【Article by CICII】

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.

Students worked in teams and moved through key stages of the design thinking process, including problem discovery, user research, ideation, and early prototyping. This experiential approach allowed participants to see how ideas evolve through testing, feedback, and revision. Many teams discovered that their initial assumptions about a problem changed as they engaged more deeply with users. Insights gathered through interviews and discussions often prompted participants to refine, adjust, or even rethink their original ideas. Participants were also encouraged to focus on asking better questions rather than rushing to produce solutions. Questions such as “Who are we designing for?”, “What challenges do they face?”, and “Why do these challenges exist?” helped teams reframe problems through empathy.

The workshop also emphasised that innovation is rarely about finding a single “correct” answer. Instead, it involves exploring possibilities, testing ideas, and refining them through feedback. This mindset encourages adaptability, resilience, and creativity, that are essential when addressing complex global challenges and developing meaningful, sustainable solutions.

As the first activity in the 2026 NCCU Creative Ideas Hackathon series, the workshop provided an important foundation for participants as they move forward with their projects. Many students left with a deeper appreciation of the role empathy plays in problem-solving, as well as greater confidence in approaching open-ended challenges.

The 2026 NCCU Creative Ideas Hackathon promises to be a dynamic platform for students to explore ideas, collaborate across disciplines, and develop solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future. The Design Thinking Workshop has provided participants with both practical skills and a way of thinking that places people at the centre of innovation. NCCU CICII will continue to organise additional workshops to further prepare students for the Hackathon.