THINK HUMAN-CENTRIC

At the core of design thinking is the recognition that people - their needs, the contextual constraints they experience, their aspirations and preferences - determine the suitability of any solution.

Hence design thinking is intrinsically human-centred; and empathy is emphasised in design thinking practice.

EMBRACE DIVERSITY

The philosophy underpinning design thinking is that diversity in every spectrum - from race, culture, world view and perspective, to skills, experience and insights - is vital for addressing the complex challenges faced by contemporary society.

Collaboration in diverse, multidisciplinary teams is a characteristic of design thinking in action.

A responsiveness to context - the ability to deeply connect with local realities and appreciate local knowledge and systems - is necessary for developing solutions that are appropriate and effective.

CREATIVE CONFIDENCE

Building creative confidence is central to what we do at the d-school.

The fast pace of scientific and digital progress, combined with socio-political and economic uncertainty, requires a mindset that can imagine the future to create solutions that are not only based on data and certainty.

Design thinking principles like: Encourage Wild Ideas, Think Visually, Fail-Early - Fail Fast, contribute to developing creative confidence.

WHAT IS UBUNTU

The African philosophy of Ubuntu - loosely explained as "I am because of you" - is a way of defining who we are and how we relate to others. It springs from the belief that one's humanity is affirmed when one  recognises and affirms the humanity of others.

This resonates with the way design thinking is practised at the d-school. Embracing diversity. Empathy. Deferring judgement. Building on the ideas of others. These are some of the design thinking principles that determine the way we work with people and appreciate the knowledge, skills and resources they represent. These principles enable us to co-create and collaborate with a broad range of people.

TRAINING IN DESIGN THINKING

Training in design thinking provides tools, a process, and ultimately a mindset, that equip practitioners to collaboratively develop human-centred solutions to challenges in contemporary contexts that are dynamic and complex.