Advancing Design Thinking Towards a Better Understanding of Self and Others

Abstract

In teaching Design Thinking, two key aspects of the discipline continue to emerge: design's move away from materialism; and augmenting better problem-solving skills through self-awareness. The first anchors design in a process rather than a product, something that is native to the concept of Design Thinking. Whereas the second, anchors the designer (the problem-solver, or change agent) within a context. Designers who have a strong understanding of themselves, their own roles in problem-solving, and which perspective within the larger context they inhabit, are better equipped to understand the nuances and difficulties of solving problems for others.