The History of Design Thinking

Design thinking, a method based on design principles and highly popular because of its effectiveness in solving numerous complex issues in different industries and disciplines, has gained much popularity. By the end of the 1960s, design thinking as a standalone process was developed up to the point when it became a strong framework that helped innovate companies, drive organizational changes, and develop user-oriented solutions. In the last years, design thinking has left the domain of design and engineering to develop into a stimulus for different industries of healthcare, education, and management, among others. Envisioning organizations from all corners of the globe are exceedingly using design thinking as a strategic instrument for the execution of innovation, the improvement of customer satisfaction, and the humanization of problem-solving.

The History of Design Thinking

Evolution of Design Thinking

Early Origins (19th Century)

• At the end of the 19th century, pioneers like John Dewey and William Morris laid the groundwork for design thinking, which gained popularity over the years. Dewey’s concept of experiential learning and problem solving as well as Morris’ consulting of design for social effect exposed the way towards a humanistic approach to creativity and innovation. Despite that there was no term for “design thinking” in place, they were likely to have espoused ideas that stressed the recognition of the users’ needs and the effects of the design on society at large.
• Dewey’s pragmatism was focused on the implementation of ideas as well as on the human being to enable him to contemplate complex issues. At the same time, Morris’s involvement with the Arts and Crafts Movement brought to the forefront the importance of craftsmanship and the connectedness of art and daily life, but of course this idea would later inspire design thinking principles.

The Birth of Industrial Design (20th Century)

• The early twentieth century was the cradle of the concept of industrial design as a separate discipline that includes the contribution of scientists and designers to design products, which are easier to use and more convenient due to beautiful form and function. Figures like Raymond Loewy and Henry Dreyfuss emerged as influential proponents of industrial design, shaping the field with their innovative approaches. Loewy, the designer of the famous Coca-Cola bottle and Shell logo, for instance, who outlines why minimalistic cleanness and convenience in product design matter. Dreyfuss, on the other hand, pioneered user-centered design principles, advocating for designs that prioritized ergonomic considerations and user comfort.
• Industrial design developed prominently from technological development and consumer culture, which is a growing circle. Designers began to work with engineers and manufacturers in a bid to not only insure that they develop products that perform best but also that consumer resonate with them emotionally.

The Rise of Human-Centered Design (1960s – 1970s)

• The 1960s and 1970s brought the appearance of human-centered design which turned out to be the pivotal approach focusing on the comprehension and the recognition of the users’ needs and how to solve them in the design process. Herbert Simon, a well-known personality at the time, regarded decision-making as the very core of problem-solving and suggested to bend the design of systems so as to correspond to people’s mental models and abilities. Along with this, the principle of “pattern language” and “user participation” were put forward by Christopher Alexander, focusing on the interactive nature of design and the necessity for users to be participants in their construction processes in order to create suitable places and structures for their needs.
• Horst Rittel, a design theorist, has given a major contribution to the development of human-oriented design by introducing the concept ‘wicked problem’ which refers to complex and ill-defined problems that cannot be solved immediately. Rittel’s work has shown that stakeholders with varied opinions and multiple- iterations need to be incorporated in resolving such obstacles so that the design process becomes more flexible. It also shows the way forward for a dynamic and flexible design method.

The Stanford d.school and IDEO (1980s – 1990s)

• The Stanford University’s d.school, in cooperation with governors, has been one the most advocating contributors in higher education and for scholarship opportunities. The design paradigm of d.school is like the IDEO’s model, although it stresses empathy a lot and works in collaboration with its participants. It focuses on the necessity of multi-disciplinary teams and practical learning by the constructive process of the doing the design contests. The process often takes a pathway starting from empathizing, then defining the problem, then building the prototype, then testing the prototype and more, but it mainly consists of reframing problems and creating solutions for them.
• IDEO, one of the most successful consulting firms, brought design thinking to the forefront through its illustrious way of conceiving the process. IDEO’s approach is multidisciplinary and it encourages the formation of teams complete with a diverse array of skill sets. The framework is usually made up by the stages e.g. empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test and etc. This iterative process brings rapid experimentation and iteration to arrive at innovative solutions.

Design Thinking Goes Mainstream (2000s – Present)

• In the 2000s and even up till now, design thinking has gained a remarkable status from that of a little used methodology to an appreciably embraced approach to innovation. Such a change can be considered as a result of several factors, such as higher understanding of creativeness and buyers’ needs in solving messy problems. Many books, such as “The Art of Innovation” by Tom Kelley and “Change by Design” by Tim Brown, have contributed to the broader acceptance of design thinking and have described it as the means for cultivating innovation and revamping the culture of an organization.
• In addition to this, the emergence of institutes like the Stanford d.school, and organizations like IDEO which are focussed on design-centric aspects, have offered clear platforms for education, research, and collaboration. These bodies are not just creators of but also major facilitators of the integration and use of design thinking approaches across many organisations and sectors. Consequently, design thinking is one of the mainstream approaches that is accepted by the whole world including businesses, educators, and the governments, and this is how organizations across the world solve their challenges, come up with the new products, and make decisions in the modern world.

Popular Design Thinking Approaches

Double Diamond (2005)

• The Double Diamond model, developed by the UK Design Council in 2005, is a visual representation of the design process divided into four phases: Find, Label, Make, and Market. It underscores divergent and convergent thinking which is a method of having a team member moving through a systemized way to tackle issue and create new things.

IDEO’s Design Thinking Process (2001)

• IDEO’s design thinking process, outlined in Tim Brown’s book “Change by Design,” consists of three primary phases: Inspire, Ideate, implement. This method focuses on empathy, brainstorm and rapid prototyping as the core of innovative style. IDEO’s methodology has gained popularity from the organizations designing their culture as creative as experimental.

Stanford d.school’s Design Thinking Process (2005)

• The Stanford d.school’s design thinking process, also known as the “5-step process,” guides practitioners through five stages: Empathy, Definition, Ideation, Prototyping, and Testing. This method is an end-user collection of observations and trials based on systematic iterative prototyping and testing.

Human-Centered Design (HCD)

• Human-Centered design, also called user-centered design, came forth as a root meaning in design thinking. This approach prioritizes understanding the needs, behaviors, and experiences of end-users through empathetic research methods such as interviews, observations, and usability testing. The user centered design methodology leads the way through the human necessity since the process focuses on solutions that are necessary, are relevant and that have results.

Conclusion

The design thinking that has come up as an effective framework for innovation has made it possible for individual and group to canvas complex issues and generate solutions that drive positive transformation. Its people-oriented approach, the core focus on empathy, and the prototyping procedure have helped to transform the technique we use in solving problems in several fields. In this era of constant change and highly interconnected world we live in, design thinking will be of particular importance in the meantime as we will strive for transforming innovation and helping the society to flourish.