From Designing Interactions , Moggridge, 2007,p. 650
…..The process of [solving a design problem] does not look like a linear system diagram, nor even a revolving wheel of iterations but is more like playing with a pinball machine, where one bounces rapidly in unexpected directions.
Tacit knowledgeDesign thinking harnesses tacit knowledge rather than the explicit knowledge of logically expressed thoughts. Designers operate at a level of complexity in the syntheses of constraints where it is more effective to learn by doing, allowing the subconscious mind to inform intuitions that guide actions.
Perhaps the mind is like an iceberg with just a small proportion of the overall amount protruding above the water into consciousness. If we operate above the water line, we only have a small volume to user, but if we allow ourselves to use the whole submerged mass, we have a lot ore to work with.,
If a problem has a large number of constrains the conscious mind starts to get confused, but the subconscious mind has a much larger capacity. Designers have the ability and the training to harness the tacit knowledge of the unconscious mind than being limited to working with explicit knowledge. This makes them good at synthesising complex problems with large numbers of constraints; It also makes them bad at explaining or defining what they are doing or thinking, They will describe process and results because they are not consciously aware of their own rationale.
[…]When a problem is complex, with lots of constraints, it is much easier to recognise a good solution than explain it.
Have you ever had this experience of either the pinball or iceberg when you are trying to solve a problem
I can strongly relate to the confusion of the pinball machine and the notion of tacit knowledge and the tip of an iceberg when I am solving problems – usually creative ones: writing essays; designing websites or online learning tasks. A strong metaphor I have in finding the solution to a design problems is like a light bulb going off in my head
This short article presents
a comparison between traditional business strategy approaches and Design Thinking approaches.
Innovation through design thinking
From MIT, Tim Brown CDO of Ideo.com presents a video lecture on how design thinking is integral to innovation.
