Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at UCT

Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at UCT The d-school was founded in Cape Town in August 2015 with funding, IP, and academic support from Prof.

The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town is a place where creative intelligence is unlocked, and where future-ready leaders are developed. The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design Thinking Afrika at the University of Cape Town (Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika or d-school Afrika) is the only dedicated academic institution in the region that offers academic training and capacitation in design thinking to university scholars and professionals in the public and private sectors. Dr. Hasso Plattner - co-founder of a software company, SAP AG, and chairman of its Supervisory Board - and the Hasso Plattner Trust. Professor Plattner initiated and funded the first academic programmes in design thinking. The establishment of the HPI Schools of Design Thinking of Stanford in the US in 2005, and at Potsdam in Germany in 2007, brought academic rigor to design-led innovation practice and made training programmes in design thinking available to academic scholars and leaders in the private and public sectors. Students from all disciplines and industry and government executives come together at the d-school to learn to work collaboratively in diverse and inclusive multi-disciplinary teams on real-world challenges and to develop human-centred innovative solutions.

One day. A completely different way to solve problems.Fast Forward is a hands-on introduction to design thinking for hig...
28/09/2026

One day. A completely different way to solve problems.

Fast Forward is a hands-on introduction to design thinking for higher education staff and faculty — wherever you teach or work. Real challenges, diverse teams, expert coaches, and tools you’ll actually use.

Swipe to see what it’s about, then apply via the link in our bio.

capetown

What if one day could change the way you tackle the toughest challenges in your work?Fast Forward is a one-day, hands-on...
28/09/2026

What if one day could change the way you tackle the toughest challenges in your work?

Fast Forward is a one-day, hands-on introduction to design thinking for higher education staff and faculty — open to every institution, not just UCT. You'll collaborate with colleagues from different fields on a real challenge and leave with practical tools you can use straightaway.

Complex problems. Fresh perspectives. Practical action.

Dates: 10 & 12 November
Application closes: 2 November

Learn more: https://bit.ly/46kScAC
Apply now: https://bit.ly/3TiGtiT

Today we celebrate Heritage Day — a moment to honour the rich diversity of cultures, stories, and traditions that make S...
24/09/2026

Today we celebrate Heritage Day — a moment to honour the rich diversity of cultures, stories, and traditions that make South Africa, and our continent, so unique.

At the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika, we know that the best ideas come from bringing different perspectives together. It's that same diversity of thought, background, and experience that sits at the heart of design thinking and everything we do.

Wishing everyone a happy Heritage Day. 🇿🇦

Week 7 of the Foundation Programme in Design Thinking!  Last week was all about hands-on prototyping as our cohort moved...
21/09/2026

Week 7 of the Foundation Programme in Design Thinking! 
 
Last week was all about hands-on prototyping as our cohort moved from concepts to creation. Rolling up their sleeves, participants brought their human-centred solutions to life—using quick, tangible models to test ideas, iterate fast, and build on their learnings.
 
Prototyping is where experimentation truly happens, and seeing the creative energy in the room was inspiring as everyone deepened their practice.
 
We’re excited to continue following their journey as they move deeper into the programme!
 

14/09/2026

This is what five days of Design Thinking Week looks like.

Watch students from different disciplines team up, work with a real organizational partner, and turn a complex challenge into human-centred solutions they can actually test — all in five days at the d-school Afrika, UCT.

It's hands-on, high-energy, and open to students at UCT and other universities. Applications for the November cohort (23–27 November) are open now.

Watch the highlights, then apply: https://wkf.ms/4c0w8P3

Entrepreneurial thinking prepares us for an unscripted future.At the 2026 HERS-SA Women in Leadership Academy, our Direc...
13/09/2026

Entrepreneurial thinking prepares us for an unscripted future.

At the 2026 HERS-SA Women in Leadership Academy, our Director, Richard Perez, encouraged delegates to embrace innovation ecosystems, revenue diversification, and design-led problem-solving — to spot opportunities, experiment boldly, and co-create solutions that strengthen their institutions.

It was a privilege to be part of a programme investing in the next generation of women leaders in higher education.

📸 A few moments from the session below.

Ready to step out of your academic bubble? Applications are officially open for Design Thinking Week, an intensive 5-day...
08/09/2026

Ready to step out of your academic bubble?

Applications are officially open for Design Thinking Week, an intensive 5-day programme at the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at UCT!

Open to registered South African higher education students under 35, this experience pairs you with peers across humanities, engineering, business, and health sciences. Together, you'll tackle real-world challenges set by project partners while mastering future-ready skills: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration.

Full attendance for all 5 days is required.

👉Apply today via the link in our bio or visit www.dschoolafrika.org

07/09/2026

5 weeks down, 4 to go! We’ve hit the halfway mark of the Foundation Programme in Design Thinking.

Every student starts this journey with a unique spark.
In this week’s video, one of our cohort members opens up about what inspired her to apply for the programme and what she’s most looking forward to exploring in the final weeks ahead! 

Check out the video to see what drove her to step into the world of Design Thinking.

Tag a friend or classmate who should apply for the next cohort!

Reflecting back as we jump into Week 4, the energy from last week’s field trip is still carrying us forward! In Week 3, ...
31/08/2026

Reflecting back as we jump into Week 4, the energy from last week’s field trip is still carrying us forward!

In Week 3, our Foundation Programme In Design Thinking cohort stepped out into the community with a trip to Khayelitsha to visit KisimaRadio
 
Looking back, getting on the ground was a game-changer for our participants. It allowed them to dive deeper into human-centred problem-solving, hands-on experimentation, and multidisciplinary teamwork—challenging their assumptions and bringing home fresh perspectives that are directly shaping their work this week. 
 
Follow along as we take these insights into the next phase of the journey! 
 

Great products, services, and processes start with understanding people! We are thrilled to announce that d-school Afri...
29/08/2026

Great products, services, and processes start with understanding people!

We are thrilled to announce that d-school Afrika is partnering with Lean Institute Africa for the Lean Africa Summit 2026. The summit is taking place in Cape Town from 19–22 October 2026 at the UCT Graduate School of Business.

As part of this exciting collaboration, we will be hosting a highly interactive Design Thinking Masterclass on 20 October 2026. Whether you are redesigning services, improving operations, or developing new products, this workshop will give you practical frameworks to create solutions that deliver meaningful value.

Join us and learn how to combine Lean improvement with customer-focused innovation.

Secure your spot today: https://www.lean.org.za/product/design-thinking-masterclass/

Address

HPI D-school Building, Corner Cross Campus & Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, UCT Middle Campus
Cape Town
8005

Telephone

+27216503897

Website

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