Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is a human-centered approach that emphasizes empathy, creativity, and experimentation. While design thinking has become a buzzword in the business world, it is rooted in a rich history of design theory and practice. One of the most popular techniques used in design thinking is the double diamond, which is a framework for the design process that was developed by the Design Council of the UK.
Design thinking a history
The history of design thinking dates back to the early 20th century when designers began to take a more scientific approach to their work. In the 1920s and 1930s, designers such as Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier were developing new theories about the role of design in society. They believed that design should be more than just decoration; it should be a tool for solving social and economic problems. This approach was known as functionalism, and it became the dominant design philosophy of the mid-20th century.
In the 1960s and 1970s, a new approach to design emerged that was influenced by the counterculture movement and the rise of technology. This approach, known as user-centered design, emphasized the importance of understanding the needs and desires of the people who would be using the product or service being designed. User-centered design became the foundation of design thinking, which emerged as a distinct methodology in the 1980s and 1990s.
The birth of the double diamond
Design thinking was popularized by the design firm IDEO, which was founded by David Kelley in 1991. IDEO used design thinking to solve complex problems for clients such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble. Design thinking became a popular methodology in the business world, and it has since been adopted by organizations of all sizes and across all industries.
The double diamond technique is a framework for the design process that was developed by the Design Council of the UK in the early 2000s. It is a visual representation of the design process that emphasizes the importance of divergent and convergent thinking. The double diamond consists of four phases: discover, define, develop, and deliver.
The first diamond, which represents the discovery phase, is about understanding the problem that needs to be solved. This phase is about gathering information, conducting research, and talking to stakeholders. The goal of this phase is to develop empathy for the people who will be using the product or service being designed.
The second diamond, which represents the definition phase, is about defining the problem that needs to be solved. This phase is about synthesizing the information gathered in the discovery phase and developing a clear problem statement. The goal of this phase is to focus the design team's efforts on a specific problem that can be solved through design.
The third diamond, which represents the development phase, is about generating ideas and exploring possible solutions. This phase is about brainstorming, prototyping, and testing. The goal of this phase is to come up with a range of possible solutions that can be evaluated and refined.
The final phase, which represents the delivery phase, is about implementing the solution that has been developed. This phase is about creating a plan for implementation and making sure that the solution is successfully integrated into the organization or community.
How and when to use the double diamond
The double diamond emphasizes the importance of both divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is about generating as many ideas as possible, while convergent thinking is about evaluating and selecting the best ideas. The double diamond technique provides a structured framework for moving back and forth between these two modes of thinking.
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