The Origins and Emergence of Design Thinking

The research presented in this article traces the origins of design thinking back to the mid-1950s, explores its early conception, and reveals the influence from diverse fields that constitute this conception. This knowledge archaeology of manuscripts that include the terms ‘designerly’ and ‘design thinking’ before 1990 reveals the evolving knowledge structures of design thinking, including the development of various perspectives, shifts in meaning, and the discontinuities that were misplaced due to conceptual and semantic creep. Early conceptualizations of design thinking drew on theories and practices from technical systems, functional art, and other fields, particularly experimental psychology. As these foundations grew, the discourse around design thinking diversified into various perspectives, including design methods, semiotics in design, and human-centered design, in the 1960s. The knowledge structures of these diverse perspectives are not merely historical theories and approaches. They actively shape contemporary understanding and discourse, and influence design education and practice. The distinct design approaches manifest in the specific design of industrial objects and the human-made environment. These design approaches have various implications as they impact living organisms in everyday life and the large natural ecosystem. Overall, this research illustrates that the dialogue on design thinking represents a collective conversation about diverse approaches to designing, akin to the discourse on the role of the scientific method in the field of science.