AIPO Hosts Hands-On Design Thinking Workshop at Ateneo in April 2026

On April 30, 2026, the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) conducted an engaging Design Thinking HCD+ Workshop at the PIPAC Building, Ateneo de Manila University – Loyola Heights campus. Running from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the workshop gathered a focused group of six participants from both academe and industry, creating a highly interactive and collaborative learning environment. 

Group photo of Participants with their Certificates of Completion

A Human-Centered Challenge

Through the facilitation of Mr Steve Chaves and Ms Mariela Alcaparas of AIPO, the workshop revolved around a case scenario of a jeepney driver struggling to earn enough to provide for their family. While used as a learning prompt, the case enabled participants to practice empathy and apply human-centered design principles to better understand stakeholder needs and constraints.

Mariela Alcaparas facilitating the workshop

From Mapping to Making: Turning Ideas into Prototypes

Participants began with an ecosystem mapping activity, where they visualized key stakeholders, relationships, and potential friction points within the given challenge. This helped uncover insights on how different actors—such as drivers, communities, government, and private entities—interact within a broader system.

Ecosystem Mapping Activity

Building on these insights, participants moved into prototyping, transforming their ideas into physical models using plastic building blocks and popsicle sticks. These prototypes represented their proposed solutions, making abstract ideas more tangible and easier to communicate.

Low-fidelity prototype of the Design Thinking Workshop

Testing Ideas, Gaining Insights

A highlight of the workshop was the Test Phase, where participants presented their prototypes and received valuable feedback from Mr Lorenzo Tiongson, MSc, Business Development Officer at AIPO. His insights encouraged teams to refine their concepts further, ensuring that solutions remained practical, relevant, and grounded in real-world considerations.

Lorenzo Tiongson providing feedback to the prototype

Building a Culture of Innovation

This Design Thinking Workshop reflects AIPO’s continued commitment to fostering innovation and equipping individuals with tools to solve complex challenges. Through structured methodologies and hands-on activities, participants were empowered to translate insights into actionable and creative solutions.

As AIPO continues to roll out similar initiatives, it remains dedicated to nurturing a community of innovators ready to create meaningful impact across sectors.

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Interested in how Design Thinking can help you or your team? Visit aipo.ateneo.edu/designthinking to check out our upcoming workshops for 2026. You may also send us a message at aipo@ateneo.edu for more information.