Design Thinking Resources

The internet is a wonderful and bizarre thing. I received a lovely mail today saying that someone “liked” my blog post. With my ego getting a little bit of encouragement I went and investigated. It turns out that Stefanie Di Russo is a PhD candidate at my old university (that I didn’t graduate from) in Melbourne. Wow that is a small world.

Even better it turns out that Stef produces enormous quantities of excellent, thoughtful content all with wonderful illustrations. I may have had a very good coffee this morning, because I just spend the last hour scouring her blog and writing many rambling comments. I thoroughly recommend you to explore her site, with a couple of entry points that may be of key value:

“The History of Design Thinking“

Source: Stefanie Di Rosso – We’ve all seen these diagrams, but I like the evolving solution as the finishing point. I know I am going to redraw this at least three times in the next two weeks.

This is where I began and it is a great read. Stef struck a nerve as I deeply agree that there is a gap in this research. Design thinking is dominated by a “now” perspective and a drive to create change, deliver business returns and produce societal value. The history of how design emerged is complicated enough, but the history of how designers as thinkers emerged rather than “just” practitioners (which we all should recognize is incredibly difficult) is an incredible discussion. Design history has been written mostly through the lens of art and architecture.

“How Design Thinking Came to Be“

Source: Stefanie Di Russo – Stay tuned for a version of this from me in the next few weeks. Am beginning to unpack “human centred design” through my personal, bossy lens.

This is superb. I am in the middle of an ongoing debate/discussion/exploration with a dear friend Zahra Ebrahim around these topics. In a weird sign of parallels, we may have been drawing the same diagrams as Stef at a very similar moment in time. Go visit the blog if just to see the illustration of Don Norman … it is fantastic.

“Biomimicry (Design) Thinking“

No diagram for this one, Stef? I’m surprised… so much opportunity for this one… 

And finally a great snap shot of biomimicry/bionics through the lens of what different movements or methodologies are trying to inform to their audiences. It is a great summary of the core principles of innovation inspired by nature that highlights and reflects the many dialogues I have had around the best ways for people to engage in these discussions.

Thanks, Stef for the distraction today!

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