Transforming Corporate Training with Design Thinking at NTSA
In today’s fast-evolving work environment, traditional training models often fall short. They’re static, rigid, and rarely reflect the real needs of employees. That’s where Design Thinking comes in — a human-centered, iterative process that’s reshaping corporate learning in Kenya and beyond. At nmwaniki.com, we’ve embedded Design Thinking into eLearning development to drive engagement, improve outcomes, and meet the unique needs of each organisation we work with.
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is a creative problem-solving framework popularized by IDEO and Stanford d.school. It focuses on empathy, experimentation, and iteration — not rigid processes or top-down instruction.
It follows five key phases:
- Empathize – Understand your learners’ needs, challenges, and contexts
- Define – Identify and articulate the core learning problem
- Ideate – Brainstorm possible training interventions and tools
- Prototype – Rapidly create rough learning experiences to test
- Test – Get feedback, improve, and iterate
When applied to learning design, this approach creates solutions that are user-focused, measurable, and adaptable.
Applying Design Thinking to Corporate Learning
Let’s take an example from a recent project I led with NTSA (National Transport and Safety Authority). Their objective was to improve driver behavior and policy compliance across Kenya.
Here’s how we applied Design Thinking:
- Empathize: Conducted learner interviews with NTSA staff and drivers across counties
- Define: Identified knowledge gaps in interpreting transport policies and safety procedures
- Ideate: Brainstormed ideas — from mobile-first microlearning to interactive scenarios
- Prototype: Developed a sample module in Articulate Storyline and gathered stakeholder input
- Test: Piloted with 20 learners in Nakuru and revised content based on real feedback
The results? Learner satisfaction scores rose by 42%, and retention of policy knowledge improved significantly.
Practical Tips for Trainers and L&D Teams
Want to start using Design Thinking in your own workplace learning? Here’s how:
- ✅ Start with empathy – Interview your learners. Walk in their shoes before drafting your first slide.
- ✅ Build fast prototypes – Don’t aim for perfection. Use wireframes, sketches, or sample eLearning modules.
- ✅ Co-create with users – Bring in learners early and often. Their feedback is gold.
- ✅ Test in small batches – Run a pilot with 10–20 learners and improve before full rollout.
- ✅ Focus on outcomes, not content – Ask: “What should learners be able to do?” Not just “What should they know?”
Final Thoughts
Design Thinking turns corporate training into a conversation, not a broadcast. It centers the learner, prioritizes agility, and transforms content into action. At nmwaniki.com, we’ve used this approach with clients in health, education, transport, and governance. If you’d like to explore how Design Thinking can elevate your training programs, let’s chat.
🔖 Tags: #DesignThinking #CorporateTraining #InstructionalDesign #KenyaLearning #eLearningAfrica