Design Thinking

Design thinking is an approach for creative problem-solving.

Introduction to Design Thinking by Alex Ryan

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.

Adapted from IDEO. Human-Centered Design Toolkit, 2009.

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