Build your creative confidence

Build your creative confidence

Online learning from award-winning design & innovation firm, IDEO

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Online Learning Experiences

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Certificate Programs

Advance your career and build your confidence with a 3-6 month action-oriented learning experience made up of cohort and self-paced courses.

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Cohort Courses

Collaborate with a global community in our 5-week online courses and apply new skills to your day-to-day work to increase your impact.

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Self-Paced Courses

Learn anytime, anywhere. Boost your skills with flexible, short-form online courses designed to fit your life. Access 90 days from purchase.

What You'll Learn

IDEO U equips you with creative problem-solving skills, easy-to-use tools, and leadership mindsets to stay resilient in our fast-changing modern world

Design Thinking

“Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.”

—Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO

  • Learn to use insights to turn customer needs into human-centered solutions
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Learn the core skills and mindsets of design thinking
    Certificate Program 2-3 Months
    $1,598
    $1,598
    Learn More
  • Craft a narrative to motivate and inspire
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Design the moments that matter
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Introductory
    An introduction to the foundational concepts and tools of design thinking
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • Learn to prototype, experiment, and iterate to move your ideas forward
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Craft human-centered presentations that connect, resonate, and inspire
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Deepen your design thinking skills and practice
    Certificate Program 5+ Months
    $3,395
    $3,395
    Learn More
  • Build and test new business ideas
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Low-fidelity prototyping methods for digital products and services
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • Una introducción a los conceptos fundamentales del design thinking
    Self-Paced Course Empieza Cuando Quieras
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
See all Design Thinking courses

Innovation

“Innovation is now recognized as the single most important ingredient in any modern economy.”

– Tom Kelley, IDEO Partner

  • Unite rigor and creativity to create a successful strategy
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Make strategy accessible and actionable using principles of human-centered design
    Certificate Program 3-4 Months
    $1,598
    $1,598
    Learn More
  • Tap into diverse perspectives to foster creative thinking
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Exercises to overcome the common barriers to creativity
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • Learn to use insights to turn customer needs into human-centered solutions
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • New
    Human-centered approaches for bringing strategy to life
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Build and test new business ideas
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Make strategic choices and turn ideas into reality
    Certificate Program 2-3 Months
    $1,598
    $1,598
    Learn More
  • Start small, start with people, start now
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Learn to work and lead with purpose
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
See all Innovation courses

Leadership

“The ability to tolerate and navigate ambiguity—and to guide organizations without knowing what’s ahead—is one of the key leadership qualities of our time.” 

–Suzanne Gibbs Howard, founder and Dean of IDEO U

  • Craft a narrative to motivate and inspire
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • New
    Human-centered approaches for bringing strategy to life
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • New
    A holistic approach to problem solving starts with people
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Unite rigor and creativity to create a successful strategy
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Exercises to overcome the common barriers to creativity
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • Tap into diverse perspectives to foster creative thinking
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • New
    An adaptable approach to deliver stronger outcomes in changing conditions
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Lead and influence across projects and teams
    Certificate Program 6-9 Months
    $2,596
    $2,596
    Learn More
  • Learn to scale creative problem solving from Tim Brown, Chair of IDEO
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Make strategy accessible and actionable using principles of human-centered design
    Certificate Program 3-4 Months
    $1,598
    $1,598
    Learn More
  • Start small, start with people, start now
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Learn to work and lead with purpose
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • Lead teams for creativity and collaboration
    Certificate Program 3+ Months
    $2,397
    $2,397
    Learn More
  • Activate greatness in yourself and others
    Self-Paced Course Start Anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
See all Leadership courses

Power Skills

“It is only in teams where you have the courage and bravery to be your full self that you can contribute your best.”

—Keith Yamashita, SYPartners Chairman and Founder

  • Learn to use insights to turn customer needs into human-centered solutions
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Exercises to overcome the common barriers to creativity
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • New
    An adaptable approach to deliver stronger outcomes in changing conditions
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • New
    A holistic approach to problem solving starts with people
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Craft human-centered presentations that connect, resonate, and inspire
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Craft a narrative to motivate and inspire
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Tap into diverse perspectives to foster creative thinking
    Cohort Course 5 Weeks
    $799
    $799
    Learn More
  • Shape and share your ideas in ways that engage, inspire, and motivate
    Certificate Program 2-3 Months
    $1,598
    $1,598
    Learn More
  • Learn to work and lead with purpose
    Self-Paced Course start anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
  • Activate greatness in yourself and others
    Self-Paced Course Start Anytime
    $199
    $199
    Learn More
See all Power Skills courses

The IDEO U Learning Experience

HOW OUR COURSES WORK

See

Our courses engage you through stories, expertise, and humor. Each lesson has a series of 3-5 minute videos that explain the why, what, and how of a specific topic. Plus we bring everything to life through case studies from around the globe.

Reflect

Our learning experiences have a variety of reflective activities to help you make the connections to your specific work challenges. Reflection is one of the most effective ways to deepen your professional impact.

See
Try
Reflect
Share

Try

In order to develop new skills, you need to try them out through repeated practice and exposure to new contexts. Our courses provide opportunities to try out new behaviors online and through real-world projects.

Share

Knowledge is constructed through interaction with others—which is the foundation of our cohort experience. It’s through sharing and discussing with qualified teaching leads and a global peer network that you build greater understanding.

See

Our courses engage you through stories, expertise, and humor. Each lesson has a series of 3-5 minute videos that explain the why, what, and how of a specific topic. Plus we bring everything to life through case studies from around the globe.

Try

In order to develop new skills, you need to try them out through repeated practice and exposure to new contexts. Our courses provide opportunities to try out new behaviors online and through real-world projects.

Reflect

Our learning experiences have a variety of reflective activities to help you make the connections to your specific work challenges. Reflection is one of the most effective ways to deepen your professional impact.

Share

Knowledge is constructed through interaction with others—which is the foundation of our cohort experience. It’s through sharing and discussing with qualified teaching leads and a global peer network that you build greater understanding.

Learn More

Learn Alongside Leading Companies

“At its core, creative confidence is about believing in your ability to create change in the world around you.”

TOM Kelley PARTNER AT IDEO

Design Thinking In Action

We're part of IDEO, an award-winning global design firm that takes a human-centered, design-based approach to help organizations innovate and grow. IDEO U was created to share the methods and mindsets that IDEO has practiced for decades and to empower individuals, teams, and organizations to become more resilient, adaptable, and innovative.

Case Study: PillPack

Growing an online pharmacy from startup to sale

Launching a nationwide venture that redefines and simplifies how customers engage with their pharmacy.

Learn More
Case Study: Innova Schools

Designing a network of schools from the ground up

Scaling an entire network of schools for the growing Peruvian middle class.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a typical course schedule and structure?

There are two distinct ways to learn at IDEO U—cohort courses and self-paced. Each has a different structure and schedule:　

Cohort courses

Cohort courses run on a set calendar, with fixed start and end dates. Course learning is self-paced within those dates and requires approximately 4-5 hours per week over 5 weeks. Courses consist of videos, activities, assignments, access to course teaching teams, and feedback from a global community of learners.

Cohort courses also provide optional 1-hour video Community Conversations, held weekly by the teaching team. They occur during set times, which are released during the first week of the course, and set to accommodate as many time zones as possible.

Self-paced courses

Self-paced courses take between 1-8 hours to complete. We provide 90 days of access from the date of purchase, so you may spread your learning over multiple weeks, or refer back to it multiple times during your access period. Courses consist of a series of videos, activities, and small assignments.

How do certificate programs work?

Certificate programs are comprised of multiple courses and typically take 3-6 months to complete. Once you complete all required courses, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. There is no deadline for the completion of the programs and you do not have to purchase all required courses at the same time to be eligible for a certificate.

Explore different ways to deepen your learning and broaden your professional impact through our certificate programs here.

Can I take multiple cohort courses at the same time?

While you can enroll in multiple courses concurrently, we strongly advise that you do so only if you are able to commit to a minimum of 5 hrs/week for each course (i.e. 10 hrs/week for 2 courses) to ensure the most valuable learning experience. If that does not feel feasible, we recommend taking the courses separately and exploring future dates on our course calendar.

Please make sure to select your desired cohort date for each course from the dropdown menu during checkout.

Does my time zone matter?

All of our courses are fully online and self-paced, so you can take them from any time zone, anywhere in the world.

During 5-week cohort courses, your course teaching team will host scheduled virtual community conversations which are optional. Timing will be announced during the first week of the course and is set to accommodate as many time zones as possible. Don’t worry if you aren’t able to make it, as these are purely optional.

Which course best suits me?

Great question! We offer an array of courses covering different topics and choosing one really comes down to what you want to learn at this point. 

That said, the best place for most people to begin at IDEO U is our Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate program. This program includes 2 cohort courses that will enable you to gain a foundational and practical understanding of essential design thinking skills and empower you to create innovative solutions that are human-centered.

You can also take a quick quiz to find the course that best meets your specific needs.

Can I enroll my team?

Absolutely! We have had many teams go through our courses together with great success. For those taking our courses as a team, we provide a couple of additional benefits:

1. A Team Learning Guide, developed to provide your team with resources to facilitate offline discussion to complement the in-course experience.

2. A Manage Learners function, which provides visibility into your team's progress within the course.

3. The ability to create a private Learning Circle, which is a closed space for discussion on the learning platform specifically for your team.

For more information, visit our Team Learning page.

Are there any discounts?

We offer a discount when you enroll at the same time in both courses that make up our Foundations in Design Thinking certificate program. You can also enter your email address at the bottom of this page in order to receive updates on future offers or possible discounts. 

Additionally, we have a scholarship application you can fill out here. Please keep in mind we review these monthly, so plan accordingly if you are looking to join a course soon.

How do I purchase my course?

You can purchase your course on our website using a credit card, PayPal, or Shop Pay. 

We also offer installment plans which you can select at checkout if you use the Shop Pay method of payment. Available for U.S. learners at the moment.

More Questions?