Thinking
Design Thinking, Systems Thinking, Design Process, System Design, Problem Framing, Idea Generation
Design Thinking
From empathy to iteration, the discipline's most exported process.
Systems Thinking
See the whole, not just the parts.
Design Process
A clear methodology for moving from problem to solution.
System Design
Designing the system, not just the artifact.
Thinking Types: A Designer's Taxonomy
Twelve ways to think, all essential to design.
Critical Thinking for Designers
Reasoning clearly in an industry full of hype.
Idea Generation & Brainstorming
Structured methods for creative ideation.
Problem Framing
How you frame a problem determines what solutions are possible.
Mind Mapping
Visual thinking tools for idea generation and organization.
Design Research Methods
User research, ethnography, and primary data collection.
About the Thinking silo
Thinking is the silo about how designers reason. It covers Design Thinking and the Double Diamond, Systems Thinking and System Design, framing and research, and a taxonomy of twelve modes of thought such as divergent, convergent, lateral and abductive thinking.
The silo separates methods that are often blurred together. Design Thinking is one process model, Design Process is the broader discipline, and Systems Thinking is a way of seeing structure. Knowing which one you are using helps you choose the right tool and explain your decisions to clients and examiners.
Suggested learning path
- Design Thinking. Design Thinking is a human-centred approach to problem-solving built around understanding people before proposing solutions. Covers what design thinking actually is (vs. what it's sold as), the double diamond: discover, define, develop, deliver, empathize: research methods for understanding users and more.
- Systems Thinking. Systems thinking is the designer's most powerful meta-skill. Covers what is a system?, feedback loops, emergence and more.
- Design Process. Design Process is the umbrella discipline of moving deliberately from an ambiguous brief to a validated solution. Covers what is a design process?, linear vs. iterative process models, the double diamond in depth and more.
- System Design. Systems Thinking teaches you to see structures and feedback loops. Covers from systems thinking to system design, defining system boundaries & stakeholders, component & interface design and more.
- Thinking Types: A Designer's Taxonomy. Designers switch between distinct modes of thought constantly, usually without naming them. Covers divergent thinking, convergent thinking, lateral thinking and more.
- Critical Thinking for Designers. Design is full of confident claims, about trends, tools, and best practices, that don't survive scrutiny. Covers what critical thinking means for designers, identifying assumptions in a brief, logical fallacies in design arguments and more.
- Idea Generation & Brainstorming. Most brainstorming sessions produce mediocre ideas because they rely on unstructured free association. Covers why most brainstorming fails, divergent ideation techniques, scamper & structured ideation and more.
- Problem Framing. The frame you choose for a problem silently determines which solutions even become visible. Covers why framing determines the solution space, the given problem vs. the real problem, reframing techniques and more.
- Mind Mapping. Mind mapping externalises thought as a radial network of connected ideas, making it easier to synthesise research, generate ideas, and see relationships that linear notes hide. Covers what mind mapping is for, radial vs. hierarchical mapping, mind mapping for research synthesis and more.
- Design Research Methods. Design decisions made without research are guesses dressed as expertise. Covers why designers need research literacy, qualitative vs. quantitative methods, user interviews and more.
What you will be able to do
- Apply the Double Diamond to a real brief
- Map a system and find leverage points
- Frame a problem before generating ideas
- Switch deliberately between modes of thinking
How to study this
Start with Design Thinking, then Systems Thinking, which is the most complete course in this silo. Use Problem Framing and Idea Generation when you begin any new project.
Who it is for
Students starting project work, professionals who run workshops, and researchers who need a clear account of design reasoning.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Double Diamond?
- It is a process model with two cycles of diverging and converging: first to find the right problem, then to find the right solution. It is covered in Design Thinking and in Design Process.
- Is Systems Thinking different from System Design?
- Yes. Systems Thinking is an analytical lens for seeing structure and feedback. System Design is the applied practice of designing those structures.
- Which course should I read first?
- Read Design Thinking first for orientation, then Systems Thinking for depth.