A core feature of the programme is that participants learn design thinking by doing it, not by hearing about it. Rather than sitting through theory, participants work in small, multidisciplinary teams on a genuine real-world challenge, guided by experienced design thinking coaches who offer questions, support, and feedback rather than lectures. It is a deliberately practical introduction, designed as an accessible entry point that does not require a long-term commitment.
Over the course of the day, participants are introduced to the tools and mindsets at the heart of design thinking — learning to understand the people affected by a challenge, reframe the real problem, question their own assumptions, and explore new possibilities before rushing to solutions. Along the way, they experience the value of working with colleagues who think differently, and how diverse perspectives can strengthen problem-solving.
"This is not a theoretical overview; participants experience the mindset, process, and tools first-hand," the programme outlines. The emphasis throughout is on collaboration, experimentation, and practical application, helping participants become more comfortable making progress when the answer is not immediately clear.
The value of the experience extends well beyond the single day. Participants leave with practical problem-solving and critical-thinking tools, greater confidence navigating ambiguity and uncertainty, and human-centred approaches they can apply to challenges within their own department, faculty, and institution. It is an experience designed to connect directly to the kinds of complex problems higher education staff encounter in their everyday work.
Fast Forward is open to staff and faculty from UCT and all other higher education institutions, and is offered at no cost to accepted participants. The one-day, in-person programme takes place at the d-school Afrika at UCT's Middle Campus in Cape Town, with applications closing on 2 November 2026.
For more information or to apply, please visit https://dschoolafrika.org/learn-design-thinking/professional-programmes/fast-forward-for-uct-pass-staff-faculty/.
The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is the only dedicated academic institution on the continent offering academic training and capacitation in Design Thinking to university scholars and professionals in the public and private sectors.
The d-school aims to empower people from all over the African continent to embrace a design-led thinking mindset to create human-centred solutions that meet the demands of an ever-changing planet.
By offering experiential training, guiding the practical application of Design Thinking within organisational structures, and making programmes relevant to modern-day challenges, the d-school is producing a calibre of African thought leaders whose contributions can change the continent – and the world.
For more information, go to https://dschoolafrika.org.
