Intelligent interfaces of the future
Over the last 50+ years, a new way of thinking has been growing in popularity. Centered around essential human capacities — empathy, optimism, iteration and collaboration — it is filling a substantial gap in how we think. This approach is called Design Thinking and it has the potential to be as influential to the 21st century as the Scientific Method was to the previous four. It is time we make Design Thinking a universal and standard part of K-12 education.
Rather than move on, it’s time that we democratize access to this method, and standardize this mindset. Design Thinking needs to move out of the C-suite and universities, and become a foundational part of the curriculum in public K-12 education.
I’ve been teaching Design Thinking
I’ve been teaching Design Thinking to adults for five years now and I’m tired of it. In so many places I go — universities, governments, nonprofits and businesses — Design Thinking has moved from new to normal. In business and technology, most have heard of it, many have tried it, and in some cases, people are practicing it well. I can sense the excitement wearing off and that people are ready to move on.
But I don’t think we should.
What I have witnessed in my teaching is that the set of principles under the moniker ‘Design Thinking’ is filling a substantial gap in how we think.
