Join the LinkedIn Design Thinking Group and other Design Thinkers on Friday August 19th and Saturday the 20th in Vancouver BC for a two-day immersion in ideas, projects and practice exploring the craft of Design Thinking.

Designers often focus on enhancing the look and functionality of products. These same design techniques can take on complex problems, such as finding ways to provide low-cost healthcare throughout the world. Non-profits, social entrepreneurs and businesses around the world are learning how  this new approach—called design thinking—can enable social innovation. See Design Thinking for Social Innovation for more.

Those of us looking to make change, to make our communities or organizations better, face difficult challenges. Complex social and economic problems are not easy to solve. The design thinking process, through discussions, collaborations, research and prototyping of ideas, generates innovative approaches that can practically work in the social, cultural, environmental and economic systems we live in.

The event will be held at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design on Granville Island. On Friday afternoon we will have a series of panel discussions exploring core issues and experiences led by leading practitioners. Friday evening we will celebrate together. Then on Saturday we will have an unConference where participants will propose and lead sessions.

If you can’t join us, follow along via Twitter #DT2011 for the tweetcast.