Design Thinking

Design thinking is the core creative process for any designer; this book explores and explains this apparently mysterious design ability. This new edition is a completely revised, updated and extended version of a classic text. Focusing on what designers actually do when they are designing, the book is structured around a series of in-depth case studies of the work of outstanding and expert designers, interwoven and developed with commentary and comparison. The coverage reflects the breadth of design from architecture to engineering, consumer products to communications, and from individual designing to teamwork and collaborative designing. The scale of designing ranges from Formula One racing cars to city commuting cars, locomotives to bicycles, sewing machines to litter bins and lemon squeezers. The book is based on evidence from observation and investigation of design practice, providing insights into and understanding of design thinking, and the development of design ability from novice to expert. This second edition of Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work offers an overview from one of design's most experienced and influential scholars. Nigel Cross goes to the heart of what it means to think and work as a designer. It is an ideal guide for anyone who wants to become a designer or to know how good designers work in the field of contemporary design.

Nigel Cross is Emeritus Professor of Design Studies, Open University, UK. He has vast experience as a design teacher and an international reputation as a design researcher through books such as Designerly Ways of Knowing and Analysing Design Activity, and editorship of the leading research journal, Design Studies.

Illustration Credits Preface Acknowledgements Introduction The Design of this Book 1. Design Ability Studying Design Ability Asking Designers About What They Do Deconstructing What Designers Do Watching What Designers Do Thinking About What Designers Do Understanding What Designers Do 2. Designing to Win Background: Formula One Designing Radical Innovation Self-adjusting Suspension Pit Stops Designing from First Principles Steering Column Analogical Thinking Integrated Design City Car Modelling Learning from Failure Design Process and Working Methods 3. Designing to Please Background: The Art of Technical Design Looking for Improvement Sewing Machine Constructive Thinking Going Beyond the Brief Locomotive Fixation Learning from Failure Design Process and Working Methods 4. How Designers Think Motivation and Attitude Other Outstanding Designers Common Features Strategic Thinking Creative Thinking Problem Framing Co-evolution 5. Designing to Use The Experiment Design in Action Systems View First Principles Designing for Clients and Users Discussion: Design strategy 6. Designing Together Teamwork in Design Roles and Relationships Planning and Changing Activities Gathering and Sharing Information Generating and Adopting Concepts Plastic Tray Persuasion Avoiding and Resolving Conflicts Discussion: Design Co-operation 7. How Designers Work Creative Working Team Working Team Leadership Design Process Structure Versus Spontaneity Collaborative Designing Creative Designing The Creative Bridge 8. Design Expertise Experts and Novices From Novice to Expert Development of Expertise Developing Design Thinking Expertise in Teamwork Design Intelligence The Designing Brain Glossary References Index