Design thinking, a human-centered approach to innovation, is not just a theoretical concept but a practical process that can be applied to a wide range of challenges in various domains. This book aims to provide a comprehensive and practical introduction to design thinking, its methods, tools, and applications. It covers the theoretical foundations, the core phases, and the fundamental principles of design thinking. It also showcases how design thinking can be applied to different contexts, such as engineering, business, education, healthcare, and social innovation. It includes numerous case studies and examples of design thinking in action, as well as exercises and activities to help readers practice and master design thinking skills.
Salient features
Chandramouli Subramanian is Associate Director at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. An alumnus of IIM-K and a Certified Global Business Leader from Harvard Business School, he is a prolific writer of business management articles dealing with design thinking, technology management, delivery management, competitiveness, IT, organizational culture, and leadership.
Thiyagarajan Paramasivan is Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. Selected by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as an expert in Information Communication Technology for the Malaviya Mission Teachers Training Programme, he has developed a MOOC on Internet of Things (IoT) and received the Young Scientist Award from the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology.
Sankaran Venkataramani is a Partner at KPMG, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A passionate management professional and researcher with 28+ years of rich experience, he has leveraged the principles and premise of Design Thinking along with the SAFe Agile Framework to build organizational capabilities in applying the Design Thinking philosophy around solution design and development.
About the Authors Preface Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction to Design Thinking If You Want to Think Out-of-the-Box, First Get Rid of the Box | Sustainable Business Models | Definition of Design Thinking | Way of Working (WoW) of Design Thinking | Sweet Spot of Design Thinking | Four Questions of Design Thinking | Need for Design Thinking | History and Evolution of Design Thinking | Ten Tools of Design Thinking | Five Stages of the Design Thinking Process | Ten Stages of the Design Thinking Process | Benefits of Design Thinking | Misconceptions about Design Thinking | When to Use Design Thinking and When Not to | Alternatives to Design Thinking | How Design Thinking Differs From Traditional Problem-solving Approaches
Chapter 2: The Empathize Stage Introduction | Importance of Empathy in Design Thinking | Techniques for Conducting User Research and Gathering Insights | Empathetic Dimension to Leadership
Chapter 3: The Define Stage Transition from the Empathize Stage to the Define Stage | Analyze and Synthesize Data (Step 1) | Define the Core Problem (Step 2) | Identify User Needs and Opportunities (Step 3) | Develop a Point of View (POV) (Step 4) | Create ‘How Might We’ Questions (Step 5)
Chapter 4: The Ideation Stage Introduction | What and Why of the Ideation Stage | Clear Articulation of the Problem Statement with Focus on Latent Needs | Techniques for Ideation | Divergence and Convergence | Evaluation of Ideas | Tools for the Ideation Stage of Design Thinking | Case Studies of the Ideation Stage | Ideation with SIT | Three-Box Thinking
Chapter 5: The Prototype Stage Introduction | What and Why of Prototyping | How Prototyping Enhances the Design Thinking Process | Developing Mockups, Models, and Prototypes | Types of Prototyping | User Centricity in Prototyping | Proof of Concept and Prototyping | Lean Startup Method of Prototype Development | Virtual Ecosystem for Collaborative Prototyping | Developing Skills for Making and Presenting Prototypes
Chapter 6: Testing and Implementation Introduction | Defining Testing and Implementation Goals | Identifying Key Stakeholders of the Testing Stage | Key Challenges in Testing and Implementation | Overview of Piloting and Launching in Design Thinking | Analyzing the Test Results | Tracking Results and Measuring Success | Leveraging Feedback and Data to Improve Testing and Implementation | Scaling the Testing in Design Thinking | Continuous Improvement in Testing | Avoiding Common Pitfalls in the Testing Stage | The Kano Model | Desirability Testing | Usability and Ergonomic Testing | Agility in the Testing Phase of Design Thinking
Chapter 7: Sustainable Design Approaches Introduction | What and Why of Sustainable Design | Objectives of Sustainable Design Approaches | Methods for Incorporating Sustainable Design
Chapter 8: Analyzing User Experience Introduction | Fundamentals of User Experience Analysis | Key Metrics for User Experience Analysis | Future Trends in UX Analysis | Real-life Case Studies in UX Analysis
Chapter 9: Integrating Design Thinking with Other Disciplines Introduction | Design Thinking and Business | Design Thinking and Technology | Design Thinking and Education | Design Thinking and Healthcare | Design Thinking and Social Impact | Design Thinking in Constructing Buildings
Chapter 10: Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking Introduction | How to Measure the Impact of Design Thinking | Challenges of Measuring Design Thinking | Frameworks for Measuring Design Thinking | Types of Metrics for Measuring Design Thinking | The Impact of Design Thinking on User Experience | Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking on Organizational Culture | Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking on Society | Key Takeaways from Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking
Chapter 11: Ethical Considerations in Design Thinking Introduction | Importance of Ethical Considerations in Design Thinking | How Design Thinking Incorporates Ethical Concerns | Diversity and Inclusion in Design Thinking | Addressing the Needs of the People | Privacy in Design Thinking | Other Considerations
Chapter 12: Design Thinking Case Studies Introduction | Airbnb | Delta Airlines | Kaiser Permanente | IDEO | Ford | Indian Railways
Chapter 13: Capstone Projects Introduction | Capstone Project 1: Designing a Cultural Probe for Empathetic Leadership | Capstone Project 2: Designing a Community-based Healthy Food Access Solution | Capstone Project 3: Improving the User Experience of a Healthcare App | Capstone Project 4: Designing a New Product | Capstone Project 5: Improving a Service | Capstone Project 6: Designing a User-friendly Mobile App for Ordering Fresh Produce | Capstone Project 7: Developing a New Healthcare Device | Capstone Project 8: Creating a New Online Customer Ordering System | Capstone Project 9: Design Thinking for a School App | Capstone Project 10: Design Thinking for a School Cafeteria | Capstone Project 11: Design Thinking for a Classroom Experience: | Capstone Project 12: Designing a Sustainable Product | Capstone Project 13: Sustainable Design in the Fashion Industry | Capstone Project 14: Sustainable Design in the Built Environment | Capstone Project 15: Developing an Innovative Business Model using Design Thinking | Capstone Project 16: Developing a User-centered Mobile Application using Design Thinking | Capstone Project 17: Developing a Social Innovation Project using Design Thinking | Capstone Project 18: Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking on User Experience | Capstone Project 19 Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking on Organizational Culture | Capstone Project 20: Measuring the Impact of Design Thinking on Society Appendix A: Model Course Structure Appendix B: Model Question Papers Index