Design Thinking
Key question
What defines design thinking?
Design thinking is a human-centred approach to problem solving: first understand, then design, test early and continually improve. It is used in design, business, schools and public administration.
Learning objective: You can explain the Design Thinking process and mindset, and differentiate it from other approaches.
First understand, then design.
1.1 / Where it comes from
Design thinking combines design practice with innovation work.
The approach has several roots:
FROM THE 1960S
Design research
Researchers such as Herbert Simon and Nigel Cross examined how designers solve problems. The term itself first appeared in the title of a book by Peter Rowe in 1987.
FROM 1991
IDEO
The IDEO agency popularised the human-centred, iterative process in projects for businesses.
From 2005
d.school and HPI
The Stanford d.school and later the HPI School of Design Thinking in Potsdam introduced this approach to education.
Today, there are many variations that differ in the number and naming of the phases, but essentially work in a similar way.
Design thinking is a framework, not a recipe.
1.2 / Three perspectives
Good solutions are desirable, feasible and viable.
A solution is compelling if it answers three questions:
HUMAN
Desirable
Do people really want this? Does it solve a genuine need?
TECHNOLOGY
Doable
Can it be implemented with the available resources?
ECONOMY
Sustainable
Can it be operated and funded sustainably over the long term?
Design thinking consciously begins with people. Technology and business come into play as soon as it is clear what is needed.
Starting with people, keeping technology and business in mind.
1.3 / The Process
Open and close, twice.
The British Design Council's Double Diamond model illustrates the process as two diamonds: first, the problem is broadly explored and defined, and then many solutions are developed with the best one being implemented.
In this course, the modules follow these stages: Understand and Observe (Discover), Define Point of View (Define), Ideate (Develop), and Select, Prototype and Test (Deliver). In practice, you will jump back and forth between the stages.
First the right problem, then the right solution.
1.4 / Attitude
It is the attitude that makes the difference, not the method.
Methods can be learnt. They become effective with an attitude:
01
Curiosity
Asking questions, rather than immediately having answers.
02
Show, don't tell
Making ideas visible: sketching, building, role-playing.
03
Failure as learning
Fail early and cheaply to learn quickly.
04
Collaboration
Different perspectives within the team lead to better solutions.
Design thinking is no substitute for specialist expertise and isn't suitable for every problem. It is particularly helpful where needs are unclear and there are multiple possible solutions.
Show early, learn early.
Exercise
The 30-minute mini challenge
Task: Run through the entire process once quickly, in pairs. Topic: the commute to school or work.
STEP 1
Interview each other for five minutes: 'Tell me about your last journey to school.'
STEP 2
Note down a need of your counterpart as a sentence: … needs a way to … to …
STEP 3
Sketch five ideas about this in five minutes.
STEP 4
Show the best sketch and get five minutes of feedback.
Evaluation: What surprised you? Which phase was difficult, and why?