Design thinking · Innovation · Education

Understandproblems.Create newpossibility.

A practical, human-centred place to explore wicked problems, build empathy and develop the confidence to solve complex challenges through teamwork and the 5E Design Thinking Framework.

Explore the 5E Design Thinking Framework View Learning in Practice ↓

Two researchers observing people in context and recording evidence

Design thinking is not a tidy sequence of Post-it notes.

It is a way of thinking, learning and making – grounded in people and strengthened through evidence.

Strong design practice begins with curiosity. It brings people, evidence and different perspectives together so assumptions can be questioned, possibilities explored and ideas improved through purposeful action.

About Stephan

Helping people navigate complexity – and see what might be possible next.

As an educator, designer and researcher I am passionate about helping people make sense of complexity and turn ideas into meaningful action. Much of my work sits at the intersection of design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship, where I explore practical ways to support learning, creativity and problem solving. The frameworks, visual resources and learning tools I develop are shaped by ongoing collaboration with students, educators and practitioners. Among these is the 5E Design Thinking Framework, a model that has grown through years of teaching, experimentation and reflection. My goal is to create resources that are useful, accessible and adaptable, helping people build confidence as they tackle challenges, generate ideas and create positive change.

Introducing the framework

The 5E Design Thinking Framework

Innovation is not simply a sequence of activities. It is a continuous flow of understanding, insight, evidence and action.

Engage, Evaluate, Explore, Expand and Execute provide a practical, human-centred pathway through complexity. The framework makes visible the movement, feedback and learning that connect inquiry with meaningful action.

Explore the complete framework →

The nonlinear 5E Design Thinking Framework showing Engage, Evaluate, Explore, Expand and Execute

The original 5E Design Thinking Framework

Five stages. One evolving understanding.

The framework provides a memorable pathway through human-centred problem solving while preserving the movement, iteration and uncertainty of real collaborative work.

Engage

Listen before solving

Meet people in their context. Observe, ask and listen to uncover needs, behaviours and lived experience. Seek to understand not only what people do, but why they do it. Pay attention to emotions, motivations, challenges and workarounds that shape their daily experiences. Build empathy through genuine engagement, capture meaningful insights and uncover opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden, creating a richer foundation for innovation and problem-solving.

View Engage

Evaluate

Make sense of evidence

Find themes, tensions and relationships. Reframe the initial issue into a focused, actionable challenge. Look beyond surface-level symptoms to uncover underlying needs, patterns and root causes. Connect insights from different sources, identify opportunities hidden within constraints and make sense of competing perspectives. Synthesize information into a clear problem statement that guides decision-making, inspires innovation and creates a shared direction for subsequent ideation, prototyping and testing activities.

View Evaluate

Explore

Open up possibilities

The Explore stage encourages people to move beyond obvious answers and consider multiple pathways forward.

View Explore

Expand

Make ideas tangible

Build prototypes at the right level of fidelity so people can see, experience and challenge the idea. Make concepts tangible enough to spark meaningful feedback while remaining flexible enough to evolve. Use prototypes to uncover assumptions, reveal opportunities for improvement, test user reactions and explore alternatives before committing significant time, effort or resources to full-scale development and implementation.

View Expand

Execute

Test, learn and improve

Put concepts in front of users. Gather evidence, reflect, refine, and prepare a thoughtful path to implementation. Embrace experimentation as an ongoing learning process, using real-world feedback to validate assumptions, uncover opportunities, and reduce uncertainty. Measure outcomes against intended goals, iterate with purpose, and make informed decisions that strengthen the solution’s value, feasibility, desirability, and long-term impact.

View Execute

Design Thinking Learning Hub

Understand here.
Apply in OpenStudios.

Build understanding through focused learning pathways, then move into OpenStudios to explore, create, collaborate, save and develop your work.

01 · Guided pathway

Guided Project

Move through a structured design project with practical prompts, evidence expectations and links to relevant tools.

Open in OpenStudios ↗02 · Ask and learn

Ask Stephan

Explore design thinking questions through a focused learning companion.

Visit the Design Thinking Studio ↗03 · Shared language

Glossary

Clarify terms, frameworks and methods as your project develops.

Explore the glossary ↗

Learning in Practice

Building better ways to learn, think and work together.

This work explores how purpose-built digital environments can support visual thinking, applied innovation and meaningful collaboration without allowing the software to become the lesson.

Digital learning platform

OpenStudios

A connected environment where people can move from understanding an idea to applying it in meaningful project work.

Guided studiosInteractive toolsApplied projects

Explore practical spaces for design thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship and emerging technology – designed to make thinking visible and keep people actively involved.

Enter OpenStudios ↗

The real OpenStudios landing page showing its visual-thinking pathways and studios

A team discussing and developing a shared visual map

Learners using OpenStudios to develop applied project work

Methods and resources

Ideas become useful when people can work with them.

Explore visual guides, posters and learning artefacts created to make human-centred problem solving clearer, more memorable and more actionable. These resources translate complex concepts into practical tools that support learning, discussion and decision-making. By making ideas visible, they help individuals and teams develop a shared understanding, identify opportunities and navigate uncertainty with greater confidence. Visual frameworks can simplify processes, reveal connections and provide structure while still encouraging creativity and exploration. Whether used in classrooms, workshops or organisational settings, these artefacts act as conversation starters and reference points that keep people aligned and focused on meaningful outcomes. They help bridge the gap between theory and practice, enabling people to apply design thinking principles in ways that are both engaging and effective.

A team building and testing rough prototypes together

From understanding to action

Ready to put the thinking to work?

OpenStudios brings guided projects, practical tools and editable workspaces together in one connected learning environment.

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