The Design Thinking Diamond is a visual representation used to guide the process of design thinking, which involves both expanding the scope of solutions (divergence) and narrowing down to the best solutions (convergence). This framework is beneficial for fostering creativity and innovation within teams by systematically exploring a wide array of possibilities before refining and focusing on feasible solutions. It helps in addressing complex problems by breaking them down into manageable parts.
Discover: Identify and understand the problem or opportunity. | Define: Clearly articulate the problem and set design criteria. | Develop: Generate a wide range of potential solutions. | Deliver: Evaluate, refine, and implement the best solutions.
Encourage open and unbiased participation | Use visual aids and prototypes for clarity | Iterate based on feedback and testing
Encourages creativity and broad thinking | Facilitates thorough exploration of problems | Promotes iterative refinement of solutions
Can be time-consuming | May lead to decision paralysis with too many options | Requires skilled facilitation to be effective
When addressing complex, ill-defined problems | When innovation is a priority
For simple or well-defined problems | Under tight deadlines where quick decisions are needed