The Strategic Design Lab: Courses

Design Foundations

Design Strategy

Design Inside Organizational Experiences

Design Outside Organizational Experiences

Design Your Future

Co-Creation

DESIGN FOUNDATIONS

A shift Toward innovation

We created Design Foundations because our world is filled with complex, messy problems that traditional approaches struggle to solve. 
Leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers are often stuck in old frameworks, leading to stagnation and missed opportunities to make a meaningful impact. 
It’s time to embrace a culture of innovation.

Outcomes Include

Creative Problem-Solving:

Develop skills to identify and address problems creatively and empathetically.

User-Centered Insight:

Prioritize and understand end-user needs in solutions.

Collaborative Proficiency:

Gain experience in group ideation, critical thinking, and feedback.

Prototyping Confidence:

Quickly bring ideas to life and refine with real-world feedback.

How It Works

  • Join in-person at the Strategic Design Lab in Fayetteville, NC, or online, with personalized feedback throughout.

  • Master the Strategic Design Framework to address real-world issues.

  • Practice hands-on design thinking through workshops and team activities, available on-site and in the Innovators Portal.

  • Create a personalized innovation roadmap and access additional resources to expand your skills post-course.

DESIGN STRATEGY

Design Strategy 

Unlock a FUTURE -READY Strategy

Every organization needs a future-ready strategy. But outdated approaches often lack the flexibility to respond to change, stifling growth and innovation. 
They miss emerging trends and lead to missed opportunities! With a fresh perspective, your team can evolve its strategy and embrace a new path forward.

Outcomes Include

Future-Ready Insights:

Learn to adapt strategies to changing markets and environments.

User-Focused Perspective:

Design strategies around evolving user needs.

Agile Planning:

Develop skills to pivot as new challenges and opportunities arise.

Strategic Toolkit:

Gain tools to continuously refresh and align strategies.

How It Works

  • Future-Ready Insights: Learn to adapt strategies to changing markets and environments.

  • User-Focused Perspective: Design strategies around evolving user needs.

  • Agile Planning: Develop skills to pivot as new challenges and opportunities arise.

  • Strategic Toolkit: Gain tools to continuously refresh and align strategies.

DESIGN INSIDE ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERENCES

REVITALIZE Your Organization

Every organization needs internal harmony to achieve its goals. Unfortunately, many structures, processes and roles are outdated, rigid, and disconnected from today’s needs. They create bottlenecks, reduce adaptability, and fail to inspire employees! 
Using human-centered design, your team can build a more cohesive, agile, and engaging workplace that meets both employee and organizational needs.

Outcomes Include

Enhanced Structures:

Redesign frameworks to support collaboration and flexibility.

Optimized Roles:

Align roles and workflows with team strengths and objectives.

Efficient Processes:

Streamline adaptable processes to boost productivity and satisfaction.

People-Centered Toolkit:

Access tools to refine and adapt the organization continuously.

How It Works

  • With room for 8-10 participants, the Design Inside course is accessible in both in-person and online formats. 

  • Led by a Strategic Design Lab instructor, sessions feature group exercises and practical skills. 

  • Participants access extra resources via the Innovators Portal after each session.

DESIGN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCES

BREAK the Mold

Every organization needs effective products, services, and systems to thrive. Yet, external solutions often feel disconnected, rigid, and out of sync with users’ needs. They become irrelevant, limit engagement, and lose their impact! 
With human-centered design, your team can develop innovative, adaptable solutions that resonate with users.

Outcomes Include

Product and Service Innovation:

Build skills to create user-focused products and services.

Community Impact:

Design systems that engage and positively affect communities.

Agile Design:

Acquire tools to adapt designs to market changes and feedback.

External Design Toolkit:

Gain strategies to craft impactful solutions beyond organizational limits.

How It Works

  • Designed for 8-10 participants, the Design Inside course is available online and in person. 

  • A Strategic Design Lab instructor guides each session with hands-on group exercises and relevant applications. 

  • Post-session, participants can explore additional resources on the Innovators Portal.

DESIGN YOUR FUTURE

Navigate YOUR FUTURE with confidence

Everyone needs a vision for their future. But planning ahead can feel daunting, unclear, and difficult to navigate. It leads to uncertainty, stagnation, and lost opportunities! 

With human-centered design, you can create a clear, flexible roadmap to bring your aspirations to life.

Outcomes Include

Clarity on Goals:

Understand personal and professional aspirations.

Future-Focused Problem Solving:

Approach life planning with creativity and strategy.

Adaptability:

Build skills to adjust plans as life changes.

Personalized Toolkit:

Take home tools to shape and refine your life path.

How It Works

  • The Design Your Future course, tailored for 8-10 participants, can be taken online or in person. 

  • Sessions, led by a Strategic Design Lab instructor, include hands-on group activities and practical applications.

  • After each session, participants can explore resources on the Innovators Portal for continued growth.

CO-CREATION

iNNOVATE with Us

Partnering with International Spheres allows individuals and organizations to tackle unique challenges through a co-creative process. 
By working directly with our team, clients benefit from an immersive approach where ideas are generated collaboratively, ensuring solutions are both innovative and aligned with your specific needs and goals.

Outcomes Include

Customized Solutions:

Create tailored solutions to meet specific challenges.

Innovation Capacity:

Access to tools and experience to tackle future challenges with confidence.

Stakeholder Alignment:

Build team buy-in and clarity toward shared goals.

Ongoing Partnership:

Leave with an actionable roadmap and support from us.

How It Works

  • Clients begin with a consultation to define the challenge, then engage in collaborative workshops, both in-person and online. 

  • Together, we navigate ideation, prototyping, and testing to ensure practical solutions. 

  • Each engagement ends with a tailored action plan and resources for ongoing innovation and growth.

Get Started

Interested in Learning More?

To learn more about International Spheres or our offerings, call us at 910-491-0142 or complete the Contact Us form.