Technological innovations have brought major revolutions into motion in all industries. The design thinking methodology promises to be yet another innovation that seeks to provide value through creativity and out-of-the-box solutions. Design thinking proposes radical changes in the traditional design procedure.

In conventional design thinking, a select few experts propose solutions to problems based on the strict application of scientific or technical principles. In contrast to this, design thinking is a highly collaborative and interactive effort that takes input from people of diverse professional backgrounds so that they can chime in with their unique insights for better solutions.

We have seen that the inclusion of people from different backgrounds (including our valued clients) can bring great benefits. This is due to the fresh perspectives that they have to offer which are usually quite unique when compared to the conventional scientific/technical knowledge of experts. Quite often these ideas prove to be very good in addition to being refreshingly different. That is why such thinking is also called out-of-the-box thinking because the unconventional perspectives that pour forth are quite different in approach when compared to conventional wisdom. How is that possible?

People from all kinds of backgrounds including the clients are encouraged to participate in the design thinking process. A fresh mind is in a better position to apply lateral thinking and conceive out-of-the-box solutions. This can best be illustrated by a true story.

A container truck got stuck while trying to pass beneath a low bridge. Since the container was quite tall, it couldn’t pass beneath the low bridge. The truck was effectively sandwiched between the low bridge from above and the road surface from below. The driver could neither go forward nor reverse the truck no matter how hard he tried. The truck obstructed the main road creating a long traffic jam. Engineers, firefighters and rescue workers all rushed to the scene. No one could think of an immediate solution.

Some suggested cutting up the truck while others suggested breaking up part of the bridge. Seemingly different, both methods had the same problems. They were tedious, time consuming, expensive and caused damage to property. Each expert proposed a method that was closer to his expertise. Suddenly a boy walked up to the scene to find out what the fuss was about. A wonderfully simple idea crept into his mind: why not just simply deflate the tires? This would surely create enough room for the truck to pass through and indeed it did.

The Power of Empathy

Another key element of design thinking is empathy. Also called the human rule, it states that since the design is meant to serve the needs of people, it is necessary to step into the shoes of people themselves to understand their wants. This way, designers can better serve their needs instead of imposing their own assumed solutions. Empathy gives insight into the emotional and psychological needs of people besides the physical constraints faced by them. It goes much further than ergonomics which is basically concerned with shaping the environment according to physical constraints imposed by the human body.

For instance, we commonly use empathy to simulate the effects that our design have on users. Imagine a visitor at a customer-oriented institution. We take into account the customer’s journey and his pains to analyse how design can offer a comfortable and inviting experience. Is it enhancing the quality of conversation? Is it giving a sense of belonging and required privacy during the interaction? Is it helping the visitor to reach the right place? Important considerations like these, focusing on the visitor experience, are achieved by empathy. In short, design thinking doesn’t just focus on physical design, it pays due regard to the experience.

Design thinking surpasses the limited skill set provided by the conventional architectural procedure. This methodology can be availed to shape architectural designs and interiors that excel in exquisiteness and utility. Architects can utilise design thinking to conceive exotic architectural solutions that orchestrate alluring experiences for their clients.

Deeper Collaboration

Design thinking can initiate a profound dialogue between cross-disciplinary professionals that may be previously missing, to create a positive impact on the design process. It can be quite inspiring to notice the impact that design thinking can have in sparking passion and enthusiasm among participants. Design thinking can be a wonderful tool for kickoff meetings. It can stir enthusiasm in the hearts of clients and thereby allow them to communicate and speak out their minds to facilitate fruitful collaboration. This can be helpful in understanding the needs of the client and building rapport.

Benefits to Design Cycle

Design thinking can result in an outpouring of exuberance, creativity, and better understanding to instil an atmosphere of remarkable understanding in the project team and that can vastly benefit all phases of the design cycle. Design thinking is highly interactive and collaborative in nature so it deeply challenges the participants. This is a group effort and everyone wants to put on a good show. That’s why they all offer valuable suggestions and novel solutions. This also fosters better understanding with the clients so that a deeper comprehension of their needs can be developed.

Conclusion

The Design Thinking methodology considers the client’s opinion, feedback and collaboration as pivotal to the success of the design process. The design thinking approach allows architects to engage clients since their suggestions may have the potential to add value to the design process. Clients’ participation has its own significance because they are experts in the way that they will use their space. Considering the benefits, design thinking may have good future prospects in architecture.