Design Thinking
PAS QuickNotes 90
By Tom Fisher
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Design has existed as long as the human species itself, enabling us to adapt to new conditions and innovate in the face of changing needs. But design has traditionally focused on the function and appearance of products and physical environments, while largely ignoring the creation and delivery of services. This disparity has led to a lot of badly designed systems, processes, and policies, resulting in unnecessary dysfunctions and ugly consequences.
Design thinking has emerged in recent years as a way to bring more creative, “right brain” insights into linear, “left brain” processes. Through design thinking, we can improve these services. For the planning profession, design thinking also represents a creative, humanities-based approach to the physical environment, complementing more data-driven, social-science approaches.
This edition of PAS QuickNotes defines design thinking and suggests how planners can use this agile, five-step process to help improve systems, processes, and policies in their communities.
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About the Author
Tom Fisher
Thomas Fisher is a Professor in the School of Architecture, the Dayton Hudson Chair in Urban Design, and the Director of the Minnesota Design Center at the College of Design, University of Minnesota. He has written 10 books, over 50 book chapters or introductions, and over 450 articles in professional journals and major publications. He has been named a top-25 design educator four times by Design Intelligence.