What is Design Thinking?

The Design Thinking method is a method based on problem-solving learning techniques to allow people to develop skills for innovation. Both in the present and for a future that is still largely unknown.  The most important foundations of the DT method are

 

creative thinking

intensive cooperation

a fixed plan of action

working in cycles

implementing innovations

holistic view

 

The method offers a structured approach to develop the skills required to tackle challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Creative proces

 

An important starting point of DT is meeting the needs of users by means of a creative development process and creating new value. A step-by-step method has been designed to achieve this, resulting in a process that is focussed on the development of innovative and solution-oriented ideas. Performing research and out-of-the-box thinking are important aspects and make this method extremely suitable for an educational setting. When following this method, you should try to reserve judgement until the end of the process and you are allowed to make mistakes: it forms an essential part of the learning process.

5 steps

 

The Design Thinking method is based on 5 steps:

 

Empathize: being able to see the world through another person’s eyes (the user): what does he see and feel, what makes him tick; understanding the problems and realities of the user as completely as possible, his needs, wishes, behaviour and the relationship to the world in which he lives.

 

Define: determining the clearest possible definition of the problem that you want to solve.

 

Ideate: collect as many ideas for solutions as possible through unlimited brainstorming and out-of-the-box thinking.

 

Prototype: visualising the concepts in order to test solutions that have been devised and to improve the functionality.

 

Test: testing the trial solutions in close coordination with the needs of the user.

Working in cycles

 

The steps form a cyclical process, in which you can and should always go back to previous steps to adjust the process.

 

Mindset

 

Design Thinking teaches you to develop new appealing alternatives instead of deciding between existing options. You develop yourself to become an innovator with a mindset to tackle the (unknown) challenges of the future. Another strong point is the meta-cognitive value of the method. The step-by-step plan gives you a firm grip, without undermining the creative process to discover the boundaries of your learning capabilities. Making mistakes also forms an essential part of the learning process.

Methodology

 

The practical and creative way of solving problems is a defining characteristic of the Design Thinking method. Thinking and doing go hand in hand.  Intensive cooperation is essential for this process. Cooperation results in a broad range of perspectives and insights coming together to form new ideas. In other words, Design Thinking is a holistic approach. It is also important to note that the method starts with a broad base (the first 3 steps: empathize, define, ideate), after which the acquired knowledge and insights are focused on several specific applications (prototype, test)). As you are working for/with your user/problem owner, feedback at the end of the process is essential. This cyclical method should lead to the optimum result.

Use in education
 

 

DT was initially used to provide a standard step-by-step plan for industrial designers. Stanford University then started using these steps as a way of thinking with the scientific fields to provide new (design) solutions (thinking) for existing problems. This method has now also found its way into organisations in society for the development of products or services.

In recent years, DT has become increasingly visible in education. Various American universities have included the method in their curriculum and in the Netherlands this method is seen as a practical way of developing the so-called 21st century skills

 

Realistic context

 

An essential part of DT is that you work with tangible problems in a realistic context.

Taking into consideration this starting point, the method can be applied to almost all school subjects and cross-curricular projects and in all education sectors: primary, secondary, vocational and higher education.  The method is particularly suitable for practical assignments, school assignments and projects, graduation projects and anywhere where the so-called 21st century skills need to be included in the curriculum. The method can be applied to topical problems in the students’ living environment and is therefore highly motivating. The method is also - by definition - personalised and therefore does justice to everyone’s own talents: challenging for cognitively gifted students, inviting and motivating for students with practical or artistic intelligence.