DESIGN THINKING IN TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN EDUCATION: AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE

Design Thinking is a human-centered methodology increasingly implemented across diverse fields as a structured approach to problem-solving and innovation. This paper examines the core stages of Design Thinking, its interrelation with creativity, its integration within educational environments – particularly in technology and design courses and its contribution to 21st-century skill development. Emphasizing the educational value of empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iterative testing, this study highlights how Design Thinking fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and innovative competence among learners.