City holds train-the-coach workshop on design thinking

The City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) conducted a Train-the-Coach workshop, Nov. 5 to 7, at the University of the Cordilleras gymnasium on Design Thinking methodologies aimed at driving innovation education in the Summer Capital.

CPDSO head Arch. Donna Tabangin said the three-day activity was participated by dedicated coaches from the city government’s various departments and were trained by international coaches.

“This marks the beginning of something transformative for our city. Our local coaches are now ready to empower our youth and create sustainable solutions for Baguio’s future,” she added.

The foundational training ensures the long-term sustainability of Impact Week Baguio City, made possible through the collaboration of Impact Week Senior Coaches, Benilde Dost Technology Business Incubator, TARAKI-CAR, and the City Government through the SIGLAT-Baguio Youth Innovation Hub, Tabangin said.

The design thinking method is a non-linear, iterative process for creative problem-solving that involves five main phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.

It is a human-centered approach that focuses on understanding user needs to develop innovative solutions through a flexible cycle of research, idea generation, and testing. – Gaby B. Keith