27/04/2026
💡【Launching Innovation: Design Thinking Workshop Kicks Off the 2026 NCCU Creative Ideas Hackathon】
On 28–29 March 2026, more than 100 students from NCCU and universities across Taiwan gathered for a Design Thinking Workshop that marked the launch of the 2026 NCCU Creative Ideas Hackathon. Organised by the Centre for Industry Collaboration and Innovation Incubation (CICII), the workshop introduced participants to the hackathon theme, “Shaping a Sustainable World,” through a human-centred design approach.
As the opening programme of the hackathon series, the workshop aimed to equip students with both the mindset and practical tools needed to address complex real-world challenges. At its core was human-centric design, an approach that emphasises empathy, a deep understanding of user needs, and iterative problem-solving.
The workshop was facilitated by Singapore-based design thinking expert Simon Siah, who shared insights drawn from his experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, and education. Through interactive sessions, he introduced design thinking not only as a structured framework but also as a way of observing, questioning, and learning from others.
A key message throughout the workshop was the importance of understanding the problem before attempting to solve it. Participants explored how rushing directly to solutions can sometimes overlook important insights about users’ needs and experiences. Through hands-on activities such as user interviews, brainstorming sessions, and rapid prototyping exercises, students learned how to uncover deeper insights into user behaviour and motivations. This perspective was particularly relevant to the hackathon’s sustainability theme. Sustainability challenges often involve complex issues across environmental, social, and behavioural dimensions. By grounding their ideas in real human experiences, participants were able to develop more practical and meaningful solutions.
