Design Thinking
UNITED WE STAND: A CRITIQUE OF THE DESIGN THINKING APPROACH IN INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATION
Fiona Maciver, Julian Malins, Julia Kantorovitch, Aggelos Liapis
Norwich University of the Arts (2), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Athens University of Economics and Business
f.maciver@nua.ac.uk
Keywords: interdisciplinary teams; design/technology collaboration; design thinking; design projects; project management
Abstract
There has been a recent upsurge in the promotion of ‘creative thinking’. The input of several disciplines is necessary to innovate new products and services. However, there remain many challenges to collaboration amongst creative and science-based disciplines. This paper examines disparities between designers and technologists when innovating and tackling problems. It is suggested that dominance of one party is likely to result in inadequate results. This paper seeks to explore how collaboration can be mediated by design thinking. A case study of designers and technologists working on a software development project is presented. The case study highlights challenges resulting from differences between designers and technologists. Guiding principles aimed at facilitating collaboration are outlined. Finally, the paper reflects on the symbiosis between the disciplines, and how difference in fact cultivates innovation.
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Cite this paper: Maciver, F., Malinsa, J., Kantorovitch, J., Liapisc, A. (2016). United We Stand: A critique of the design thinking approach in interdisciplinary innovation. Proceedings of DRS 2016, Design Research Society 50th Anniversary Conference. Brighton, UK, 27–30 June 2016.
This paper will be presented at DRS2016, find it in the conference programme