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42Courses

Creative Thinking

9h

Three things you can count on.

A CPD-accredited Mini MBA.

Credit you can trust, built on genuine progress. Signed, dated, and easy to verify.

Marked by humans, not bots.

A real person reviews what you submit and responds, usually within 24 hours.

Personalised to your role.

Every lesson is reshaped to match what you do, so you can take it straight into your week.


About this course

Learning to think creatively is one of those skills that keeps paying you back, long after the course ends.

When you develop creative thinking, you get better at solving problems, coming up with ideas that actually matter, and standing out. And honestly, that makes you less replaceable in pretty much any industry.

In this online creative thinking course, you'll learn the process from people who do this for a living.

You'll work out how to handle the moments when ideas won't show up, how to put yourself in the right mindset to generate options, and how to sharpen your observation so you notice more of what's going on around you.

You'll also understand why it helps to be comfortable with failure, how constraints can steer creativity instead of blocking it, and you'll pick up a set of practical techniques you can use right away.

When you finish, you'll receive a CPD-accredited certificate you can add to your CV or LinkedIn profile with confidence.

So, are you ready to come up with stronger ideas and move ahead in today's fast world?

If yes, this course is worth your time.

Why learn with 42courses?

This short course, created with leading industry experts, is designed to help you strengthen your creative thinking skills.

With videos from key contributors, it's built to cover the basics of creative thinking, plus real tools and strategies you can start applying immediately.

Finally, online learning that feels good to do.

Have you noticed how most online courses get abandoned?

The average completion rate is under 10%, and that's usually not because learners aren't capable.

It's often because many platforms don't fully account for how different online learning is from being in a classroom together.

At 42courses, we've spent a lot of time designing the experience so it actually works for online learners, not just in theory.

We bring topics to life using things like storytelling, empathic design and strong visuals, so the learning sticks and feels motivating, not dull.

Each course is broken into short lessons you can complete whenever it suits you, at your own speed. And at the end of every lesson, you'll answer different types of questions to check what you've understood.

As you go, you'll earn points and badges, so you can quickly see how you're progressing compared with others on the platform.

What level of learning is this?

  • Every 42courses course is built to take you through the essentials. That means you should leave with a real understanding of the subject, including the key methods, models and best practice.
  • You'll be assessed by real tutors as you move through the course, and if you get stuck, they'll guide you in the right direction.
  • You don't need any prior knowledge to get started.

How long does it take to complete a course?

  • You'll typically spend around 7-9 hours completing the course. There are no strict time limits, and everything is organised into small, easy-to-digest lessons.
  • Because it's on-demand, you can start and finish whenever you want. No more waiting for assignments to be checked.

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What you'll learn:

  • Practical methods to generate fresh ideas
  • Why lateral thinking works so well
  • How to set up a creative environment that supports you
  • Ways to move past creative blocks
  • Tips to strengthen your observation skills

Who's it for

Built around what you need.

This is for:

  • Anyone who wants to get better at being creative
  • People who are trying to come up with stronger ideas
  • Business leaders who want to grow their organisation

A peek behind the curtain.

💡

Inside a lesson

Short, story-led lessons that don't drag on. Each one is about 15 minutes, with video, a written story that keeps the meaning clear, and a question to make sure you truly got it.

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AI personalisation

Made for your role and the goals you're working towards. Tell us what you do and what you want to change. Every lesson is reshaped into practical takeaways for your day-to-day. The frameworks and data stay the same, but the examples become relevant to you.

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Real feedback

Real people supporting you. Some of the questions are reviewed by a member of our team. If you want direction, you'll get it. If you're stuck, we're also happy to jump on a call.

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The certificate

A Mini MBA certificate you can genuinely keep. CPD-accredited, signed, dated, and trackable. And yes, the completion rate is strong, sitting above 80%, compared to the typical industry figure around 10%.


42courses vs typical online courses.

Feature 42courses Typical platform
Marking & feedback by real people Within 24 hours Auto-quiz only
Personalised by role & sector AI rewrites every lesson Same content for everyone
Taught by working practitioners The people who wrote the book Often academics or actors
Average completion rate Over 80% 5 to 15% (industry average)
CPD-accredited Mini MBA certificate Every course Sometimes
30-day money back, no questions If you aren't happy, we aren't Usually a 7-day refund window

Questions you might be pondering.

You're looking at roughly eight hours of content, divided into bite-sized lessons of around 15 minutes each. Most people get through it in about two weeks. Of course, there's no deadline, and you can pause if work or life gets in the way.
No special background is needed. We start with the core fundamentals and build from there. You'll get a fresh way to approach the subject, guided by insights from well-known thought leaders. Whether you're totally new or you've been doing this for years, there's something to sharpen your approach.
Each lesson ends with a short question to test your understanding. For each course, some questions are marked manually by our team. If you need extra guidance, a real person reviews your response and sends feedback that helps you move forward. And if you ever want to talk it through, we can help via a call too.
You've got 30 days from enrolment to request a full refund, no questions asked. No awkward interviews and no confusing back-and-forth. Refund requests get answered within 24 hours, and often sooner. If the course isn't right for you, we'll make it right.
The books give you the theory. This course focuses on using that theory in real situations. It's customised around your role and goals, so you finish each lesson with practical takeaways you can actually apply, not just ideas you admire.
Yes. People have been using the approach across tech, healthcare, retail, banking, government, charities and education. Because your lessons are personalised to your role and goals, the examples and exercises adjust to your real-world context as you go.
Yes. For most learning and development teams, this fits neatly into the usual budgets. If you need it, we can also issue a VAT-friendly invoice. Just email us at groundcontrol@42courses.com. For groups of 10 or more, check Team plans.
You'll get a CPD-accredited certificate that's recognised in the UK and internationally for continuing professional development. It's personalised with your name, signed, dated and trackable. Pop it onto LinkedIn, your CV, your next performance review, or even keep it somewhere visible at home.

Tools You'll Explore

Josy Paul

Josy Paul

Josy Paul, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer at BBDO India, started BBDO India back in 2008 from the backseat of his car. In 2016, he was named Creative Agency Head of the Year by the Indian Advertising Association. Campaign Magazine recognised him as 'Creative Person of the Year' for India and South Asia in 2013, 2015 and 2016. The Economic Times also lists him among the most influential figures in Indian advertising.

Shannie Mears

Shannie Mears

Shannie Mears is the Co-Founder and Head of Talent at The Elephant Room. She's also behind the Girls Let's Talk network and serves on the UK's Race Disparity Advisory Board. Her focus is on moving the diversity conversation forward in the UK, with real momentum.

Jon Wilkins

Jon Wilkins

Jon Wilkins is Executive Chairman at Karmarama. Before that, he helped establish Naked, a communications agency that shook things up on the international stage. Under his involvement, it grew into a wider group with offices across New York, Melbourne, Sao Paolo, Paris, Singapore, Dubai and Tokyo. Jon joined Karmarama in 2014 and regularly speaks at the IPA, The World Federation of Advertisers and Cannes Lions.

Cindy Gallop

Cindy Gallop

Cindy Gallop is the CEO and Founder of MakeLoveNotPorn.TV. She works as an advertising consultant, is a founder, and previously chaired the US branch of BBH. She's also the creator of IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn. As noted by the TED blog, Gallop's TEDTalk 'Make Love Not Porn' was one of the 'most talked-about presentations' at the 2009 TED conference.

Rory Sutherland

Rory Sutherland

Rory Sutherland is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in advertising and behavioural science. He serves as President Emeritus of Ogilvy Consulting, where he co-founded the agency's groundbreaking behavioural science offering. He's also the bestselling author of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense. Rory joined Ogilvy as a graduate trainee in 1988, then spent more than twenty years working as a copywriter and creative director. Eventually, he turned his attention to a bigger question: why do people really choose to do the things they do? His broad answer is that humans are wonderfully irrational, and that's not a flaw. It's part of how we function. The behavioural science work he helped build looks for small psychological shifts that lead to huge results in human behaviour. His TED talks, including the fan-favourite 'Life Lessons from an Ad Man', have been viewed millions of times, making him one of TED's most watched marketing thinkers. He also writes the Wiki Man column for The Spectator, is a former President of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), and founded Nudgestock, the biggest festival for behavioural science and creativity, often described as 'Glastonbury for nerds'. Along with Alchemy, his books include The Wiki Man and Transport for Humans (co-authored with Pete Dyson). Across all his work, you'll notice the same themes: logic is overhyped, a bad idea can still flip into a good idea, and real progress comes more from thinking differently than from spending more. Rory lives in Kent, England, and remains advertising's most quotable defender of the illogical.

Amanda Russel

Amanda Russel

Professor of Marketing at the University of Texas, Amanda is a strategist, a speaker and teaches marketing as part of her work there. She's also the author of The Influencer Code, a practical guide to unlocking the impact of influencer marketing. Outside of her professional work, Amanda is also a high-level distance runner, and her achievements earned her a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympic trials.


What we'll cover, in order.

The Creative Challenge

Understand what creativity is, why it's important and how to deal with creative blocks.
What is creativity?
Why it's sometimes hard to be creative
How to deal with creative blocks
Creation vs. Consumption

Your Mindset

How to best prepare yourself mentally to boost your creativity.
Why exercise helps
Develop your curiosity
Question everything
Get comfortable with failure
Overcoming the 'messy middle'
Creativity is about reinvention

Your Environment

We are shaped more by our environment than we often realise. Learn how to shape yours to your advantage.
Create the right environment
Expand your sources of inspiration
Read Some Sci-Fi
Increase your powers of observation
The benefits of travel
The Importance of Diversity

Gearing up for Creativity

Creativity is not magic. There is a process and it starts by getting yourself ready to be creative.
Understand the process
Develop a routine
Take notes
Study the greats
Set yourself some constraints

Getting Creative

You’ve done the preparation. Now it’s time to get creative.
Be empathetic
Quantity over quality
Collaborate
Refine. Refine. Refine
The Importance of Rest

Killer Techniques

There are a number of helpful techniques to aid your creative thinking. Here we take a look at some of the best.
The 'Thirty Circles' Exercise
Mind Mapping
The ‘S.C.A.M.P.E.R.’ technique
Exaptation
Use Mental Models
Engage your ‘virtual’ boardroom
Why humour is important
The 'Hemingway Bridge'
The 'Cut-up' Technique

Certification Process

1

Complete all the classes

Attend classes, ask questions, and finish your homework. We check your activity and support your learning journey every step of the way.

2

Get the Summary Notes

Receive high-quality supporting documents, summary notes, and recommended readings. Ensure you have access to all tools and resources.

3

Complete 100% Impact

Complete the final assessment to validate your learning. Earn your certificate and share your achievement with your professional network!

Creative Thinking
Free

This Course Includes:

Level Access
9h of Content
Certificate of Completion
English

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