Design Thinking: An Innovative Concept for Developing User-Centered Software

Abstract

In times of economic crisis and rapid technological change, innovation is necessary for competitive advantage and successful business. Design processes and tools are one way to create innovative solutions. This article describes the emergence of design thinking in business and focuses on the four key elements of design thinking in detail: the iterative process, multidisciplinary teams, creative space and designer’s mindset. The limitations and potentials of design thinking are also discussed. While design thinking enables creativity, enhances personal development, and prescribes deep immersion into the topic along with empathetic user research, it does not include a business model or blueprint for the implementation. Still, design thinking is a large step toward identifying user-centered solutions. The software industry can benefit from the powerful approach in order to create innovative software products.