• The King's Fund logo

Play Full: Getting Creative with Design Thinking in Health and Care

Bring more creativity to your work in health and care and develop innovative problem-solving practices with design thinking.

1,468 enrolled on this course

Play Full: Getting Creative with Design Thinking in Health and Care

1,468 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    2 hours
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Unlimited subscription

    $244.99 for a whole yearLearn more

This course explores creativity in the context of a health and care system that can often feel procedural, standardised and restrictive. Learners will develop their understanding of creativity in the context of health and care and how to apply this to workplace problems using a human-centred approach to innovation called ‘design thinking’.

Learners can complete this course while carrying out a creative project in real time, as the course sequentially guides them through the different stages in the design thinking approach. The course also contains a series of downloadable resources to support learners, and features case studies in creativity and innovative practice from across the health and care system.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Consider

    • Image of two hands in a handshake.

      Introduction

      Find out more about how this course will work and what you can expect from the next four weeks.

    • Outline of a side profile of a person's head, with creative sparks, arrows and icons coming out of it.

      A creative mindset

      Explore the power of thinking inside the box and adopting a 'maker mindset'.

    • A map image, with lots of creative icons.

      A creative process

      Delve into design thinking as a helpful framework for innovation and recap on week one.

  • Week 2

    Discover

    • A set of files, with someone choosing a document from one of them.

      Creating and making design choices

      Kick off week two by exploring the concept of discovery phases, while acknowledging their human-centered focus.

    • Someone with their laptop, pondering something. They are surrounded by creative icons.

      Coming up with ideas

      Shift your focus to generating ideas and explore how to work out which ones are best.

  • Week 3

    Make

    • Outline of a hand building a structure with blocks. The hand is holding a white triangle shape.

      Prototyping not perfecting

      Turn your ideas into reality by understanding the key role that prototyping plays and deconstructing the ideal of perfection.

    • Image of two hands working on a piece of paper. One is drawing a line and the other is rubbing it out.

      All design is redesign

      Explore the value of a robust testing phase, and what an iterative approach can bring to creative work.

  • Week 4

    Do

    • Image of a rocket taking off, with a landscape of clouds below it.

      Ready for take-off

      Consider what happens after you've turned your innovative idea into reality and how to implement what you've created.

    • Creativity for all

      Finish this course with a system-wide focus and turn your attention to creative cultures.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the landscape for creativity and innovation in health and care.
  • Explore design thinking and equity centred design as a strategic innovation process and approach to problem solving.
  • Apply design thinking to a real workplace problem and get supporting resources to turn theory into action.
  • Develop your creativity as a management, leadership and problem solving capability.
  • Create team and organisational cultures able to find innovative solutions to complex problems.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone working in health and social care who is interested in bringing greater creativity to their work. It’s suitable for those working at all levels and across sectors but will be especially relevant for managers and leaders who want to take up their role more creatively and encourage innovative practices in their teams and organisations.

Who will you learn with?

Dr Simon Newitt

I am a Senior Consultant in the leadership and organisation development team at The King's Fund.

Dharaa Patel

I am a Development Consultant in the leadership and organisational development team at The King's Fund.

Who developed the course?

The King's Fund logo

The King's Fund

The King’s Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. Its vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 12 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

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  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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