Design Factory NZ

Welcome to Design Factory NZ, located in the vibrant city of Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand. As an establishment, furniture store, home goods store, point of interest, and store, we offer a unique experience for those interested in growing their innovation capabilities, developing their leadership skills, and cultivating powerful personal growth.

At Design Factory NZ, we provide a range of programs for undergraduate and postgraduate studies, as well as professional development courses and workshops for businesses and community groups. Our approach to problem-solving and innovation is influenced by world-proven frameworks created and tested among our Design Factory Global Network.

With a focus on human-centred design, we believe that the best solutions are created in collaboration with those who are experiencing the problems. This model, developed out of Stanford University and utilized by renowned organizations such as Apple, Toyota, Nike, and Xero, forms the foundation of our innovation approach.

In addition to human-centred design, we employ various tools and approaches such as transdisciplinary innovation, action-learning, personal development plans, Lean business canvas, and more. These techniques enhance our ability to deliver effective and efficient solutions to complex challenges.

Design Factory NZ is proud to be part of the Design Factory Global Network (DFGN), a network of innovation hubs in universities and research organizations across five continents. Through shared understanding and common ways of working, we collaborate efficiently across cultures, time zones, and organizational boundaries to foster radical innovations.

We also offer exciting opportunities to participate in the Global Network, including our annual global hackathon Rat Relay and internships at Design Factories around the world. This allows our students to gain valuable international experience and expand their horizons.

When you visit our new location on campus, you'll be captivated by the striking and colorful vinyl designs on the windows of our ground-floor workshop spaces. Situated in A Block, opposite The Hub and Library, Design Factory NZ is easily accessible and hard to miss.

Our dedication to design thinking and innovation has garnered attention not only locally but also globally. Our coach, Aidan Bigham, was asked to create a design thinking course for the global online learning platform FutureLearn, and the response exceeded expectations.

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