From 8 to 31 March, we organized the Global Design Thinking Workshop together with the Hasso Plattner Institute and Volksbank Mittweida eG "Teamed Leadership" in cooperation with a global team of coaches .
Six international student teams worked together on a design challenge to market a new partnership based on special blockchain design thinking programs. At the same time, they dealt with the topic of team development.
Blockchain technology has the potential to form a basis for new and disruptive digital value streams. The possible fields of application for this technology are diverse: from verifiable digital certificates to new financial products or new forms of legal and business design, e.g. for the sharing economy, logistics and supply chain management.
Even though many companies are now aware of the potential of blockchain technology, they still lack a clear idea of how they can benefit from blockchain in collaboration with other companies and institutions.
At the Global Design Thinking Workshop, 32 participants from around the world explored this topic by working intensively on a complex design challenge: "Develop new ways of communicating with companies to raise their awareness and interest in participating in new program offerings that build on the combination of blockchain and design thinking to create innovative solutions. Start with the unique selling proposition of such programs."
Supported by the international coaching team, they worked together for two weeks to develop solution ideas for our project partners. The focus was also on the question of what added value design thinking can bring to tech projects.
A double immersion in design thinking
The Global Design Thinking Workshop includes two central learning aspects. On the one hand, the students worked on a team project on the topic of blockchain technology. In addition, they gained a deeper understanding of how to develop teams with equality and justice during the workshop.
During the workshop, the participants learned about the methods and mindset of design thinking and at the same time continuously reflected on their teamwork and team development.
Final presentation as a championship
After two weeks of intensive work with their coaches, the Design Thinking teams presented their prototypes and shared insights from the reflection of their teamwork.
The aim of the solutions developed by the teams is to raise awareness and interest in companies to participate in programs that combine design thinking and blockchain. Many of the ideas presented focused primarily on putting people at the center of blockchain applications, which often seem abstract to users. The ideas emphasize that the concept of blockchain must become tangible. In addition, companies need a secure environment to exchange ideas with others and learn about the possibilities of blockchain technology.
Two teams identified "gamification" as an effective way to get companies interested in blockchain technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises often do not know much about the benefits of implementing blockchain technology. A "blockchain adventure game" with multiple levels could help these companies prepare for blockchain implementation in a fun and visual way and provide them with a concrete roadmap for the next steps.
Another team developed the idea of an edutainment game to help company representatives understand the concept of blockchain and make it more accessible. In the game, players could test a real blockchain application and exchange ideas with others.
One of the teams also learned during the design thinking process that personalized communication is essential when trying to get companies excited about the benefits of blockchain. For companies participating in blockchain and design thinking programs, it would be important to become part of a larger community. They should be able to exchange ideas with experts, students and other companies and shape innovations together.
Selling blockchain with blockchain was another approach presented by a team. It proposed a decentralized marketing strategy with an app based on blockchain technology. Such an app could help to connect and bring together potential cooperation partners across sectors. It could also help to promote interdisciplinary collaboration that leads to more innovative solutions.
The partner companies Volksbank Mittweida and Teleskopeffekt We would like to thank the student teams, coaches and the HPI D-School team for the unique collaboration. As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun, and that's exactly how we feel. The teams were a great inspiration for us with their great ideas. We are grateful to be a project partner and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future. The GDTW was the start of a longer-term cooperation with the Hasso Plattner Institute.
