Day 1 Programme
Arrival and registration for in-person delegates | Virtual onboarding for virtual delegates
Speakers:
Africa Melane, Master of Ceremonies
Richard Perez
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Welcome & Creative Connection with Master of Ceremonies Africa Melane and Richard Perez, Founding Director of the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at UCT
Speakers:
Prof. Hasso Plattner
Richard Perez
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We look forward to understanding why Design Thinking matters to the accomplished man who founded enterprise software company SAP, the Hasso Plattner Institute and the Hasso Plattner Foundation. How has design thinking featured in the success of his and his teams’ many innovations? What continues to drive his generous commitment to the d.schools and the Foundation’s beneficiaries? Why his interest in a d.school in Afrika? And what does he anticipate for the future of human-centred design in business, science and society?
Speakers:
George Kembel
Bernard Roth
Claudia Nicolai
Uli Weinberg
Richard Perez
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A conversation among some of the original pioneers and propagators, telling the story of the origins, catalytic expansion and evolving trajectory of the design thinking movement via the d.schools, and celebrating the growth and impact that has been seen. From ‘where we came from’ to ‘where we are going’, we then mark the global diversification of the Design Thinking network thanks to the Global Design Thinking Alliance.
Networking & Creative Expressions
Speakers:
Mana Taheri
Hoda Mostafa
Felix Ofori Dartey
Lilian Sanada
John Lam
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Our panellists from diverse regions explore how design thinking, innovation and creative problem solving take form in other languages, cultural contexts and socio-economic conditions, opening the way to enrich, diversify and democratise the field of design thinking. Given the multiplicity and inequity in our world, we reflect critically on the importance of prioritising inclusion and unpacking relations of power and privilege.
Networking & Creative Expressions
1. The Team Innovation Game – Exploring Core Principles of Design Thinking in a Playful Way.
Speakers:
Elina Zheleva, Simon Blake & Tobias Wosowiecki.
2.Design Thinking for small and medium farmers in Chile
Speakers:
Ximena Arias & Patricia Villarroel.
3.Young global voices charting person-centred paths to wellbeing
Speakers:
Ralitsa Diana Debrah, Nyariara Njoroge, Ssanyu Sematimba & the WDO Young Designers Circle
4..Rethinking Design Thinking
Speaker:
GK van Platter .
Speakers:
Agnes Kwek
Scott Weiss
Jeanne Liedtka
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A challenging enquiry about the application of design thinking in the public sector, social sector and even global companies operating in complex environments, exploring what design thinking brings to human complexity, but also how it needs to evolve – enriched by other approaches – to meet the requirements of complex challenges, diverse users and uncertain futures to bring about real impact
What did we celebrate, interrogate, anticipate?
Connect and relax with fellow delegates while experiencing Cape Town’s local street-food flavours and performers
Day 2 Programme
On-site and Online
N/A
Speakers:
Sam Yen
Jeanett Modise
Paul Steenkamp
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An insightful dialogue by three executives who have walked the road of successfully introducing and mainstreaming design thinking in large global businesses. Reflecting on their journeys, they highlight the leadership mindsets and character strengths needed to optimise employee engagement, accelerate performance, unleash the collaborative and creative potential of teams and lead towards a new world of work that balances profit, people, planet and purpose.
Speakers:
Phumzile Mmope
Mugendi M’rithaa
Ulrich Meyer-Höllings
Joern Bruecker
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We unpack the Afrikan humanist ethos of ‘ubuntu’ and explore how a life-centred leadership mindset impacts design, innovation and entrepreneurship activities to produce better results for all stakeholders and a more responsive, regenerative approach to business. Delegates will engage in prioritising the values underpinning the Design at Business manifesto, co-created in workshops leading up to d.confestival.
Refreshments, Networking, Creative Expressions
1. The Body as a Design Tool: Big Screening the Innovation Process
Speakers:
Colin Skelton
2. Impact insights from Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika
Speakers:
Lucille Roberts, Ntsako Mgiba, Esona Makinana & Nailah Conrad
3. The Role of Design Thinking in Innovating to Solve Problems in Rural Africa
Speakers:
Angel Gwiza, Sasha Ofori, Elizabeth Akpan
4. Anticipate the next refugee challenge: a rapid challenge reframing exercise
Speakers:
Raj Burman, Elina Zheliva, Simon Blake & Tobias Wosowiecki
Orientation and Preparation for Tours (Lunch on route)
Immerse yourself for the afternoon in Cape Town’s innovation ecosystem where we visit places and meet people demonstrating design thinking in action. In-person delegates will choose one of several tours and hop aboard a bus, returning in time to get ready for the evening function.
Please join us for the official opening by Prof Hasso Plattner and Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng of the HPI d.school Afrika’s new home, set to be the first 6-star Green-rated academic building, architected through design thinking, for design thinking. Dress in your smart or traditional wear for an immersive entertainment experience and culinary feast.
Day 3 Programme
On-site and Online
N/A
Speaker:
George Kembel
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We can celebrate the successes of design thinking to transform lives, businesses, education and more in the last 20 years. We are a part of a remarkable movement that has spread design thinking around the world, awakening creativity and possibility. And yet, we also know that design thinking as we know it doesn’t always work. How might we keep returning to the fundamental practices we know and also advance to new levels of skillfulness and mastery? In what ways might design thinking need to evolve to prepare us to rise to the challenges facing us in the next 20 years?
1.When Design Thinking meets Data Science: New Partners in Innovation
Speakers:
Danielly de Paula & Ariane Morassi Sasso
2.Teaching Design Thinking in African cultural contexts: experimentations & learnings from the YUX Academy
Speakers:
Caroline Grellier & Sasha Ofori
3.What Matters for Empathy to Drive Significant Change
Speakers:
Katherine Train
4.Transforming Communities through Design Thinking
Speakers:
Radka Newton & Jekatarina Rindt
Refreshment & Networking Break
Speakers:
Hoda Mostafa
Johannes Wedenig
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With our expanded notions of design thinking and what matters now, we look towards the future of teaching and learning in the Afrikan context, where Afrikan institutions lead the way in harmonious partnership with global stakeholders. In this interactive dialogue, we ignite our thinking to imagine how we might expand design thinking in Afrika beyond the classroom and out of the box to real-world learning-in-action, within symbiotic quadruple helix partnerships for the benefit of our diverse communities of practice. Onsite and online delegates proceed to a World Café studio of their choice
Studio 1: Youth Entrepreneurship
Studio 2: Social Development Sector
Studio 3: Corporate Business
Studio 4: Public Sector
Networking & Creative Expressions
Speaker:
Hoda Mostafa
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“Where do we go from here?” Weaving together insights from breakaway sessions, taking to a higher level. Concluding with a Call to Action
Speaker:
Prof. Mamokgethi Phakeng
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Humanity is in a precarious position in Africa and the rest of the world. This points to the rising importance of design thinking to equip all of us to be able to lead and cope in increasing uncertainty. Professor Phakeng will discuss how interdisciplinary approaches are critical for design thinking to provide sustainable solutions to the problems facing Africa and the world.
Speakers:
Claudia Nicolai
Sherif Osman
Christine Niewöhner
Nina Smidt
GDTC Teams
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This 6-week global challenge run by the GDTA reaches the finish line with this session. Winning teams will share their innovations for tackling local challenges in education, in response to the 4th Sustainable Development Goal. The organisers from HPI d.school Potsdam and sponsor, Siemens Foundation, join them to reflect on their design thinking journey undertaken through this challenge.
Speakers:
Richard Perez
Uli Weinberg
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Reflections and summary to close the conference, in conversation with delegates. What did we celebrate, interrogate and anticipate? Where is Design Thinking going? What matters now?
