Design Thinking Fundamentals

A mindset focused on finding solutions to complex problems by understanding customer needs and exploring innovative possibilities. Design thinking encourages creativity, iteration, and continuous improvement.

The first stage of design thinking involves actively researching and understanding the target audience's needs, pain points, and aspirations. It involves gathering information through various methods, including interviews, observations, and data analysis.

After gathering information, you define the specific problem you're trying to solve. This stage focuses on translating the user's needs into a clear and focused problem statement.

This stage involves brainstorming and generating a wide range of potential solutions to the defined problem. It encourages creative thinking and exploring diverse possibilities.

The fourth stage, prototyping, involves creating tangible representations of the potential solutions. These prototypes can be physical, digital, or conceptual and help you test ideas and gather feedback.

The final stage of design thinking involves evaluating the prototypes through user testing and gathering feedback. This feedback helps refine the solution and ensure it meets the user's needs.

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

A research method that focuses on observing and understanding people's behavior in their natural environment.

A method of generating creative solutions by exploring diverse ideas and possibilities in a free-flowing manner.

A process that involves evaluating and analyzing the generated ideas to identify the most promising solution.

A form of ideation that involves approaching problems creatively and indirectly, breaking free from conventional thinking patterns.

Involves testing the designed solution through user feedback, gathering quantitative data, and iterating based on insights.

A process of using visual elements like images and diagrams to communicate ideas and understand concepts.

A problem-solving approach that focuses on understanding the needs and experiences of users. It involves empathy, idea generation, prototyping, and testing to create solutions that effectively meet user needs.

The first phase of Human-Centered Design, focusing on understanding the user's needs, challenges, and goals through observation, interviews, and data analysis.

The second phase of Human-Centered Design, focusing on brainstorming innovative solutions, exploring ideas, and creating initial prototypes to test different concepts.

The third phase of Human-Centered Design, focusing on refining solutions through testing and iteration. User feedback is gathered to improve the design and enhance user experience.

A visual diagram that uses branches and keywords to represent ideas, concepts, and connections. It's a powerful way to organize information, brainstorm, and plan projects.

Using Mind Maps can help save time and record more information efficiently.

Mind Maps allow easy addition of new ideas and connections later in the process.

Mind maps encourage focusing on the structure of information and how it's connected, rather than just a list of facts.

Mind maps visually represent connections and similarities between various pieces of information.

Adding sketches to Mind Maps can make them more engaging and easier to remember.

Mind Maps can effectively organize and incorporate a large amount of material.

Mind Maps can be used for revision of materials originally presented in a conventional format.

Mind Maps condense information into a concise and memorable format.

Mind Maps are subjective and may be difficult for others to understand.

Mind Maps are useful for preparation, but may not be appropriate for final presentations or work.

The practice of conceiving and planning what doesn't exist. It can be applied to creating structures, environments, interfaces, products, services, features, or processes.

The conceptualizing, engineering, restoring, renovating, or repurposing of buildings and structures.

The design of products, encompassing both physical goods like furniture and cultural products like fashion or jewellery.

The design of interior and exterior spaces that are open to the public. This is often seen in retail, restaurants, and other commercial spaces.

Design that focuses on marketing aspects like branding, promotions, communications, products, packaging, and retail environments.

A design approach driven by user needs, perceptions, and behaviors. It focuses on designing user interfaces, products, services, and environments that provide positive experiences.

A design field concerned with the usability and visual appeal of digital platforms. It focuses on making websites, apps, and interfaces easy to use and visually engaging.

The design of products to ensure they are functional and aesthetically pleasing. This includes considerations of form, material, and manufacturing processes.

The process of creating visual representations of motion. This can be used in animated films, video games, or other media.

The design of visual elements used to represent a brand's identity. This encompasses logos, typography, color palettes, and other visual assets.

The process of conveying messages through visual design. This includes graphic design, typography, photography, and illustration.

The design of spaces and environments for specific purposes. This includes creating user-friendly spaces for work, play, or learning.

The design of clothing and accessories. This involves considerations of fabric, pattern, and silhouette.

The design of visual concepts and information for presentation. This includes creating charts, graphs, maps, and other visual aids.

The design of the interior spaces of buildings. This involves considerations of layout, furniture, lighting, and color.

A two-dimensional area that stands out from its surroundings due to a defined or implied boundary, or differences in value, color, or texture.

Shapes created using precise tools like rulers and compasses, examples include squares, circles, and triangles.

Shapes that are irregular and often resemble shapes found in nature, like clouds or leaves.

The literal physical surface of a printed piece, or the visual appearance of a surface. It adds detail and conveys the quality of a surface.

The area within a design, creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface.

Objects appearing to be on top of each other, creating the illusion of depth.

Gradation marks used to make a two-dimensional object appear three-dimensional

The concept that objects appear smaller the farther away they are.

How air filters the appearance of distant objects, making them appear less distinct.

The way an artist arranges elements in a composition. It can also refer to a three-dimensional object.

The overall range of lightness and darkness, and color variation within an image.

The difference between the lightest and darkest tones in an image, affecting the contrast and mood.

The arrangement of elements on a page, creating a cohesive visual experience.

The primary focus of a design, capturing the viewer's attention and communicating the main idea.

Lines or shapes guiding the viewer's eye to a specific area of the composition.

A principle of design where adjacent elements differ significantly to make them stand out. For example, using light and dark colors next to each other.

Creating a feeling of balance in a design by using different elements with visual weights. It can be symmetrical (equal weights on both sides) or asymmetrical (unequal weights).

A design strategy where the most important information stands out. This can be achieved by size, color, placement, or other techniques.

The relationship between the sizes of objects in a design. It helps us understand what is important and what is not.

A repeated arrangement of design elements like shapes, lines, colors, or patterns. It can also refer to a standard design style.

Directing the eye's movement through a design using repeated elements. It can be regular, alternating, flowing, random, or progressive.

The arrangement of design elements to create a cohesive and pleasing whole. All elements have clear relationships with each other.

A collection of rules and guidelines that help artists and designers use color effectively for aesthetic appeal and communication.

The idea that certain color combinations are aesthetically pleasing because they create a good balance of contrast and consonance.

Splitting a concept into three parts for easier understanding and visual representation.

Leaving blank space around elements in a design. It improves readability and creates a sense of calm and focus.

A comprehensive understanding of the design principles and how they work together.

A circular representation of colors, organized by hue and based on the RGB system (red, green, blue). It shows relationships between colors and how they are created by mixing.

Colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors. They are the foundation of the color wheel.

Colors created by mixing two primary colors.

Colors created by mixing one primary color with one secondary color.

A combination of colors that work well together, creating harmony and visual appeal.

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel.

A three-color scheme based on two complementary colors, but using the colors adjacent to one of the complementary colors.

Colors next to each other on the color wheel.

A three-color scheme where the colors are evenly spaced on the color wheel, creating a vibrant and balanced feel.

A color scheme using two sets of complementary colors.

Like Tetradic colors, but all four colors are evenly spaced on the color wheel.

Using various shades, tones, and tints of a single color.

A variation of a color by adding white, black, or grey.

The pure color or hue, without any added white, black, or grey

The study of how colors influence human behavior, emotions, and perceptions.

A process of understanding and sharing the feelings of others, crucial for design thinking because it allows designers to connect with users' needs and create solutions that truly meet their goals.

A research method that involves observing and understanding people's behavior in their natural environment. It helps designers gain valuable insights into user needs, behaviors, and cultural influences.

A problem-solving approach that emphasizes understanding and meeting the needs of users. It involves a human-centered design process, focusing on empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

The first phase of the HCD process, involving understanding the user's needs, challenges, and aspirations through observation, interviews, and data analysis.

The second phase of the HCD process, focusing on brainstorming and generating innovative solutions to the problem identified in the inspiration phase. It involves exploring ideas and creating initial prototypes.

The third phase of the HCD process, focusing on refining the design through testing and iteration. User feedback is used to improve the solution and ensure it meets user needs.