Are you working on the right solutions for your problems? Is there a way to approach innovation that’s more flexible and agile than the way you do it now?
Preparing a business case for a new project is a long and detailed process – and it might be obsolete by the time you finish. Design Thinking is a method that connects and empathises with your customers to validate your assumptions before you develop a new product, process or service.
This course is offered by Rotterdam School of Management b.v.. For more information about the legal structure of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, visit this page.
The online Design Thinking programme from RSM Executive Education gives you a methodology and tools to develop new ideas using your insights into your customers. Over six weeks, you will learn how to shift your mindset and embrace a radically different approach for the development of new products and services. You’ll be guided by Dr Dirk Deichmann, an associate professor at RSM who specialises in successful idea generation, development, and implementation. Using design thinking to develop products and services will help you to see the value of your offering from your customers’ perspectives.
Maybe you’ve done online learning before, or perhaps it is new to you. Whichever type of learner you are, to maximise your experience, and to earn your certification there are three important things that we want to emphasise: attendance, collaboration, and academic honesty.
Please note, you may not be awarded your certificate if you have not fulfilled the above requirements. If you are unsure whether or not you are meeting the requirements at any time, please contact your programme manager or faculty member.
Initially I had doubts about the online nature of the programme: would it be as interactive and as much of a learning journey as an in-person course? I can now confirm "Yes!". The course was highly interactive, using virtual discussion boards and two live sessions in which we exchanged opinions and connected in person with the course participants. I acquired a totally different view of the definitions of success and failure, as well as the learning that comes with it.
The Design Thinking course allowed me to look at a problem in a different way; it introduced multifaceted tools to determine the root cause and subsequently ideate solutions using various techniques. I learned ways to gather consumer-centric insights which stretches beyond the data-driven insights that organisations tend to use. The course has really fortified my knowledge of how I can take an idea further; taking what is just a thought and making it tangible by applying design thinking tools.
During the Design Thinking Programme you will learn from Dr Dirk Deichmann. Occasionally we may substitute other faculty members according to the content of the programme and their availability.
Dirk Deichmann is associate professor of innovation management at RSM. His research into the management of ideas addresses how managers can support the continuous and sustained generation of new ideas. Dirk identifies criteria for evaluating and selecting ideas, and tells firms about conditions that facilitate the use of high quality ideas. His research has been published in highly-rated scientific journals such as Strategic Management Journal and Organization Science as well as in the widely read Harvard Business Review. Dirk teaches creativity, design thinking, and innovation management.
May 2025
Session 1 - 7 May 2025
Session 2 - 28 May 2025
Session 3 - 18 June 2025
€ 1,300 (excl. 21% VAT) including course materials, lunches, and snacks. This fee does not include hotel accommodation.
15% discount for alumni from Erasmus University Rotterdam and RSM
All of our short courses can also be delivered as personalised in-company training to groups of employees from the same organisation. This enables us to develop a comprehensive programme that focuses on your organisation’s own unique situation and issues.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) offers a dynamic learning environment for professionals looking to learn new skills and gain more knowledge in business and management education.
Here’s why you should choose RSM:
This programme takes place in Bayle building on the Woudestein Campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam, just 15 minutes by public transport from Rotterdam city centre. Our modern and lively campus has innovative study facilities, sustainable design, and calming green spaces.
Most programmes start at 09:00. Finishing times are different for each programme. There’s also an approximate schedule in each programme’s brochure and on its webpages. When you register for a programme you will be given access to Canvas, our online learning system, and the full schedule is in Canvas. Your programme manager will hand out a detailed schedule on the first day of your programme.
Class sizes are usually between 12 to 24 people, but it does depend on the programme. We aim for a balance between allowing capacity to guarantee individual attention, and achieving a good group dynamic and networking opportunities.
Yes. Alumni from RSM and Erasmus University Rotterdam receive a 15% discount.
RSM alumni are students who have completed either a bachelor of science, master of science, PhD or one executive education programme of more than 40 credit hours. Additionally, companies which sponsor several participants may also be offered a special price.
Participants of open programmes of less than 40 credit hours will not receive a discount.
Programme fees include tuition, programme materials, access to the RSM study facilities and dynamic learning environment. This also includes lunch and refreshments throughout the programme.
Hotel accommodation is not included, so please make individual arrangements for your stay in Rotterdam. See more information in the Transportation, directions and accommodation section below.
If you require hotel accommodation during your stay in Rotterdam, we recommend a few hotels:
Please contact the hotels directly to make and secure your own reservations.
Note: We recommend that you select the flexible booking option when reserving a room.
Our general terms and conditions apply when you register for an open programme. Please review them to learn more about our policies for cancellation, deferral and substitution.
If you have more general questions, we recommend you explore our more in-depth FAQs page. If you are looking for personal advice, then please contact one of our advisors using the contact form below.
Programme advisor
It's my priority to help you identify how you can meet your professional objectives, so reach out and let's make a plan for your personal development.