“Most people, in business and elsewhere, have done very well on judgment thinking. Such people are rarely aware of the need for ‘design thinking’. They find it difficult to conceive that there is a whole other aspect of thinking that is different from judgment thinking. It is not that such people are complacent. It is simply that they do not know that there is another aspect to thinking.”

Edward de Bono

What is design thinking?

Design thinking (or divergent thinking) is a way of working through problems and finding solutions. It’s not a new concept, just a new name for an old process. (Think Leonardo Da Vinci.)

The way we traditionally solve problems in business is by looking around, finding every resource available to us, and then pounding away at the problem until THE solution presents itself. The assumption being that there is one right solution in the first place.

Design thinking involves parts of the brain that you may not be used to using. It’s about the aha moment; it’s about beauty and simplicity and flow. Those are some abstract concepts that aren’t always used in a business environment. Instead of bearing down on a problem, we view the problem as the center and work out toward a range of possible solutions. Instead of one right answer, we find a myriad of possibilities and choose the best one.

While critical thinking produces logical solutions, design thinking produces innovative solutions.

How can it help me?

Like anything else, design thinking is a tool. It fosters innovation and exploration.

Are you looking at your business from a design standpoint? Tell us how in the comments.