The Importance of Design Thinking
A design is an exact replica of the object to be constructed, including all details such as dimensions, materials and structure. A design is not a blueprint for constructing an object; rather, it’s a description of the intended arrangement of any object or substance in space. Therefore, the word ‘design’ designates the act or procedure of determining the arrangement of objects in space, rather than the description of the arrangement of objects on a flat surface. The word ‘design’ also denotes the craftsmanship involved in producing an aesthetically appealing object. The word ‘design’ can also apply to the results obtained from controlled experimentation.
Design thinking is all about aesthetics. It involves the observation of the overall effect or the aesthetic appearance of objects in their surrounding environment, in combination with knowledge about how they work and what they have to do in order to achieve that effect. Aesthetics are subjective to the person observing them, but the beauty of objects is universal. An object is only beautiful to the degree that its basic constituents are already present to us. This is why so many people find beauty in art: because of its inherent simplicity, as if by design.
Designers must also think in terms of aesthetics as they create solutions to real-world problems. Designing for functionality is an integral part of the design process. Functional objects satisfy a variety of needs, but each component in them must function in specific ways to ensure their usefulness and suitability for a particular situation. When they do so, objects become attractive not just in visual terms, but in terms of how well they match the surroundings and their suitability for a particular use. In this way, design thinking and the design process becomes intimately intertwined.
At a basic level, good design comes from inspiration. Many designers first experience great ideas when looking through nature. These may come in the forms of individual images or abstract patterns. In some cases, such images and patterns are seen as a way of communicating a message about a product, a cultural icon, or even a set of instructions.
In more advanced stages of the design process, a designer’s creativity extends beyond mere visual inspiration. A designer might find a new use for a product or a new material to use in an existing one. In these cases, creativity takes the form of invention. The designer might imagine a new use for a product that has previously been used but never thought of before, or even build on ideas from science and engineering. A good designer will often turn their backs on traditional ideas in favor of novel ones.
The fundamentals of design thinking can be illustrated through a case study. Take for example, every step of the process from designing a drawing to final printing and distribution takes at least a few basic steps. Each of these is necessary for every step to follow. Designers who grasp the fundamental steps in every steps of the process will be able to leverage their creativity to solve many problems.