Design thinking project. Your challenge. Our Solution.

In the HWZ Design Thinking project, students from the Bachelor’s programme in Digital Business & AI develop practical, user-centred prototypes—creatively, with agility, and delivering tangible added value for businesses.

Students from the Bachelor’s programme in Digital Business & AI work in teams to address real-world challenges faced by companies and develop tangible solutions. The structured process combines creativity, empathy and strategy, making innovation both measurable and actionable.

Your benefits

  • An interactive prototype that addresses your company’s challenge

  • Up to 15–30 additional ideas for innovative solutions

  • Fresh perspectives through design thinking and agile methods

  • Practice-oriented project with a clear focus on results

  • Collaboration with committed, working professionals (70–80% employment level) who apply their knowledge directly to project work

  • Positioning as an innovative employer

Your role as client

  • Active support for students provided by a designated contact person

  • Participation in designated touchpoints such as the kick-off and final presentation

  • Contributing specialist knowledge and targeted feedback throughout the entire process

What you should bring with you

  • A brief outline of the design dhallenge (course language: English)

  • Approximately 20 hours of work spread over five months

  • Financial contribution of CHF 3,000 (including materials, test subjects, premises and supervision)

  • Company headquarters in German-speaking Switzerland, ideally in the Zurich area

Services provided by HWZ

  • Support with formulating the design challenge

  • Professional support and coaching from experienced lecturers

  • Structured innovation process in accordance with international standards

  • Expertise and quality standards at HWZ

Process & Schedule

Start: March

Completion: July

Touchpoints:

  • January Optional workshop (half-day or full-day) for developing your design challenge, either at HWZ or at your premises

  • March – Kick-off with students

  • July – Presentation of project results followed by a drinks reception

Projects already implemented

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Get to know the Bachelor’s degree programme in Digital Business & AI

The Bachelor’s degree in Digital Business & AI combines business management thinking with technological expertise. Students learn to understand digital business models, develop software and digital solutions, and analyse data using artificial intelligence methods. Core topics include software engineering, data and AI, digital business processes, and project management. The programme is practice-oriented and prepares students to develop and implement digital solutions for real-world business challenges.

Contact

Interested? Submit your design challenge and benefit from fresh ideas and a prototype that will help advance your organisation. Contact us now for a non-binding initial consultation – we look forward to hearing about your challenge.