Design practices in design thinking

Abstract

Descriptions of design thinking, designerly ways of knowing, or design attitude, often describe practices, but literature within the design studies tradition has paid little attention to the practice turn in contemporary theory. This paper contributes to discussions about design thinking by using theoretical practice perspectives to attend to what constitutes design practices. Two aspects of practice theories are discussed: the role of objects in constituting practices, and how knowledge is understood. Three studies of organizations in which a practice lens has been applied are discussed, which introduce ideas of strategy-as-practice, technologies-in-practice and the role of visual practices in constituting knowledge. Drawing together these two traditions practice theories within organization studies, and design studies a pair of concepts is proposed: design- as-practice and designs-in-practice which combine insights from previous organizational research analysed using practice theory. Finally, implications for research in management and design are discussed.