Design Thinking Is Regarded as a Multidisciplinary - Essay Example

DESIGN THINKING By Antonia Ksendzovsky (S00700425) DSM5A1 Supervisor 20.10 DESIGN THINKING Introduction The term Design is mostly used todepict or describe an end result or an object. However, in its most basic form, design is an action, or a process. As such, it is not a noun but rather a verb. This led to the creation of the term design thinking. The term ‘design thinking’ is attributed to Herbert A. Simon’s 1969 publication The Sciences of Application and the 1973 publication Experiences in Visual Thinking by Robert McKim. This paper will explore the concept and definition of design thinking. Body Design Thinking is regarded as a multidisciplinary, user-oriented approach towards generating ideas and solutions that ignite innovation in many ways (Almendra & Christiaans, 2012). Design thinking is usually incorporated often into the innovation process as well as organisation. Design thinking is the art of coming up with creative and practical solutions to on-going or current problems with an aim and hope of a better future result. As such, design thinking can simply be taken to be a type of thinking that is solely focused on finding a solution (solution focussed thinking). Instead of just focusing on how to solve a specific current problem, design thinking majorly aims at finding the best future solution. As such, the concept commences with a goal. By taking into consideration both the future and present conditions and the problem parameters, design thinking makes it possible for alternative solutions to be explored and evaluated simultaneously. Therefore, unlike design thinking, the scientific methods only commence with definitions of the problem parameters on the way of finding a solution to the problem. It does not explore alternatives or possess the future dimension in its process. Thus design thinking looks at both ambiguous and known aspects of the problem to figure out the open available alternatives and hidden parameters which will lead to the achievement of the goal. Since the process of design thinking is commonly iterative, there exists a lot of starting points. For example, initial problem redefinition or other intermediate solutions. Design thinking is a multidisciplinary process covering fields such as engineering, law, psychology, marketing and economics among others. For example, in engineering, education is geared towards the creation of engineers who can think and create designs (Pourdehnead, et.al, 2011). However, design thinking is a complex subject and one of the approaches used in teaching engineers design is the project-based learning approach (Dym, et.al, 2005). Engineering design thoughts involve a divergence-convergence thought process and a systems perspective. It encompasses several levels of interaction with system components that may be interconnected to other systems (Frisk, et.al, 2014). Few studies have demonstrated thought processes and strategies involved in the engineering design process. One such study investigated engineering design thinking among K-12 learners (Lammi, & Becker, 2013). The research analysed how the high school learners engaged design thinking in systems processes never before viewed or understood (Bruton, 2010). The students’ cognitive capabilities were analysed by use of an investigative triangulation mixed technique (Lammi, & Becker, 2013). Their cognitive abilities and mental processes during collaborative engineering design were studied with the aid of a Function-Behaviour-Structure cognitive analysis mechanism (Lammi, & Becker, 2013). While other forms of data were collected, the research had to be guided by a set of two issues: i. One of the issue was the cognitive concerns and methods utilised by the students when tackling engineering design challenges (Lammi, & Becker, 2013). ii. The other issue was whether there were materialising qualitative ideas and scenarios as they associate to structure comprehension in engineering design. (Lammi, & Becker, 2013). These questions illustrate the complexity of understanding design thinking relating to engineering. Design thinking has also generated interest within business circles. The interest was directed towards understanding how the design thinking process influences business in creating fads or contemporary phenomena (Hanttu, 2013). Design thinking focused on how designers thought and the tools and methods they used in their profession. Peter G. Rowe published Design Thinking in 1987 where he studied the design process and the intellectual activity of designing architects (Cross, 2011). Business publications such as the Bloomberg’s Business Week and Harvard Business Review have also printed articles on design thinking. The inquiries found out that design thinking was regarded as a phenomenon until it became a fad between 2008 and 2011 (Mueller & Thoring, 2012). Key influencers of design thinking originate from convergent sources such as engineering and business. For instance, car manufacturer, Toyota pioneered lean principles in the early 1970s to optimize production and minimize wastage. Lean principles and design thinking converge on the idea of customer focus. The customer focused research then spurs innovation in the engineering process and consequently ignites business. Engineering activities such as understanding, observing, point of view, ideation, prototyping and testing, can be checked against each other as the diagram below illustrates (Lammi, 2013). Figure A: Illustration of design thinking activities correlating in engineering and business (Mueller & Thoring, 2012). Design Thinking in Business There are many illustrations of design thinking mainly in business and engineering (Lugmayr, et.al, 2013). Some elements of design thinking resulted in commercial disasters such as the 1957 Ford Edsel car launch. Few customers bought the car since it failed to meet technological and economic possibility. It resulted in losses of over $ 250 million ($ 1.85 billion in today’s dollars) (Morizio, 2013). Design thinking application and principles continue being relevant yet complex in today’s engineering and business circles. Organisations need to leverage creative approaches with ideation to attain innovative success. In the business world, the concept of design thinking is particularly interpreted via two views. Firstly, designers bringing their ideas and methods into the business. They achieve this by being part of the businesses (they can train people to employ design methods or they can themselves take part in business processes. Researchers are exploring the limits of this method currently. Some design thinking firms such as sense world and IDEO have implied that not all problems can be solved through design thinking. As such, the firms are intent on constructing thinking capabilities which can be applied in the business world. Secondly, designers producing innovative products. By employing design-thinking concepts, designers in the business world come up with innovative products and services. Design thinking in organization management theory is part of the A/D/A paradigm. This paradigm is often adopted by human centred innovative businesses. Firms and organisations that strive to integrate or incorporate design thinking into their innovation activities are doing to nurture a human centred and creative organisation culture. Many problems often possess obscure relationships that can be addressed via the use of analogies. Images or visuals can be used to further the understanding of expected results. In addition, visuals help individuals who have a clear lack of knowledge on the outcomes. Since normally the design task involves elements in different cognitive domains, it needs various complex mechanisms such as visual thinking. Here are some visual examples of Design thinking: Defining Concept of Design Thinking Herbert’s book the Science of the Artificial (1969) is most probably the first book to highlight the notion and view of design as a new way of thinking. On the other hand, the notion of design engineering can also be traced to Robert’s experiences in visual thinking (1973). In the 80s and 90s, Faste explored and expanded the notion of design thinking as the new creative action method. In 1991, David M. Kelley applied Design thinking for mainly business reasons. Kelley utilized a broader perspective of the concept of design thinking as a method that will primarily address people’s intractable concerns via design. The Design thinking concept embraces both convergent and divergent thinking methods to explore and find many possible solutions to the problem. Whereas convergent thinking is primarily viewed as the urge to find a solution, which is correct, divergent thinking, is the urge, ability or skill to give unique, variant or different ideas but focussed on one specific theme. The two methods are employed in design thinking simultaneously. While design thinking requires divergent thinking to ideate many impossible or possible solutions, it requires or needs convergent thinking t realize and prefer the better or best solution to the problem. Design Thinking as a Problem Solving Process Design thinking incorporates the concepts of brainstorming. As such, a lot of ideas are put forward during the brainstorming phase. The brainstorming phase puts forward ideas that have little or no limitation on their breadth. This characteristic is vital during the brainstorming phase since it encourages more participation from all the participants involved in the exercise. Consequently, many ideas are generated. The popular saying ‘think out of the box’ was formed to urge participants to think broadly. It (the phrase) is an integral part of the brainstorming process. Participants are often encouraged and urged to think outside the box while brainstorming. Thinking outside the box can lead to the uncovering of previously hidden ambiguities and elements in the process or situation. Additionally, potentially bad or faulty assumptions can be unearthed. As stated earlier in the text, one version of the process (design thinking) is made up of six stages: understand, observe, point of view, ideate, prototype, and test. Within these simple six steps, problems are framed, questions asked, ideas are brainstormed and the best solutions are selected from the wide variety of available answers. To reiterate, the above steps are not linearly static; the steps can be repeated or they can happen simultaneously. Robert Mackim summarised this process into three basic steps: express, test and cycle. Although these steps and stages of the design thinking process are simple, the knowledge and expertise needed to choose the correct inflection point and subsequent stage is a high. As such, it is a complex process which is however learnable. Additionally, the process is perfected through the art of practice. These simple but highly effective process or steps leads to a better product or service. Illustrated in design thinking is an embrace of new ideas and risk and an objective view. The steps outlined above just represent a structure. Even though it might seem counter intuitive, xxx argued that structure forms the key part in enhancing creativity to find solutions to problems. As Earmes once popularly said, “design is influenced by constraints”. Design thinking is based upon individual preferences and tastes. However, the process has a specific set of traits or characteristics, namely; teamwork, creativity, empathy (user centeredness) ambidextrous thinking, optimism and curiosity. The design-thinking concept is a repeatable process that uses creative and unique techniques which always leads to positive results. In most instances, the results exceed the expected initial expectations; good and exemplary results or solutions that often leapfrog what was expected. As a result, design thinking is a dynamic, significant and attractive methodology that should be embraced by all businesses in the modern world. Processes and methods of design thinking Design process and methods are often confused and subsequently used interchangeably. Nevertheless, there exists a vital difference between the 2 elements. To begin with, design methods are essentially rules, ways of accomplishing tasks and techniques which are utilized or used within a specific design discipline, these methods include creation of user profiles, interviewing, evaluation of existing solutions, mind mapping, creation of prototypes, situational analysis and asking questions. Since the concept is parallel in nature, it thus might seem to be ambiguous when generally compared to Cartesian methods, which are more analytical. The design processes are made up of 6 circular steps to problem solving. Resistance and fear mostly inhibit design-thinking process in an organisation. These two behavioural attitudes more often than not introduce the element of destructive negativity into an organisation. The trepidation to fail or being criticised leads an individual to desist from even using design-thinking processes to solve problems. Fear and resistance possess psychological effects that implant self-doubt in people running businesses. Resistance inhibits design thinking In that it leads to the person or organisation shifting their efforts to other tasks. Conclusion Design thinking is a process for discovering new better opportunities and solving problems. Although the tools and techniques of the concept tend to differ, their primary processes remain unchanged or they stay the same. A lot of time and research has successfully acknowledged that design thinking is a strong and powerful tool which when effectively used, can be a foundation upon which a business will discover its success. , Appendix In the illustarate figures above one can see examples to what design thinking can lead. Figure 1 shows us aesthetic and creative garden pond with a confortable sitting area right in the middle. Figure 2 shows interior décor at its most modern and finest being innovative and futuristic. Figure 3 shows us design thinking into a more sustainable direction showing street lights powered by solar energy. References Almendra, R., & Christiaans, H., 2012. Design Thinking:The Emperors New Suit . Design Principles and Practices: An International Journal-Annual Review, 6 , 97-108. Bruton, A., 2010. The Venture Design Studio: A Design Thinking Approach to Teaching. Calgary, Canada: ICSB. Cross, N., 2011. Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work. Bristol: Berg. Dym, C., Agogino, A., Eris, O., Frey, D., & Leifer, L., 2005. Engineering Design Thinking, Teaching, and Learning. Journal of Engineering Education, 94 (1) , 103-120. Frisk, J. E., Lindgren, R., & Mathiassen, L., 2014. Design Matters for DecisionMakers: Discovering IT Investment Alternatives. European Journal of Information Systems, 23 , 442-461. Hanttu, A., 2013. Design Thinking as a Phenomenon. Helsinki: Aalto University. Lammi, M., & Becker, K., 2013. Engineering Design Thinking. Journal of Technology Education, 24(2) , 55-77. Lugmayr, A., Stockleben, B., Zou, Y., Anzenhofer, S., & Jalonen, M., 2013. Applying Desgn Thinking in the Context of Media Management Education. New York: Springer. Morizio, P., 2013, August 30. A Design Thinking Perspective: How Historys Biggest Mishaps Could Have Been Averted. The Huffington Post , pp. 32-34. Mueller, R., & Thoring, K., 2012. Design Thinking VS. Lean Startup: A Comparison of Two User-Driven Innovation Strategies. Boston: International Design Management Conference. Pourdehnead, J., Wexler, E., & Wilson, D., 2011. System & Design Thinking: A Conceptual Framework for Their Integration. Hull, U.K: University of Pennsylvania. Simon, H. A. (1969). The sciences of the artificial (Vol. 136). MIT press. Figure 1,2 & 3: "~Aloha~ Welcome to Alancykok Blog!." : Ingenious, Creative engineering designs. N.p., 17 June 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2014. . Read More