Design Thinking

Design thinking is an approach for creative problem-solving.

Design thinking is an approach to solving problems based on design principles. Design thinking is unique because it starts at desirability – it is human-centered from the beginning of the process, and only after understanding the user (ie. a person) in a deeper way does it narrow down options to what is feasible/ viable for the business/ service provider. It is not a linear process.

IDEO’s model found in their Design Kit shows us how the solutions that emerge at the end of human-centered design should hit the overlap of these three lenses: they need to be desirable, feasible, and viable.

In the context of social innovation, solutions also need to be positively impactful for people.

For more information on Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability, please refer to this article and IDEO's Field Guide to Human-Centered Design.

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