The Foundations of Design Thinking
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The Foundations of Design Thinking
Below some of the essential aspects that make Design Thinking effective are illustrated, from the Types of Thinking at its foundation to the phenomenon of Mode-Switching.
These aspects usually remain hidden in most Design Thinking courses.
They are made explicit through a comprehensive and intuitive mental model that can can shared among design thinking practitioners.
A clear understanding of the foundations allows anyone to learn and advance their Design Thinking capabilities.
6 Types of Thinking
in 3 Opposite Pairs
At the foundation of Design Thinking are six Types of thinking: Creative, Critical, Reflective, Interactive, Abstract and Specific thinking. Some Types of thinking have opposite effects, and some have a different basis for their effects. Based on that they can be grouped in three pairs with opposite effects.
The Effects of Thinking
The key to a useful foundation is the effect the different Types of thinking have on the artifacts in our thinking (e.g. the number of ideas under consideration (scope), the source of information, the means of acquiring new information or insights, and the level of abstraction of our ideas and thoughts.
This means that different Types of thinking can be applied intentionally based on these effects. For example, when more ideas are needed apply Creative thinking.
Dimensions and Balances
The successive application of opposite Types of thinking maintains a certain 'balance', between
Creative exploration and Critical investigation, and between facts and assumptions (Interactive vs. Reflective), and between distance & overview and (close) involvement & details (Abstract vs. Specific).
The Kangaeru® Paradigm
By placing the pairs on different dimensions a 3-dimensional structure is created. This is called the Kangaeru® Paradigm. Although many of the aspects of Design Thinking may seem complicated at first, this structure explains them intuitively.
Combined
Types of Thinking
are Modes of Thinking
Different Types of Thinking can be combined and then applied in Design Thinking activities. For example Creative thinking and Interactive thinking can be combined and applied in an activity called co-creating.
When applied in an activity combined Types of thinking are called Modes of thinking, similar to a 'mindset'.
The Thinking Space leading to
26 Modes of Thinking
The 'space' formed by the dimensions of the Kangaeru® Paradigm indicates intuitively which Types of Thinking can be combined beneficially, and which not (i.e. the ones from the same dimension).
The result is 26 different Modes of Thinking.
Thinking in Activities
Cognitive Enhancement
Cognition is the mental action, or process, of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experiences, and the senses. This means that activities are not just about thinking, but the thinking applied can be enhanced in other ways.
Empirical Process Control
The Elemental Process of Design Thinking
Solving issues in complex environments require a flexible approach. Empirical Process Control allows for periodic adjustments based on the evolving situation and recently gained new knowledge and insights.
A Tailored Process
Emerges in Hindsight
At regular intervals an evaluation takes place
in which the next activity is determined.
A key feature of this approach is that the process is not predetermined or planned, but emerges from the evolving situation and the activities done.
Meta-Cognition: Reflection-in-Action
Reflection-on-Action
Design Thinking requires a specific ability: 'thinking about your thinking',
this is called meta-cognition.
There are two types required to create and maintain an affective process.
Mode-Switching
One of the mechanisms that make Design Thinking so effective is Mode-switching.
Rapid Mode-Switching results from ongoing reflection-in-action during an activity.
Mode-Switching, between activities, results from Reflection-on-Action in the evaluation events between the activities.
Mode-Switching is actually essential to maintain 'balance' in your thinking.
Exploration & Experimentation
Dedicated application of a Mode of thinking in an activity allows for exploration during the activity into the direction of the applied Type(s) of thinking. For example: creative exploration, critical exploration, or in any of the other 'directions'.
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On the other hand, changing the applied Types of Thinking from one activity to the next (i.e. Mode-Switching) allows for experimentation.
For example: Experimenting with different ideas, then selecting the most promising ones, or acquiring new information externally and then reflecting on these (internally), or by alternating between abstract (overview) and specific (details).
