Applying Design Thinking as a Method for Teaching Packaging Design

Design thinking is a human-centered creative method that can be used to seek innovative solutions for life and social topics. Moreover, design thinking can enable developing innovative ideas that can satisfy consumer needs. A packaging design course is a professional course that combines material application, design aesthetics, and branding. It is also a comprehensive science course that emphasizes developing students’ creative thinking and the ability to use practical technologies. This study applied an experimental teaching method to introduce design thinking in a packaging design course. The aim was to guide students to identify problems from the perspectives of product packaging, brand image, spatial structure, and marketing. Students were expected to be able to reconsider the meaning and importance of packaging design and thus enhance their structural creativity, visual aesthetics, and design thinking, in addition to improving their rational analysis and design problem-solving abilities.