The Use Of Design Thinking In C-D-I-O Projects

For students taking the “Design and Innovation Project” module at the Singapore Polytechnic, it has been observed that the most difficult step in the C-D-I-O process is the first step - “conceive”. The “Design Thinking” method emphasizes “deep user understanding” through detailed survey / observation of the end users, and subsequent analysis of the data collected. Can the Design Thinking method help students in the “conceive” step? This paper describes a “pilot/trial run” to use the Design Thinking method in conceiving project ideas. It also outlines the limitations / constraints of the method.