When overnight shelling in Ukraine forced humanitarian workers to flee their own field clinic, it wasn’t just another wartime evacuation. When the Haitian earthquake shattered already-fragile supply lines, it wasn’t just a logistical breakdown.

Each of these crises was predictable in broad outlines—yet each still caught responders unprepared. We keep calling these “natural disasters” or “unforeseen emergencies,” but in reality, they’re the end result of decisions made long before trouble strikes. Decisions not to invest in resilient infrastructure. Decisions to ignore intensifying climate signals. Decisions to maintain fragmented planning models and hope for the best.

These are not isolated incidents. They’re part of a global pattern of inadequate crisis management—and it’s straining every system we rely on. The lesson from Ukraine to Haiti is alarmingly consistent: Siloed approaches, outmoded playbooks, and overlooked local perspectives turn tough situations into cascading failures.

A Failing Model for a Changing World

Traditional emergency management frameworks were shaped for a different era. Decades ago, crises seemed simpler, more contained. A flood was a localized event; a pandemic was a once-in-a-century anomaly. Agencies could plan based on static assumptions of risk, then react when something went wrong.

Today, that model cracks under modern complexity. Rapid urbanization means disasters unfold faster and strike more people at once. Geopolitical tensions blur the lines between civilian and conflict zones. Climate shifts amplify storms and accelerate migration patterns. At the same time, humanitarian, development, and military stakeholders each bring specialized expertise—but rarely operate from a shared blueprint.

The result? By the time a crisis hits, organizations have no coordinated way to synthesize on-the-ground realities, user perspectives, and new information on the fly. The old plans, however thorough on paper, simply can’t keep pace.

Why Design Thinking Matters

Amid these systemic breakdowns, some emergency managers, military strategists, and humanitarian responders have been quietly experimenting with a different approach: Design Thinking. It’s a structured, human-centered framework that starts by understanding the real needs of affected communities and ends by testing targeted solutions—often multiple times—in real-world conditions.

We’ve seen glimpses of its potential. A humanitarian team in Ukraine prototyped modular clinics, co-developed with local medics, to sustain critical services even when forced to relocate. A multi-agency group in Haiti used empathy-driven field assessments to reshape relief distribution for community-led rebuilding. Wherever design thinking principles are integrated, the gap between “expert planning” and “on-the-ground realities” narrows.

Yet these successes remain the exception rather than the norm. There’s an urgent need to move beyond ad hoc innovation—an imperative to systematically embed design thinking within military, emergency, and humanitarian structures on a larger scale.

A New Course for a New Era

That’s why we’re introducing “Design Thinking in Integrated Crisis Management.” It’s built on the conviction that empathize–define–ideate–prototype–test isn’t just a catchy slogan. It’s a framework that can help reinvent how crisis planning and response work:

• Module 1 examines the evolution of design thinking from the 1960s onward, showing how it establishes a common language across traditionally siloed sectors.
• Module 2 brings forward real-world case studies—highlighting how design thinking adapts crisis planning for everything from armed conflicts to urban floods.
• Module 3 confronts the growing complexity in urban settings, addressing the benefits and challenges of integrating diverse sectors (humanitarian, emergency, development, military).
• Module 4 underscores practical ways to integrate design thinking into existing crisis management frameworks, whether FEMA’s guidelines or the Joint Planning Process.

Over these modules, participants outline key historical milestones, identify how design thinking emerges in different crisis contexts, trace cross-sector rationales, and delineate methods to strengthen stakeholder collaboration. Rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription, this course offers a clearly structured starting point for leaders seeking to bridge persistent gaps in crisis response.

Learn more about our course here

The Choice Ahead

We’re at a defining moment. Climate patterns point to more frequent and severe disasters. Social and political uncertainties won’t ease up anytime soon. Meanwhile, the failures we see in Ukraine, and Haiti underscore the need for fundamental shifts in how we plan and respond.

It’s no longer just about tweaking an old system or clinging to outdated assumptions. Design Thinking represents a tested, human-centered model that can help us adapt—and adapt quickly—to crises that cross sectors and boundaries.

The next emergency is already forming somewhere. The only question is whether we’ll face it with the same reactive mindset or harness an approach built around empathy, iteration, and cross-sector insight.

If you’re ready to grapple with the complexity head-on, “Design Thinking in Integrated Crisis Management” offers a path forward. This course isn’t about empty buzzwords or top-down edicts. It’s a vehicle for serious professionals who recognize that the status quo isn’t enough—and who see value in aligning strategic thinking with on-the-ground realities.

Learn more about our course here

Want a Glimpse? Listen to Our Podcast

If you’re interested in getting a preview of these ideas, we’ve also released a podcast episode serving as a primer for the course.

For anyone seeking deeper insight into how design thinking can reshape crisis and emergency management, this podcast episode offers a candid look at both the promise and the challenge of adopting new frameworks under extreme pressure.