Sustainable Design Thinking

Are you ready to work on a real-world challenge that truly matters? In this course, you will not just learn about sustainability and design thinking, but you will experience it. Together with fellow students you dive into a real-life challenge and use Design Thinking to create solutions that can make a difference.

 

This course is your chance to explore how sustainability connects your community, and your own life. You gain practical tools, collaborate across disciplines, and build the mindset needed to design responsibly for the future. Because this is not just another course, it is an opportunity to make an impact, grow your skills, and shape your professional identity. If you are curious, and motivated to help build a more sustainable world, this course is for you. Join us and let’s design change together!

 

The course is self-paced with weekly assignments. The first three weeks focus on individual learning assignments, followed by five weeks of team-based work on a real-life challenge.

 

The course was co-created together by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and University of Münster.

 

If you have already completed the Ulysseus course Introduction to Design Thinking, you have an opportunity to earn a micro-credential. The two courses, Introduction to Design Thinking (1 ECTS) and Sustainable Design Thinking (3 ECTS), form together a micro-credential called Sustainable Impact Through Design Thinking.

Registration dates 12 January 2026 01 March 2026
Course dates 09 March 2026 10 May 2026
Registration is coming soon
Sustainable Design Thinking

Course Content

  • Overshoot and planetary boundaries
  • Sustainability on a personal level
  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • Sustainable teams
  • Sustainability and local change
  • Applying Design Thinking tools to real-world sustainability challenges
  • Design thinking process and tools
  • Gaining customer understanding, prototype development and experimenting.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply sustainable Design thinking process and tools in solving real life challenges
  • Reflect on the relevance of sustainability in their personal lives
  • Make choices to enhance sustainability during the development process
  • Contribute towards sustainable teamwork
  • Engage and cocreate with internal and external stakeholders

More information: