SickKids Design Lab

The SickKids Design Lab is about people. We believe that caring for people is complex, emotional, and deeply interconnected. Traditional problem-solving approaches in health care often fall short for this type of complexity, which is why we champion Human-Centred Design (HCD) as both a mindset and a practical toolkit. Grounded in empathy, HCD brings diverse voices into the process, fuels creativity, and empowers teams and individuals to generate solutions that truly resonate with the children, families, and staff we serve.

The SickKids Design Lab offers training that equips teams in health care with practical Human-Centered Design skills to solve complex challenges and improve experiences for patients, families, and staff.

In our monthly Design Interest Group we invite designers working within health care to share their expertise and perspectives, enriching participants’ knowledge and cultivating a lively community of clinicians, designers, researchers, and innovators.

Creative Rebels

Design for Health Care Certificate Program

Join the creative revolution!

The Creative Rebels: Design for Health Care Certificate is a six-month, project-based course that will give you the tools to tackle a problem or challenge from your own work environment. Through hands-on application of Human-Centred Design methods, you'll gain a deeper understanding of your problem and design impactful, user-centred solutions.

What to expect

The curriculum combines interactive lectures and experiential learning, equipping participants with core design competencies such as empathy-driven research, problem-framing, ideation, prototyping, and iterative design. You will develop organizational problem-solving capabilities through a dynamic mix of classroom learning and hands-on project work.

30 hours of in-person instruction onsite at SickKids
Expert coaching and mentorship
Real-world project work rooted in your own professional environment
Additional time spent on your project outside of class

Who should take the course

Creative Rebels is designed for anyone involved in solving problems within the healthcare system, so whether you're developing a new program, revamping a clinical service, designing a product, or looking for better tools to engage your team, this course provides methods to approach your problem in a more human, creative way.

No prior experience with Human-Centered Design is necessary.

Schedule

Classes run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by optional studio sessions with coaching available from 1 to 2 p.m.

2026/27 Session Dates:

September 10, 2026
October 22, 2026
November 26, 2026
January 28, 2027
February 25, 2027
March 25, 2027

Applications open March 2, 2026 and are due on April 15, 2026.

Applications

Participants are encouraged to apply as teams, as collaboration is a core competency of Human-Centered Design, however applications from individuals will be considered. If you’re apply as an individual, you'll need to identify colleagues outside of the program for support and collaboration on your project.

Participation in this course requires endorsement from your leader to ensure you receive the necessary support and dedicated time to succeed in your project. Along with your application you must submit a Leadership Endorsement.

For more information about course fees and the application process, contact us at design.lab@sickkids.ca.

Design Interest Group

The Design Interest Group (DIG) is a monthly meet up for anyone interested in exploring how Human-Centered Design is shaping the future of health care. Whether you're new to design or already applying it in your work, the DIG offers a space to learn, collaborate, and share ideas. 

We’re continuing to grow the SickKids Design Lab by adding offerings and resources. Check back regularly to see what’s new.