Design Thinking x AI: Where Human Creativity Meets the Future of Work

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the way we work, the ability to understand people, frame the right problems, and design meaningful solutions remains a uniquely human strength. Organizations that succeed will be those that combine human insight with the speed and scale of AI.

This interactive one-day workshop introduces Design Thinking, a human-centered approach to solving complex challenges, and demonstrates how Generative AI can accelerate the innovation process. Participants will learn practical techniques to uncover real user needs, reframe problems clearly, generate creative solutions, and rapidly prototype and test ideas.

Through hands-on exercises, collaborative activities, and guided AI demonstrations, participants will experiment with tools that support user research, ideation, insight synthesis, and prototyping. By the end of the workshop, participants will see how human creativity and AI capabilities can work together to turn ideas into better solutions, faster.

Learners will learn how to combine Design Thinking and AI tools to solve problems creatively through three key capabilities:

1. Understand Real User Needs

Learn practical ways to uncover user insights through interviews, observation, and simple research techniques, with AI supporting question generation and insight synthesis.

2. Generate Creative Solutions

Apply structured ideation methods to explore multiple possibilities, while using AI as a creative partner to expand and challenge your thinking.

3. Test and Improve Ideas Quickly

Build simple prototypes, gather feedback, and refine ideas rapidly using both human insight and AI-assisted analysis.

Learners are required to bring an internet-enabled laptop for the session

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

1. Apply a Human-Centered Problem-Solving Process

Use the key stages of Design Thinking to frame problems from the user's perspective and identify meaningful opportunities.

2. Use AI to Support Research and Ideation

Generate interview questions, summarize insights, and explore solution ideas using beginner-friendly AI tools.

3. Prototype, Test, and Improve Ideas

Create simple prototypes, gather feedback, and iterate on solutions to move ideas toward practical implementation.

Learning Methodology

This workshop combines:

• Interactive facilitation
• Hands-on activities
• Group collaboration
• AI demonstrations
• Reflection and discussion

Learners will work in teams to solve a challenge while experimenting with AI tools throughout the process. The workshop emphasizes learning by doing rather than lecture.

AI Tools Introduced

Beginner-friendly AI tools will be demonstrated to support different stages of the Design Thinking process:

Research and Insight Generation

• ChatGPT / Google Gemini
• Perplexity / NotebookLM

Idea Generation and Concept Development

• ChatGPT / Claude

Rapid Prototyping and Visualization

• Google AI Studio or similar tools

These tools require no coding experience and are suitable for non-technical professionals.

Learners are required to bring an internet-enabled laptop for the session

• Business professionals
• Researchers and administrators
• HR and L&D practitioners
• Entrepreneurs and startup teams
• Project managers
• Anyone interested in innovation and problem solving

Andy Chong is a design practitioner and facilitator specialising in human-centered innovation, motivation, and organisational problem solving. His work focuses on designing systems for people, helping organisations better understand human behaviour, strengthen collaboration, and solve complex challenges.

He currently teaches Human-Centered Design and innovation capabilities to working professionals in the BCG RISE 2.0 program by Boston Consulting Group. He is also an accredited instructor of IBM Enterprise Design Thinking, equipping teams with practical tools to uncover unmet needs, reframe challenges, and develop solutions that are both human-centered and strategically viable.

Andy is the developer of CoreDrive, a motivation framework that surfaces the patterns driving how people show up, contribute, and collaborate at work. The framework helps leaders and teams better understand engagement and design workplace systems that align human needs with organisational goals.

His leadership experience spans global organisations including Microsoft, BlackBerry, Singtel, Reuters, and Fujitsu, where he managed diverse multinational teams. Today, he works with organisations across sectors including finance, technology, government, and education, designing experiential programs that strengthen collaboration, elevate team performance, and help organisations innovate with greater empathy and clarity.