A brief history of Design thinking

Design thinking is a problem-solving method that prioritizes the user's needs in the design process. It is a human-centered and iterative approach that places emphasis on empathy, creativity, and experimentation to develop innovative solutions.

The origins of design thinking can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s when design began to be viewed as a strategic business tool. In 1969, Herbert A. Simon, a Nobel laureate economist, introduced the concept of "satisficing," which argued that people make decisions based on what is good enough rather than the optimal solution. This idea helped designers to focus on creating solutions that met users' needs rather than aiming for perfection.

In the 1980s and 1990s, design thinking began to gain traction as a formal process. In 1987, the design firm IDEO was founded and became one of the pioneers of design thinking. IDEO's founders, including David Kelley, Tim Brown, and Bill Moggridge, developed a human-centered design process that emphasised empathy, experimentation, and prototyping. They applied this process to develop products such as the first Apple mouse and the Palm V handheld computer.

In the 2000s, design thinking gained popularity in the business world as companies began to recognise its potential to drive innovation and growth. Companies like IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Airbnb adopted design thinking as a core part of their strategy. In 2008, the d.school at Stanford University was established, which helped to formalise and popularise the design thinking process.

Today, design thinking is widely used in various fields, including business, healthcare, education, and government. It has been widely applied in web and app design. In fact, the user-centered and iterative nature of design thinking makes it particularly well-suited for creating digital products that meet users' needs.