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The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* (d-school Afrika) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), equips you with the skills to Reframe, Rethink and Resolve real-world problems.

Based at UCT’s middle campus in Cape Town, South Africa, we aim to empower people from all over the African continent to embrace a design-led thinking mindset to create human-centred solutions that meet the demands of an ever-changing planet.

By offering experiential training, guiding the practical application of design thinking within organisational structures, and making programmes relevant to modern-day challenges, the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* is producing a calibre of African thought leader whose contributions can change the continent – and the world.

The school was founded in Cape Town in August 2015 with funding, IP and academic support from Dr. Hasso Plattner and the Hasso Plattner Foundation — co-founder of software company SAP AG and chairman of its supervisory board — and the Hasso Plattner Trust.

Since opening its doors in 2015, the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* has:

  • Graduated over 700 curious thinkers completing the d-school’s flagship programme, Foundation Programme in Design Thinking.
  • Expanded our network and worked with over 15 project partners who provided a unique real-world challenge that students worked on using the design-led mindset to present their innovative solutions.
  • Launched an additional 64 student programmes.
  • Hosted over 120 professional programmes.
  • Built strong partnerships with over 50 clients aiming to make design thinking accessible to all.
  • Moved into our new home - HPI d-school building - situated on UCT’s middle campus in 2022.
  • Hosted the first African d-confestival over 3 days with over 300 delegates and 50+ speakers from all over the globe

WHAT IS DESIGN THINKING?

Design Thinking is a human-centred approach to creative and critical problem-solving. It helps people understand challenges, identify opportunities, and co-create meaningful solutions for real-world problems across Africa and beyond.
Yes. The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town forms part of a global network of d-schools established through the Hasso Plattner Foundation. The first d-school was founded at Stanford University in 2005, followed by the Hasso Plattner Institute in Potsdam (Germany) in 2007, and then the d-school Afrika in 2016.

All three institutions share a commitment to advancing design thinking education and practice through collaboration, innovation, and human-centred problem-solving.
The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika is based at the University of Cape Town and forms part of the university’s strategic initiatives. Since 2016, the d-school has worked closely with UCT’s Faculties of Commerce, Education, Engineering and the Built Environment, Humanities, Social Sciences, Health Sciences, and Law and Science.

Together, we design and deliver programmes that help students, staff, and professionals apply design-led thinking within their fields - strengthening transdisciplinary collaboration and innovation across the university.
Design Thinking helps students build confidence, unlock creativity, and learn how to make meaningful impact in the world around them. At the d-school Afrika, students learn by doing - exploring challenges, testing ideas, and working collaboratively to uncover new perspectives and solutions.

It’s a mindset that strengthens critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving - skills that prepare students to navigate real-world complexity and design a better future.

Design Thinking equips professionals and organisations to navigate uncertainty with clarity and creativity. It encourages teams to reframe challenges, uncover opportunities, and co-create solutions that are both human-centred and strategic.

For companies, adopting a design-led mindset builds a culture of collaboration, innovation, and adaptability - helping them stay resilient in an ever-changing world. Beyond tools or processes, it develops the capacity to lead with empathy, think systemically, and deliver meaningful impact.

CURIOUS?

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