The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* (d-school Afrika) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), equips you with the skills to Reframe, Rethink and Resolve real-world problems.

Based at UCT’s middle campus in Cape Town, South Africa, we aim to empower people from all over the African continent to embrace a design-led thinking mindset to create human-centred solutions that meet the demands of an ever-changing planet.

By offering experiential training, guiding the practical application of design thinking within organisational structures, and making programmes relevant to modern-day challenges, the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* is producing a calibre of African thought leader whose contributions can change the continent – and the world.

The school was founded in Cape Town in August 2015 with funding, IP and academic support from Dr. Hasso Plattner and the Hasso Plattner Foundation — co-founder of software company SAP AG and chairman of its supervisory board — and the Hasso Plattner Trust.

Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* offers context-responsive programmes for students and working professionals from South Africa and the African continent.

Since opening its doors in 2015, the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika* has:

  • Graduated over 700 curious thinkers completing the d-school’s flagship programme, Foundation Programme in Design Thinking.
  • Expanded our network and worked with over 15 project partners who provided a unique real-world challenge that students worked on using the design-led mindset to present their innovative solutions.
  • Launched an additional 64 student programmes.
  • Hosted over 120 professional programmes.
  • Built strong partnerships with over 50 clients aiming to make design thinking accessible to all.
  • Moved into our new home - HPI d-school building - situated on UCT’s middle campus in 2022.
  • Hosted the first African d-confestival over 3 days with over 300 delegates and 50+ speakers from all over the globe.