This course will work with 4th-year Dundalk Institute of Technology students and their challenge to upgrade energy efficiency methods to an existing building for the charity organisation Save Our Homeless Dundalk. This is a condensed course over four weeks: the structure of this course will provide an overview of the six stages in design thinking and apply the same methodologies to the students' local challenges.

The students will follow the design thinking process to ask how an assessment can be best accomplished through the design thinking process. The students will be supported by Barbara McGowen, coordinator on Save Our Homeless Dundalk, Enda Fields, lecturer in the Department of the Built Environment, and our innovating trainer.

Our Design Thinking training teaches valuable skills that can be used to create people-centred, innovative plans in response to challenges or opportunities like the one above. You will also have access to 1-on-1 mentoring from your trainer and co-trainer. Co-trainers are volunteers from your county with knowledge and experience in community action.


Innovating Communities courses are led by Design Thinking experts and community volunteer 'co-trainers' to help training teams tackle projects like these.

Group sessions will take place on Tuesdays, March 22nd and 29th and April 5th and 26th from 2 - 4 pm.