Design Thinking in the Framework of Visual Thinking and Characterization of Service Design Ideation Methods Using Visual Reasoning Model

Abstract

Design Thinking is well recognized as a mindset and as a process in design and in business innovation and diverse complex problem-solving tasks. In this conceptual paper, design thinking process is explained using visual thinking composed of seeing – imagining – drawing so that its interactive and iterative nature can be better understood. The visual reasoning model developed earlier to support visual thinking with underlying cognitive activities as well as schema and knowledge is used to characterize four specific imagining methods for service design. Further research would be desirable to justify the potential of the visual reasoning model as a framework in devising methods and tools to support design thinking.

Keywords:

• design thinking
• visual thinking
• visual reasoning model
• service design

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yong Se Kim

Yong Se Kim received PhD and MS in Mechanical Engineering at the Design Division of Stanford University. He is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and is the Director of the Creative Design Institute at Sungkyunkwan University. His research areas include design thinking, product-service systems design, service and experience design, design learning and design support tools.

Jung Ae Park

Jung Ae Park is a PhD student in Cognitive Psychology at Seoul National University. She was a Researcher at the Creative Design Institute, Sungkyunkwan University. She studies cognitive process in creative problem-solving and higher-order thinking processes.