Abstract
Following its popularisation in business and management design thinking found its way into higher education courses at the under-graduate and postgraduate levels globally. This transition brought ‘designerly’ approaches into conversation with disciplinary discourses and pedagogies of management, health, education, social enterprise and many other fields. While general enthusiasm about these developments continues, critical voices have begun to question some of design thinking’s claims, including with reference to existing disciplinary and applied norms. This chapter begins by briefly reviewing the history of design thinking, meanings and key concepts, as a general introduction to this book. The author suggests that views on design thinking as method toolkit, mindset or philosophy emerge within specific discourses about its scope and nature. The chapter closes with an overview of the chapter contributions by authors. Written by new voices and leading proponents working in such interdisciplinary contexts this book will provide some answers to the current discussions about the strengths and limits of designing innovation in higher education.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Açar AE, Rother DS (2011) Design thinking in engineering education and its adoption in technology-driven startups. In: Seliger G, Kraisheh M, Jawahir I (eds) Advances in sustainable manufacturing. Springer, Berlin, pp 57–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20183-7_9
Agafonow A (2019) Design thinking and social enterprises: a solution-focused strategy for social enterprise research. Eur Manag Rev 16(3):799–813. https://doi.org/10.1111/emre.12152
Altman M, Huang TTK, Breland JY (2018) Design thinking in health care. Preventing Chronic Dis 15(9):1–13. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180128
Andrews D (2015) The circular economy, design thinking and education for sustainability. Local Econ 30(3):305–315. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269094215578226
Bazzano AN, Martin J, Hicks E, Faughnan M, Murphy L (2017) Human-centred design in global health: a scoping review of applications and contexts. PLoS ONE 12(11):1–24. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186744
Beckman SL, Barry M (2007) Innovation as a learning process: embedding design thinking. Calif Manag Rev 50(1):25–57
Beverland M, Farrelly FJ (2010) What does it mean to be design-led? Des Manag Rev 18(4):10–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7169.2007.tb00089.x
Bjögvinsson E, Ehn P, Hillgren P-A (2012) Design things and design thinking: contemporary participatory design challenges. Des Issues 28(3):101–116. https://doi.org/10.1162/DESI_a_00165
Blyth S, Kimbell L (2011) Design thinking and the big society: from solving personal troubles to designing social problems. London, UK
Boland RJJ, Collopy F (eds) (2004) Managing as designing. Stanford University Press, Stanford
Brown T, Katz B (2009) Change by design: how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation. Harper Collins, New York
Brown T, Wyatt J (2010) Design thinking for social innovation. Stanford Soc Innov Rev 30–35
Buchanan R (1992) Wicked problems in design thinking. Des Issues 8(2):5–21
Carlgren L, Elmquist M, Rauth I (2016) The challenges of using design thinking in industry—experiences from five large firms. Creativity Innov Manag 25(3):344–362. https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12176
Carr SD, Halliday A, King AC, Liedtka J, Lockwood T (2010) The influence of design thinking in business: some preliminary observations. Des Manag Rev 21(3):58–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7169.2010.00080.x
Carroll M, Goldman S, Britos L, Koh J, Royalty A, Hornstein M (2010) Destination, imagination and the fires within: design thinking in a middle school classroom. Int J Art Des Educ 29(1):37–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-8070.2010.01632.x
Clark K, Smith R (2010) Unleashing the power of design thinking. Des Manag Rev 19(3):8–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7169.2008.tb00123.x
Cooper R, Junginger S, Lockwood T (2009) Design thinking and design management: a research and practice perspective. Des Manag Rev 20(2):46–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7169.2009.00007.x
Cross N (2001) Designerly ways of knowing: design discipline versus design science. Des Issues 17(3):49–55. https://doi.org/10.1162/074793601750357196
de Vere I, Melles G (2011) Integrating ‘Designerly’ ways with engineering science. In: Handbook of research on trends in product design and development. IGI Global, Hershey, pp 173–194. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-61520-617-9.ch010
Docherty C (2017) Perspectives on design thinking for social innovation. Des J 20(6):719–724. https://doi.org/10.1080/14606925.2017.1372005
Dorst K (2011) The core of ‘design thinking’ and its application. Des Stud 32(6):521–532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2011.07.006
Duncan AK, Breslin MA (2009) Innovating health care delivery: the design of health services. J Bus Strategy 30(2/3):13–20. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02756660910942427
Dunne D, Martin R (2006) Design thinking and how it will change management education: an interview and discussion. Manag Learn 5(4):512–523
Dym CL, Agogino AM, Eris O, Frey DD, Leifer LJ (2005) Engineering design thinking, teaching, and learning. J Eng Educ 103–120
Dym CL, Agogino AM, Eris O, Frey DD, Leifer LJ (2006) Engineering design thinking, teaching, and learning. IEEE Eng Manag Rev 34(1):65–92
Farrell R, Hooker C (2013) Design, science and wicked problems. Des Stud 34(6):681–705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2013.05.001
Gee JP (2011) An introduction to discourse analysis: theory and method (Third.). New York & London. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781107415324.004
Giacomin J (2014) What is human centred design? Des J 17(4):606–623. https://doi.org/10.2752/175630614X14056185480186
Glen R, Suciu C, Baughn C (2014) The need for design thinking in business schools. Acad Manag Learn Educ 13(4):653–667. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2012.0308
Green L, Cox D, Bitard P (2013) Innovation policy workshop on design as a tool for innovation. In: Cox D, Rigby J (eds) Innovation policy challenges for the 21st century. Taylor and Francis, Hoboken, pp 268–288
Hassi L, Laakso M (2011) Conceptions of design thinking in the design and management discourse: open questions and possible directions for research. In: Roozenburg NFM, Chen LL, Stappers PJ (eds) Proceedings of international association of societies of design research. IASDR, Delft, pp 1–10
Holloway M (2009) How tangible is your strategy? How design thinking can turn your strategy into reality. J Bus Strategy 30(2/3):50–56. https://doi.org/10.1108/02756660910942463
Howard Z, Senova M, Melles G (2015) Exploring the role of mindset in design thinking: implications for capability development and practice. J Des, Bus Soc 1(2):183–202. https://doi.org/10.1386/dbs.1.2.183_1
Howlett M (2014) From the “old” to the “new” policy design: design thinking beyond markets and collaborative governance. Policy Sci 47(3):187–207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-014-9199-0
IDEO (2012) Design thinking for educators, 2nd edn. IDEO
Jobst B, Meinel C (2014) How prototyping helps to solve wicked problems. In: Design thinking research. Springer International Publishing, pp 105–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01303-9_8
Johansson-Sköldberg U, Woodilla J, Çetinkaya M (2013) Design thinking: past, present and possible futures. Creativity Innov Manag 22(2):121–146. https://doi.org/10.1111/caim.12023
Kimbell L (2011) Rethinking design thinking: part I. Des Cult 3(3):285–306. https://doi.org/10.2752/175470811X13071166525216
Koh JHL, Chai CS, Wong B, Hong H-Y (2015) Design thinking for education: conceptions and applications in teaching and learning. Springer
Kolko J (2018) Design thinking Kolko. Interactions, 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1145/3194313
Kummitha RKR (2018) Institutionalising design thinking in social entrepreneurship: a contextual analysis into social and organizational processes. Soc Enterp J 14(1):92–107. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-12-2016-0059
Kumar A, Lodha D, Mahalingam A, Prasad V, Sahasranaman A (2016) Using ‘design thinking’ to enhance urban re-development: a case study from India. Eng Project Organ J 6(2–4):155–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/21573727.2016.1155445
Kupp M, Anderson J, Reckhenrich J (2017) Why design thinking in business needs a rethink. MIT Sloan Manag Rev 59(Fall):42–44
Kurokawa T (2013) Design thinking education at universities and graduate schools. Sci Technol Trends 46:50–63. http://www.nistep.go.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/Science-Technology-Trends-Quarterly-Review-No.46-report4.pdf
Laursen LN, Haase LM (2019) The shortcomings of design thinking when compared to designerly thinking. Des J 22(6):813–832. https://doi.org/10.1080/14606925.2019.1652531
Leavy B (2012) Collaborative innovation as the new imperative—design thinking, value co-creation and the power of “pull”. Strategy Leadersh 40(2):25–34. https://doi.org/10.1108/10878571211209323
Liedtka JM, Ogilvie T (2011) Designing for growth: a design thinking toolkit for managers. Columbia Business School, New York
Lindberg T, Noweski C, Meinel C (2010) Evolving discourses on design thinking: how design cognition inspires meta-disciplinary creative collaboration. Technoetic Arts: J Speculative Res 8(1):31–37. https://doi.org/10.1386/tear.8.1.31/1
Lloyd P, McDonnell J, Cross N (2007) Analysing design behaviour: the design thinking research symposia series. In: IASDR 2007. International Association of Societies of Design Research, Hong Kong, pp 1–11
Lugmayr A, Stockleben B, Zou Y, Anzenhofer S, Jalonen M (2013) Applying “Design thinking” in the context of media management education. Multimedia Tools Appl. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-013-1361-8
Luke TW (2005) Neither sustainable nor development: reconsidering sustainability in development. Sustain Dev 13(4):228–238. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.284
Martin R (2009) The design of business: why design thinking is the next competitive advantage. Harvard University Press, Boston
Melles G, Anderson N, Barrett T, Thompson-Whiteside S (2015) Problem finding through design thinking in education. In: Blessinger P, Carfora JM (eds) Inquiry-based learning for multidisciplinary programs: a conceptual and practical resource for educators. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp 191–209. https://doi.org/10.1108/s2055-364120150000003027
Melles G, Howard Z, Thompson-Whiteside S (2012) Teaching design thinking: expanding horizons in design education. Procedia—Soc Behav Sci 31:162–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.12.035
Norman DA (2005) Human-centered design considered harmful. Interactions 12(4):14. https://doi.org/10.1145/1070960.1070976
Owen C (2007) Design thinking: notes on its nature and use. Des Res Q 2(1):16–27
Parmar AJ (2014) Bridging gaps in engineering education: design thinking a critical factor for project based learning. In: 2014 IEEE frontiers in education conference (FIE) proceedings, pp 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/fie.2014.7044081
Petray T, Taylor P, Otto T, Anderson N, Adam R, Melles G et al (2014) Design thinking frameworks as transformative cross-disciplinary pedagogy: final OLT seed grant report. NSW, Sydney
Plattner H, Meinel C, Leifer L (eds) (2016) Design thinking research: making design thinking foundational. Springer International Publishing, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19641-1
Romme AGL (2003) Making a difference: organization as design. Organ Sci 14(5):558–573
Rowe PG (1987) Design thinking. MIT Press, Boston
Rylander A (2009) Design thinking as knowledge work: epistemological foundations and practical implications. Des Manag J 4(1):7–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1942-5074.2009.00003.x
Sanders EB-N, Stappers, PJ (2008) Co-creation and the new landscapes of design. CoDesign 4(1):5–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15710880701875068
Simon HA (1997) The sciences of the artificial, 3rd edn. Computers & mathematics, 3rd edn. MIT Press, Cambridge. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0898-1221(97)82941-0
Steen M (2011) Tensions in human-centred design. CoDesign 7:45–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/15710882.2011.563314
Van De Grift TC, Kroeze R (2016) Design thinking as a tool for interdisciplinary education in health care. Acad Med 91(9):1234–1238. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000001195
Vechakul J, Shrimali BP, Sandhu JS (2015) Human-centered design as an approach for place-based innovation in public health: a case study from Oakland, California. Matern Child Health J 19(12):2552–2559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1787-x
Venkatesh A, Digerfeldt-Mansson T, Brunel FF, Chen S (2012) Design orientation: a grounded theory analysis of design thinking and action. Mark Theory 12(3):289–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470593112451388
Vogel CM (2009) Notes on the evolution of design thinking: a work in progress. Des Manag Rev 20(2):16–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7169.2009.00004.x
Ward A, Runcie E, Morris L (2009) Embedding innovation: design thinking for small enterprises. J Bus Strategy 30(2/3):78–84. https://doi.org/10.1108/02756660910942490
Wylant B (2008) Design thinking and the experience of innovation. Des Issues 24(2). https://doi.org/10.1162/desi.2008.24.2.3
Zenke PF (2014) Higher education leaders as designers. In: Hokanson B, Gibbons A (eds) Design in educational technology. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00927-8_14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Melles, G. (2020). Introduction: Design Thinking—Tensions and Opportunities. In: Melles, G. (eds) Design Thinking in Higher Education. Design Science and Innovation. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5780-4_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5780-4_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-15-5779-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-15-5780-4
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)