Establishing the Concept of Design Thinking Through Categorical Analysis

Design thinking should be viewed not as a fixed concept but as a flexible thought process that adapts to various situations and environments. This study aims to redefine the concept of design thinking using a categorical logic framework. Focusing on design as the 'Specific Difference' of design thinking, the research categorizes design concepts through affinity diagrams by visualizing various definitions. This highlights that design thinking is not a definitive tool tied to a specific model but a thought process that reflects design’s characteristics. The study proposes conceptualizing design thinking through key traits such as a ‘Flexible perspective’, ‘Resonance with the world’, and ‘Active actualization’. Through experiments, it was found that greater understanding of design leads to increased efficacy in design thinking. The research avoids treating design thinking as a fixed term and emphasizes its role as an organic process linked to design's unique characteristics.