Upcoming Short Courses

04 WEEK COURSE 
03 + 10 + 17 + 24 March 2026
Tuesdays 6PM - 9PM
 

Course Overview: 

This 4-week course introduces students to design thinking as a creative mindset used across graphic design, branding, UX/UI, and product design. Students of all skill levels will learn how to frame problems, generate ideas,
and make design decisions with clarity and confidence, using real-world examples and practical exercises. 

Who It’s For: 

Fascinated by the world of design? A small business owner ready to level up your advertising? Or a seasoned creative looking for fresh inspiration? This course was made for you.

Beginners: gain confidence in visual thinking, problem framing, and idea generation 

Experienced designers: sharpen judgment, articulation, and conceptual thinking 

Week 1 — Design Thinking as a Mindset 

• Understand design as intentional decision-making 

• Learn iterative thinking (loops, not steps) 

• Exercise: Reframe a brief, sketch keywords, identify hidden assumptions 

Week 2 — Empathy, Insight & Meaning 

• ⁠Observe user behaviour and extract meaningful insights 

• Translate insights into visual metaphors and storytelling 

• ⁠Exercise: Create mood boards or metaphors based on insights 
   

Week 3 — Ideation & Concept Development 

• Generate multiple ideas and develop strong concepts 

• Understand concept vs style, and storytelling through design 

• ⁠Exercise: Concept sprint — create and justify 1–3 concepts 

Week 4 — Testing, Feedback & Iteration 

• ⁠Learn to test clarity and interpret feedback 

• Practice giving and receiving constructive critique 

• Exercise: Design review simulation — present, receive feedback, iterate 
   

Course Philosophy:

Design is interpretation. Clarity beats cleverness. Good design makes decisions feel obvious. This course emphasizes thinking over polish, giving students skills they can immediately apply across projects and disciplines.

About Helna Brown:

With over 21 years in the creative industry, Helna is a seasoned designer specializing in branding, creative direction and UX/UI design. She is currently working as a UX/UI designer for an international software application, creating intuitive digital products that solve real-world problems.

Previously Helna has collaborated with global organizations like WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO as well as major brands including Nestlé, Flying Fish and Lafarge Cement. With a background spanning agency leadership, digital product management and user-centered design, she brings a unique perspective at the intersection of strategy, creativity and user experience.

Key Outcomes: 

• Shared design language and understanding 

• Ability to frame problems and explain decisions 

• Confidence in generating, refining, and communicating ideas through design

We'll take care of you:

• Refreshments on us!

• Curated course material

• Hands-on, in-person training