Design Thinking (DT) is an effective tool for promoting innovation and solving complex challenges. However, DT workshops frequently use static environments that fail to meet the precise requirements for the participants to understand and emerge in the Inspire, Ideate, and Implement phases. This study fills this gap by using DT to create and test a Smart Environment Control System (SECS), an IoT-enabled technology that dynamically modifies ambient variables (lighting, sound, temperature, and aroma) to promote engagement, creativity, and collaboration. We examine existing DT workshops in the Inspire phase to generate specific insights into participants’ interactions and methodological support needs. In the Ideate phase, we apply these insights to develop the Smart Environment Control System (SECS), a dynamic tool designed to adapt to classroom conditions. Finally, during the implementation phase, the SEC's prototype is tested in a controlled workshop to determine its impact on creativity, engagement, and outcomes. The SECS significantly improved workshop outcomes by customizing the setting to participants’ phase-specific requirements.