Understanding Design Thinking: A Process Model based on Method Engineering

This article presents a formal model of the design thinking process based on Method Engineering. The foundation of our work is based on observations within an educational context—the 'School of Design Thinking' of the Hasso-Plattner-Institute in Potsdam, Germany ("HPI D-School"). We analyzed the design thinking process, as it is practiced there, and developed a process model that describes all process steps in detail, as well the respective input and output of each phase. A particular emphasis is given to the question, when to iterate in the process. The process model presented in this article contributes to a better understanding of design thinking, especially for educators, companies, and design practitioners. In detail, it could be used to better analyze design thinking projects and adjust them for specific companies or situations, to compare design thinking with other methods (design process models), and to develop IT-based solutions to support and facilitate the design thinking process itself or parts of it.