Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work

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.

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
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.

Review :
I came across the first edition of this book and adopted it immediately for my instructional design course…The second edition is even richer with engaging storytelling and case studies. A must-read for future designers-to-be. This is the classic book on how designers think and work. While based on solid research, it is also a compelling read: the interviews, case studies and stories from design practice are lively and very accessible. There still is no better explanation. Are you looking for a book that can help you advance your ability to be a reflective designer? This straightforward book takes on the complex topic of design thinking and gives you gems to reflect on and incorporate into your own design practice. Nigel Cross has been at the forefront of research in design thinking for several decades. This book elegantly encapsulates his exceptional knowledge of just what it is that makes designing such a unique and valuable activity. This book highlights the core characteristics of design thinking and its processes through empirical case studies on how designers generate creative designs. Nigel Cross, a pioneer in design research and methodology, analyzes design thinking with insights based on his long-standing experience, which can be of great help to design researchers, educators and students. Design thinking has radically changed the world. Long before the concept got traction in many disciplines beyond design, Nigel already engaged deeply with the cognitive processes of designers and architects. This book is a much needed refresher on the understanding of these fascinating phenomena. As a design professor with a background in psychology, I am hugely inspired by this book.