The application of design thinking methodology on research practices a mind map of tools and methods

THE APPLICATION OF DESIGN THINKING
METHODOLOGY ON RESEARCH PRACTICES:
A MIND-MAP OF TOOLS AND METHOD
Joana Cerejo
Álvaro Barbosa
ABSTRACT
The difficult task of innovation is a key facet of Research & Development (R&D) institutions. Innovation is also
closely related with processes oriented to achieve solutions in design. By addressing this topic, we propose to
research new emerging design methods and provide an overview of design thinking tools that can be applied in an
early stage of the R&D research process in order to produce meaningful results.
This research presents a set of experimental guidelines and an analysis method for the application of these tools.
In particular, it is taken into account that design, through design thinking, extends to the experience that
costumers/users have with products, services, spaces or even multidimensional experiences, which is a relevant
input for R&D innovation development.
It is well known that design has changed its scope beyond the conception of artifacts: Design thinking
methodologies have resulted from the advancement of current design paradigms. However, design thinking is not
a new design discipline. It is a fresh multi-disciplinary platform that utilizes conceptual tools in order to provide
steps towards innovation. In fact, the establishment of coherent guidelines for the design thinking process is a very
complex task, due to its interdisciplinary requirements, that convey many diverse mindsets.
The main focus of this study is creating an analysis toolkit that enables non-specialist and specialist users to
perform high-quality design production.
This methodological tool is being applied in the framework of two research centers, namely, the Research center for
Science and Technology of the Arts and the Telecommunication Institute of Oporto University. These trials provide
valuable pilot studies in order to determine the efficiency of this ‘mind map’ in the R&D innovation process.
KEYWORDS
Design Thinking, Design Management, Innovation, R&D Organization, Creative Industries, Design Thinking Tools

INTRODUCTION
This paper follows the notion that design is increasingly an important tool that fosters economic growth as
well as creative goals. The approach that is proposed within this paper focuses on the reflection of the
enormous benefits that the concept of design thinking and its use in management, could offer to the R&Ds
centers. Design methodologies can aid areas and organizations which focus on the field of science and
engineering. The R&D organization must know about how to maximize the advantage of design integration.
According to Achas (2010, p.5) “our understanding of the role and nature of design is still woefully
lacking, in comparison to the substantial work completed on defining and characterizing R&D, science,
technology and even innovation itself.”
Therefore, in order for these organizations to obtain a full return on their design investments, it is
important to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the benefits of design and acknowledge its
potential. It is in this context that design is used as a tool for development, innovation and productivity.
The introduction of the design paradigms of thought associated with the R&D management processes
are an opportunity to maximize the transfer of knowledge and technology to various industries, in
particular the creative industries. If design is a sub-sector of the creative industries, relating design with
other areas of knowledge-based industries can offer a new role in the management of innovation and
knowledge processes. Based on this fact, the development of design might bring to this sub-sector
exponential growth and inject the same into the creative industries.
The scale of the service economy has been increasing in Europe. To this point, design is now recognized
as an important contributor to innovative organization’s performance and productivity. In this paper we

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believe that combining design thinking and design management can be a very powerful approach to
solving wicked problems or/and hard problems – complex challenges that research centers face every day.
By addressing this topic, this paper proposes to explore new emerging designs methods and provide an
overview of design thinking tools which can be applied in an early stage of the R&D research process to
produce meaningful results. We present a set of experimental guidelines and an analytical methodology
for the application of these tools. In particular, it is taken into account that design — through service
design thinking — extends to the experience that clients/users have with products, services, spaces or even
multidimensional experiences (which is a relevant input for R&D innovation development).
Therefore, our goal is to create an analysis toolkit that enables both non-specialist and specialist users in
order to perform high-quality design production. The main challenge of this paper is to develop a
methodological tool that increases productivity within the R&D framework and innovation processes.

RELATED WORK
Design Thinking Approach
Design is a creative activity, a facet of human knowledge that not only solves problems but searches for
considering and criticizing the human need. The term design is used in a wide variety of contexts with
many different meanings. In essence, all of the design disciplines are pertinent; however, what is
important to this study is the perspective of design thinking.
“Design thinking — its human-centric methodology integrates expertise from design, social sciences,
engineering, and business. It blends an end-user focus with multidisciplinary collaboration and
iterative improvement to produce innovative.” Meinel & Leifer (2011, p.xiv)
Design thinking is difficult define, though it is a concept that is widely used. The establishment of a
coherent definition for design thinking is a very complex process, due to its interdisciplinary
requirements, that convey many diverse mindsets. However, instead of focusing on the definition, this
paper is going to present an overview of the main principles of design thinking. For this reason, we
build the next figure in order to reflect in which principles design thinking is based on.

Figure 1. Principles of design thinking — own source.

2

In order to develop our proposed method, we based our research on the principles and concepts of
Buchanan’s 1 (1992, 2001) matrix.
0F

Table 1 – Buchanan’s matrix (Buchanan 1998, p.13)
Communication
Signs and words
Inventing
Judging

Construction
Things

Strategic Planning
Action

Systemic Integration
Thought

Signs, symbols and images
Physical Objects
Activities, services and
processes

Deciding

Systems, environments,
ideas and values

Evaluating

Buchanan identified four areas entitled as “orders”, creating a hierarchy of design activity. Each order
is a statement for rethinking and reconceiving the role of design. For Buchanan, the four orders should
not be seen as areas of traditional disciplinary practice or specific outcomes (e.g. graphic versus product
design), but as four broad areas of design thinking that are common to all design professions and
applications. In addition, the matrix is not only described as the history of the design thinking
disciplines, but also as the career development of designers. The author concludes (1992, p.10) that “the
work of designers in each of these orders has created a framework for human experience in
contemporary culture.”
To conclude, the intention in researching the structure of the Fourth Design Orders has the purpose of
understanding how they could be applicable to design as a sub-sector in the Creative Industries.
Therefore, by studying this matrix we consider that design thinking is a catalyst to the upstream and
downstream flow of processes. Upstream, as it effects related organizations, companies, and projects
which capture ideas and solutions — a direct incentive to creativity and productivity. Downstream, as
design thinking provides a creation of dynamic environments (Fourth Design Order). As a result, the
relationship that design has with other knowledge based fields of study business are very dynamic —
this is the main advantage that design thinking can provide. Thus, design thinking fosters creativity by
crossing experiences with multiple perspectives which can stimulate "conditioned" thought (inductive
and deductive reasoning). From this perspective, design thinking can provide a new flow of
productivity to all of the subsectors of the Creative Industries increasing economic value.
Still following the figure above, we agreed that Design thinking has six main characteristics:
• Human and user centered;
• Holistic;
• Co-creative;
• Problem solving;
• Multidisciplinary;
• Abductive reasoning.
Human and user centered
One of the main focuses of design thinking is the expression towards the user and end-user. Therefore,
design thinking has a strong focus on human and user needs, in order to involve the user into the
process as and placing them in the center of solving innovation problems (Lockwood, 2009).

1

In the early 1990s, Dr. Richard Buchanan (1992, 2001), a professor at the Carnegie Mellon University
School of Design, wrote the articles “Wicked problems in Design Thinking” and “Design Research and
the New learning” that formulate the boundaries of design disciplines.

3

Based on Buchanan (1992) design research, the role of design has evolved in the last few decades. This
development has led to a re-examination of the nature of design concepts, as well as development and
framework. The designer accomplishes a new interaction with the customer and begins to focus the
work on the end-user needs. This was the step that design needed in order to become Human-centered 2,
designing products and services that people find useful, usable and desirable — a crucial element for
the design thinking approach.
For instance, as said by Thomas Lockwood (2009, pp.xi),
‘’Design Thinking is essentially a human-centered innovation process that
emphasizes observation, collaboration, fast learning, visualization of ideas,
rapid concept prototyping, and concurrent business analysis, which ultimately
influences innovation and business strategy. The objective is to involve
consumers, designers, and business people in an integrative process, which can
be applied to product, service, or even business design’’.
1F

Holistic & Co-creative
Design thinking has also a strong foundation in a holistic perspective since it advocates a comprehensive
analysis and a general understanding of the phenomena. Anderson (2007, p.1), “Design has long been
recognized as a problem solving task, but there is a strong current within the design profession that
recognizes design as an activity beyond that of simply fitting together pieces of a given puzzle.”
Following this, design thinking is co-creative as well. It acts as a bridge between the project and all the
stokeholds involved in a project, focusing in optimizing the processes. Co-creation brings users to
operate as a team and also to collaborate with stakeholders — they work together to a more customer
centric processes (Stickdorn & Schneider 2012; Ambrose & Harris 2010).
Problem Solving
Problem solving is one of the crucial characteristics of design thinking because without this approach,
then it would not be design thinking. Problems in innovation are normally addressed as wicked
problems 3. If we study the nature of design, easily we notice that there is no right solution in a design
challenge — it is totally subjective (Martin 2009, Kolko 2011). Logically, there are certain solutions
that are more accurate and appropriate than others.
How do we know which is the most logical or correct solution to a design problem? This is a main
concern that both designers and non-designers struggle with. This is because design issues don’t
necessarily have a right or wrong answer, which makes them extremely ambiguous. Following Martin’s
(2009, p. 94) reasoning, we can confront problems as being hard or wicked. Hard problems can be
solved within analytical tools that allow us to tackle and solve them. Design problems unlike hard
problems; do not follow laws, theorems or formulas. This approach contrasts with science and
engineering disciplines. This is where design thinking tools can take special relevance. For Buchanan
(1992, p.17) design thinking allows designers to position and reposition the problems and its issues at
hand. For him design thinking is based on the “tools by which a designer intuitively or deliberately
shapes a design situation, identifying the views of all participants, the issues which concern them and
the invention that will serve as a working hypothesis for exploration and development”. Design
thinking can be a good approach in order to solve this kind of issue (Buchanan1992; Martin 2009).
2F

2

Human-centered design, such as the process of design thinking, is a deeply human approach that relies
on the ability of observed and developed ideas that are emotionally meaningful for the end-user,
developing methods that emphasise user research.
3
According to Buchanan (1992, p.16) the phrase wicked problems was borrowed from philosopher Karl
Popper. However, in the 1960s, a new idea emerged based in this train of thoughts, but formulated in a
different direction. The wicked problems approach, as we know it today, was formulated by
mathematician and planner Horst Rittel, in a period were design was achieving new notoriety. He
defines them as messy, aggressive, and confusing.

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Multidisciplinary & Abductive Reasoning
Design thinking has a strong element in multidisciplinary teams because it uses a vast range of methods
and tools from various disciplines in order to explore and understand the behaviour and mindset of all
people involved (Stickdorn & Schneider 2012). By the fact that designers use abductive reasoning, they
are able to take incomplete data, manipulate it in various ways and invent things that are relevant,
innovative or appropriate; for this reason this becomes one of the focal aspects of design thinking (Martin
2009; Kolko 2011; Golsby-Smith, 1996). Therefore, Design involves more than one approach to thinking;
it encompasses a mix of mental processes in order to achieve different solutions, mainly in Abduction,
which involves both Deduction and Induction. In short, deduction proves how something should be;
induction shows how something can operate; abduction is on the contrary, the suggestion at how
something can be. Thus, to grasp or understand the nature of phenomena, only abduction can work as an
efficient method. In conclusion, performing this complex structure that operates parallel with Deduction
and Induction (in order to revolve a wicked problem) is often seen as the core of design thinking.

THINKING AS A PROCESS
The design process is what puts design thinking into action. It is a structured approach to generating and
evolving ideas. The design thinking process is a highly interactive and incremental process, driven by
people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Some authors, such as Meinel & Leifer (2010, p.15) defend that the design process has five stages:
discovery, interpretation, ideation, experimentation, and evolution. Even so, some other of defend that
this process has seven stages, like Ambrose and Harris (2010, p.11) "The design process can be said to
comprise seven stages: define, research, ideate, prototype, select, implement and learn. Each of these
requires design thinking."
However, following Stickdorn and Schneider (2012, p.126), “Literature and practice refer to various
other frameworks made up of three to seven or more steps, but fundamentally they all share the same
mindset,” some authors such Stemple and badke_Schaub (2002) and Brown (2009) all defend that the
design process has four stages. Due to this, in order to build our proposed method, we focus this research
in the following four stages: (a) Exploration, (b) Creation, (c) Reflection and (d) Implementation.

Figure 2. Stages of Design Thinking Tools — own source.
(a) Exploration: the first stage of the model marked by the beginning of a project, which we will see,
can begin with one of two typologies - Exploration or Exploitation. Normally, the beginning takes place
as an idea or inspiration, often resulting from a discovery stage in which are in need of intervention in
order to improve a product, service or experience. This stage could include activities such as:
• Market research;
• Research about user and end-user;
• Information and process management;
• Research groups focused on design.
(b) Creation: is the beginning of development and the execution of what must be projected. It is here
that the first solution emerges and focuses on interactivity. The main activities in this stage are:

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•
•
•
•

Multi-disciplinary work and co-creation;
Visual process management;
Development of production methods;
First testing.

(c) Reflection: this is the stage of definition, in which the interpretations of the first results are analyzed
in order to support the project needs. In this stage, the proposed objectives of the project are designed to
the future users/customers. The main activities of this phase are:
• Project management;
• Approvals for the project.
(d) Implementation: this is the stage that achieves the final goals of the project, whether it is to produce
a good or service. It is here that the final product/service/system is finalized and released to its defined
market. The principal activities of this stage are:
• Final testing, approval and launching;
• Evaluation of goals and feedback cycles.
In short, the design process consists in the alternation between stages, between the analysis and synthesis
of alternative solutions, in cooperation with its stakeholders (Brown, 2009; Meinel & Leifer, 2011).
Exploration & Exploitation
Considering the sequence of design processes presented above, when we start a project from the (a)
Exploration stage we can begin with two different typologies. According to Martin (2009, p.18) we can
develop a project by starting from an exploration or exploitation principle. For March (1991), exploration
and exploitation has been: “Exploration includes things captured by terms such as search, variation, risk
taking, experimentation, play, flexibility, discovery, innovation. Exploitation includes such things as
refinement, choice, production, efficiency, selection, implementation, execution.” Martin (2009) and
March (1991) share the same point of view. According to both authors, it is necessary to have an
appropriate balance between exploration and exploitation — for the reason that both approaches are
essential to an organization. According to March (1991), as a result, organizations make explicit and
implicit choices between these two typologies.

PROPOSAL FOR A MIND-MAP OF TOOLS AND METHODS
Organizations are facing an increase in complex problems — wicked problems — and it is important to
create and enforce processes and tools that can help sustain this reality. Design is prepared to deal with
complex and inaccurate problems. The process and tools used by design thinking are flexible and allow
an efficient balance between disorder and the need of control for the necessary innovation processes.
The presented methodology aims to identify the main criteria and tools that could be implemented into the
actions of R&D organizations. To this end, we structured a flowchart (see figure 3) that allows navigating
through an itinerary that permits identifying the driving objectives and purpose of each project. In order to
build the flowchart, we unveiled a huge range of service design thinking tools and through an attempt of
mapping them, we found a list of more than 250 service design tools, Exser (2009).
While analyzing and studying several tools, based on which tools could reduce the ambiguity of the
project development and considering the requirements for the specific case studies analyzed in this
study, which is based on the R&D context, the number of tools were reduced to 34. In order to
organize the flowchart sequence, we followed the theoretical statement Stickdorn and Schneider
(2012, p.126), namely we focus the flowchart in four stages: Exploration, Creation, Reflection and
Implementation, as well in the Martin’s (2009, p.20) concept of Exploration and Exploitation
described previously.

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Figure 3. Proposed Method, Flowchart — own source.
This allowed the projects to analyze the stage of their projects in both an internal and external context.

APPLICATION INTO R&D ONGOING PROJECTS
For this research, we performed the case study applied in the framework of these two research centers,
namely, the Research center for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR) and the
Telecommunication Institute of Oporto University (IT-Porto). Therefore, this work proposes a
transversal approach to design thinking tools and R&D research processes. In the end, the relationship
between these two realities can contribute to innovation success. This research work is based on tests
performed in two different typologies of projects, in order to determine if design tools can influence
innovation success in R&D. We conduct the following procedure structure:
Table 2 – Methodological procedure for the application of the proposed method.
Stage

Identifying two project to test the flowchart and serve as an example for the case studies

1.2

Define a list of participants

1.3

Define a meeting date

2.1
Field Work

Objectives

1.1
Pre Field
Work

Phases

Conduct meeting one – diagnostic of applicable tools for each project

2.2

Preparation of customized flowchart using the tools identified in 2.1

2.3

Conducting meeting two – application of the flowchart prepared in 2.2 at the Exploration and
Creation stages

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2.4
3.1

Analysis of material produced by participants

3.2

Organization of the selection of ideas registered in the material produced by participants

3.3

Synthesis of a final composition

3.4

Deployment of surveys to the stakeholders

3.4

Post Field
Work

Conducting meeting three -- application of the flowchart prepared in 2.2 at the Reflection and
Implementation stages

Evaluation the value of the proposed methodology

It is important to be aware that these two projects have different scopes. The CITAR project -Assisted
Real Time Technology for Singing (ARTTS), is focused on the final end-user and the IT-Porto project –
Streambolico, is focused on market consumers.
In the first meeting, both projects were introduced for the purpose of this research. This was primarily
in order to explain what design thinking is. We distributed to each participant, a box with 35 cards
which explains each tool that is inserted into the flowchart. It also has one extra card that explains the
process, with the purpose of clarifying the methodology and how it works. Additionally, a short
introduction of the tool categories was given to be sure that each team understood where the tools were
meant to be applied. After this, each team (through flowchart) selected a list of tools that was
appropriate for the development of their project. In this order, the projects selected the following tools:

Figure 4. Selected tools from each project according to the flowchart — own source.
After the three meetings, we administered a questionnaire in order to evaluate a qualitative performance
of the proposed model. By filling-out the questionnaire thoroughly, we obtained an overview of the
methods strong and weak points, it was here that we could achieve the perspective that generally, the
groups share the same conclusions.
In order to analyze the methodological procedures used during the meetings and to see if they were
different from the procedures that the participants used normally. We asked each participant if they felt
that the proposed method used during the meetings, were similar to the procedures they normally used
during the working day. The results were positive and uniform in the Streambolico project but divergent
in the ARTTS project. We can infer that the IT Porto, the organization that embraces the Streambolico
project, had a more restricted view of the use of different methodologies and processes that diverge
from standard science and engineering methodologies and processes. However, by the ARTTS results,
the opinions are more open, and therefore, we can conclude that the CITAR organization is taking into
account new forms of methodology and practices, which is not surprising as this research center is
integrated in an Art school. An ARTTS project participant mentions that “Many of the procedures
adopted are already taken into account when planning a technological project”. Proceeding with the

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analysis method, we asked if the methodology is an appropriate procedure for R&D. The overall results
were positive since every answer is classified above as average. One particular subject from the ARTTS
project was very enthusiastic about this topic, claiming that “The idea is very innovative and allows us
a glimpse into a new range of possibilities that without the procedures would not be possible”.
We also addressed questions in order to evaluate the performance of the design thinking methodology.
One of the questions was if the role of design thinking can be relevant in developing innovative
solutions. This is one of the most important questions in order to analyze the success or failure of
the proposed method. The obtained results were very expressive and positive, which makes this
entire research relevant. Streambolico project participants explains that this was achieved “The
methods used allow addressing important issues that rarely arise from the application of other
methodologies” and “The methodology issues puts us in a radically different perspective from the
structured thinking and from the typical research algorithm, bringing disruptive perspectives on
how to frame our team” and also “the several meetings were very productive, which allowed the
initial objectives to be achieved. Design thinking allowed the characterization of the
Streambolico’s context, as well as defining the different types of interaction with potential partners,
Business Angels and customers.”
To finalize every single participant agreed that they would be receptive in using the proposed methods
again. This is the best possible result. It is therefore reasonable to assume that even though these
organizations consider themselves effective in terms of methodological innovation for research, when
presented with a design thinking approach they become aware of their benefits of implementing this
practice. This can be seen as an achievement that demonstrates the success of the proposed
methodology in this pilot study.

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK
The flowchart became a useful tool that is able to identify a set of design thinking tools in order to be
applied in different situations. Hence, the evaluation of these two pilot case studies through the use of a
questionnaire also showed that these organizations are open to the use of design thinking as a
methodology and considered that the results were meaningful.
This conclusion could potentially be extrapolated to R&D organizations. However, in order to conclude
definitively, it will be necessary to conduct further research and case studies. Additionally, it seems that
the involvement of a designer in a team atmosphere is important when accomplishing design thinking
processes — which is an important argument in favor of the role of the designer into R&D
organizations in general, particularly for Portugal. The pilot studies in both cases demonstrate that the
innovation processes associated with R&D centers produced meaningful results.
With its unique and integrative characteristics, design thinking has generated new opportunities for
designers to engage with business management and other functions within various organizations.

REFERENCES
Acha, V. (2010). Open by design: the role of design in open innovation. Tanaka Business School,
Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. Retrieved December 2, 2011, from
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedD/ec_group/12-08-IN_on
Ambrose, G., Harris, P. (2010). Design Thinking. Basic Design Series nº 08. AVA Publishing’s
Academia. Singapore.

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Anderson, P. (2007). Sound Thinking in fourth order Design. Graduate program in Art, Art History
and design, University of Notre Dame. (pp.56) Indiana.
Brown, T. (2009). Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and
Inspires Innovation. Harper Collins. New York.
Buchanan, R. (1992). Wicked Problems in Design Thinking. Design Issues, 8 (2), 5 – 21.
Buchanan, R. (1998). Branzi’s dilemma: design in contemporary culture. Design Issues, 14 (1), 3 – 20.
Buchanan, R (2001). Design Research and the New Learning. Design Issues, 17 (4), 3 – 23.

Exser (2009). Exser toolbox: Tools en Methodes voor Diensten Innovatie. Retrieved Mach 15,
2012, from http://www.exser.nl/nieuws/exser-toolbox
Golsby-Smith, T. (1996). Fourth Order Design: A Practical Perspective. Design Issues, 12 (1), 5 – 25.
Kolko, J. (2011). Exposing the Magic of Design. A Practitioner's Guide to the Methods and Theory
of Synthesis. Oxford University Press Inc. New York.
Lockwood, T. (2009). Transition: How to Become a More Design-Minded Organization. Design
Management Review, 20 (3), 27-37.
March, J. (1991). Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning. Organization Science, 2
(1), 71-87.
Martin, R. (2009). The Design of Business. Why Design Thinking is the next competitive
advantage. Harvard Business Press. Boston.
Meinel, C. and Leifer, L. (2011). Design Thinking, Understand - Improve - Apply. Springer-Verlag
Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG. Berlin.
Stempele, J. and Badke_Schaub, P. (2002). Thinking in design teams, an analysis of team
communication. Design studies, 23 (5), 473-496.
Stickdorn, M. and Schneider, J. (2012). This is Service Design Thinking. BIS Publishers B.V.
Amsterdam.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION AND ADDRESS INFORMATION
Joana Cerejo, Master Student - Management in the Creative Industries
Álvaro Barbosa, Associate Professor – Sound and Image Department, School of Arts
Portuguese Catholic University (UCP)
Research Center for Science and Technology of the Arts (CITAR)
Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto-Portugal
Emails: joana_cerejo@sapo.pt ; abarbosa@porto.ucp.pt

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