Designing creative frameworks: design thinking as an engine for new facilitation approaches

This paper documents implications and opportunities for the design

profession offered by the rise of the knowledge society and digital economies.

Within this we show the value of applied design thinking in the creation and

delivery of business development and facilitation. Two case studies document

the design and delivery of contrasting consultancy projects where the design of

problem-solving frameworks (rather than conventional facilitation of events)

resulted in new understanding and business development. These approaches

were underpinned by a common conceptual model that describes our

philosophical underpinning for the application of design thinking across

disciplines both within and beyond traditional areas of professional design

engagement. Finally, we discuss the implication for design practice of using

design thinking as a mode of interdisciplinary interaction and cocreation of

problem-solving approaches between designers and others (rather than an

activity just for designers) which represents a step beyond conventional

participatory design approaches.