Introduction to Design Thinking

Design Thinking is a systematic human centered approach to problem solving that has been innovating industries from tech to retail to public service. For a short introduction to what Design Thinking is and how it can solve some of the world’s biggest problems, watch this video produced by Daylight at https://youtu.be/Ee4CKIPkIik.

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Resource List

These resources provide a general overview and primer on Design Thinking, its uses, methods, and how Design Thinking principles can be used to expand creativity, think more innovatively, and systematically iterate a solution from idea to execution.

Websites:

• IDEO: IDEO is a design company that utilizes its design thinking principles to provide innovative solutions for their clients. The pioneer of human centered design, IDEO is often associated with the founding of the concept of Design Thinking, since its CEO, Tim Brown, has authored several articles on the topic and has done much to advance its use across industries.
  • IDEO.com is the original company website that functions more as a repository for all of the work of IDEO, blogs, news, tools, case studies, etc. The main page can be found at: https://www.ideo.com
  • The IDEO.org website is the non-profit spinoff and is focused mainly utilizing Design Thinking to solve social problems. Main page can be found at: https://www.ideo.org/
• Designkit.org: Design Kit was created by IDEO.org to provide tools and resources to the public to use design thinking to solve problems. The site contains provides the manifesto of human centered design, case studies, and most usefully, a robust page on different design thinking methods: www.designkit.org/methods. The main splash page can be found at: http://www.designkit.org
• Luma Institute: Luma Institute is another reputable Design Thinking Consulting firm that focuses more on creating systems of innovation within an organization so that all constituents have a more innovative mindset and approach to solving internal and external problems. Main splash page can be found at: https://www.luma-institute.com/

Resources:

• Field Guide to Human Centered Design is a publication of IDEO.org that provides an in-depth survey to its principles of human centered design in practice. It unpacks their 3 phases of design thinking: Inspiration, Ideation, Implementation.
  • Citation: IDEO.org. Field Guide to Human Centered Design. 1st Edition. (2015). Retrieved from: http://d1r3w4d5z5a88i.cloudfront.net/assets/guide/Field%20Guide%20to%20Human-Centered%20Design_IDEOorg_English-ee47a1ed4b91f3252115b83152828d7e.pdf

Readings:

• Design Thinking is an article written by IDEO CEO, Tim Brown on the evolution of design thinking and its wide application across industries. A great primer for those seeking to see the applicability of Design Thinking as it pertains to organizations.
  • Citation: Brown, Tim. Design Thinking. (June 2008). Harvard Business Review.
• A Taxonomy of Innovation is an article published by Luma Institute that describes in some detail the terminology of design thinking and how it fits into their system of innovation. It’s a good reference for anyone coming across jargon they don’t quite understand, and while it is tailored to their particular system, many of the terms overlap in the world of Design Thinking.
  • Citation: Luma Institute. A Taxonomy of Innovation. (Jan-Feb 2014 Issue). Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2014/01/a-taxonomy-of-innovation

Books:

• Innovating for People is a handy reference book with detailed illustrated design thinking exercises. A great reference for those looking for ideas to jump start creative problem solving in teams, groups or organizations.
  • Citation: Luma Institute. Innovating for People. Ist Edition. (2012).
  • Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Innovating-People-Handbook-Human-Centered-Methods/dp/0985750901
• Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation is an introductory book to design thinking as written by the CEO of IDEO. It is more of an overview and in-depth explanation of the design thinking process and how it might be integrated into everyday problem solving processes in the world. It provides several stories and examples of how design thinking was applied to various problems across industries and the results. A good read for those who want a more tangible look at what design thinking can do.
  • Citation: Brown, Tim. Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. Harper Business. (2009)
  • Available from : https://www.amazon.com/Change-Design-Transforms-Organizations-Innovation/dp/0061766089/ref=pd_cp_14_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0061766089&pd_rd_r=WET0M4EDZJC28DG7C3C2&pd_rd_w=K98Sc&pd_rd_wg=AXMiM&psc=1&refRID=WET0M4EDZJC28DG7C3C2
• The Power of Positive Deviance is a great read for those who want more case studies or examples of how thinking out of the box inspired new innovations. The premise of the book is that instead of trying to “think up” new ideas, one should look at the positive deviants who have either bypassed or successfully navigated challenges and deduce the behaviors that rendered the positive outcomes. Instead of thinking of ways to mitigate risks or negative consequences, the author stresses identifying successful practices and replicating it throughout an organization.
  • Citation: Pascale, R., Sternin, J. & Sternin, M. The Power of Positive Deviance: How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World’s Toughest Problems. Harvard Business Review Press; 1st Edition edition (June 16, 2010).
  • Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-Deviance-Unlikely-Innovators/dp/1422110664/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489603947&sr=1-1&keywords=power+of+positive+deviance

Courses:

These online courses are free tutorials that walk a student through the different stages of the design thinking process as well as provide sample exercises.

• Plusacumen.org. Design Kit: The Course for Human-Centered Design. (n.d.)
  • Accessible from: http://plusacumen.org/courses/hcd-for-social-innovation/
• Plusacumen.org. Design Kit: Prototyping. (n.d.)
  • Accessible from: http://plusacumen.org/courses/prototyping/

These materials were developed as an initiative of the Advanced Thinking in Homeland Security (HSx) curriculum at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security.