without clear solutions—or aiming to improve customer-facing programs, this course empowers teams to innovate with empathy, clarity, and shared ownership.