Design thinking

Start with the process

Begin with the mind map Design Thinking Process Guide. It introduces empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing. Its opening section looks at understanding people in the context of a design challenge. Use the map to get an overview before looking more closely at each stage.

As you read, follow the branches from the stage names to their descriptions. You can note which parts focus on understanding people and which move toward developing and testing ideas.

Compare the mind maps

The Design thinking process guide mind map also starts with understanding people, including their needs, what matters to them and how they view the world. Compare its opening branches with those in Design Thinking Process Guide to see how the two resources present empathy and definition.

Another process guide on the page connects understanding people with observing and engaging. A separate Design Thinking mind map describes processes as focused on a problem, driven by empathy and collaborative. These maps offer different ways to organize your study of the topic.

Use the quiz and notes

The page includes a vocabulary practice quiz and notes created from a design thinking process guide mind map. After exploring a map, use the quiz for vocabulary practice, then return to the maps and notes to look at the process in context.

When you find a term or stage you want to explore further, look for it in the relevant map. The notes provide another format for studying a process guide alongside its visual branches.

Place the topic in the unit

Design thinking is one section of The Design Process unit in Design and technology. The resources here let you focus on this section through process guides, maps and practice material. Choose a map to explore, then use the quiz and notes alongside it.