Online learning from an accredited institution

National Certificate in Design Techniques Specialising in Design Thinking

Design thinking goes beyond graphic design − it’s a new way of thinking that puts users first, builds empathy and transforms the way you do business through better prototyping, testing and solutions.

In this SETA-accredited, fully-online 12-month programme, you’ll get a thorough understanding of the importance of building empathy with consumers and users, and learn techniques to think about problems from diverse angles and how to use creativity and critical thinking to drive innovation and improve teams and organisations.

You’ll also learn how to use swift prototyping and testing to identify and formulate the most appropriate solutions for difficult problems and market needs. No design background required!

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Master a new way of empathy led problem solving for businesses

Design Thinking is an empathy-led set of practices to explore problems more robustly, and uncover better solutions that can be prototyped and implemented. Some of the world’s leading brands, such as Apple, Google, Samsung and GE, have rapidly adopted the Design Thinking approach, and the field of Design Thinking is being taught at leading universities around the world, including Stanford, Harvard and MIT.

Learn from top talent

This qualification is built and taught by Design Thinking experts who understand the value this discipline brings to business.

Build your skills

Understand and apply stronger decision making skills that are crucial for the next generation of work.

Think outside the box

This qualification is ideal for people who want to create and nurture empathy with users, using creative thinking to create new solutions.

Elevate your career

Be recognised with an industry centric Red & Yellow qualification, giving you a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills.

Red & Yellow qualifications are made to future-proof your career

Our qualifications are designed to accelerate opportunities and give a boost to your CV. Top businesses across industries recognise Red & Yellow graduates as having the practical skills and the theoretical background to hit the ground running with confidence and creative flair.

What you’ll learn:

  • To understand Design Thinking as an approach to creative problem-solving
  • How to use empathy and modern techniques to understand users, their experiences and their problems
  • To define problems in terms of problem statements that encapsulate business problems
  • To participate in ideation sessions to brainstorm and select appropriate potential solutions
  • Develop prototypes to consider and reflect on proposed solutions
  • Implement user testing to test proposed solutions and prototypes to determine feasibility of solutions
  • Effectively present proposed solutions, backed by testing and informed user research

Find Out More When You Download the Information Pack

Course curriculum:

Module 01

Discover & Define with Design Thinking

Module 02

Create & Test with Design Thinking

Meet your team:

This course was created by, and benefits from, our full-time lecturers’ years of experience in the field – both in lecturing and in industry. They know how to nurture talent and bring out the best in students, resulting in many award-wins over the years.

Di Charton

Senior Lecturer

Di embodies purpose over profit, having stepped aside from a successful career in the advertising industry to fulfil her passion of shaping the minds of tomorrow.

Di strives to empower and educate the SA marketing communications industry through a myriad of traditional and digital platforms.

Tisa Kapwata

Full Time Education Manager

Tisa is passionate about skills development  and has dedicated the last decade working within higher education.

She has experience in both the public and private sector higher  education and is currently poised to pursue a PhD in her field.

Thank you Team Red & Yellow for the knowledge. It’s only been a few months and I can see a difference in the way I think regarding advertising and marketing in the digital realm.

Nadine Botes, Ogilvy Senior Creative Specialist in Retail Marketing and Advertising