Design Thinking
This is a resource page for information about design thinking and how it can be applied by library practitioners to improve their libraries and create better user experiences for their user communities.
What is Design Thinking?
Design thinking a process, not a set of procedures, that guides the development and implementation of all types of products and services. Design thinking can be used to create a new building or a new library service. Design thinking is the mental approach that designers use to identify problems, understand those affected, prototype possible solutions, and then develop appropriate products and services. In education fields, design thinking is used to develop instructional products.
Read my American Libraries article (Jan/Feb 2008) on how a design thinking approach can help librarians. [NOTE - provided with permission from the American Library Association © 2007]
Watch the Design Thinking Videos
This 5-minute video will cover the core concepts of design thinking, particularly as it applies to the creation of better user/customer experiences.
This 9-minute video is a segment from a Soaring to Excellence program (Finding the Trends That Matter) presented on October 26, 2007. In this segment I explain what design thinking is, and how it can help libraries. This video clip is generously provided by the College of DuPage (2007 © College of DuPage)
Designing Better Libraries
A blog that futher explores design thinking, especially as it applies to the library environment.
The "philosophy" page at the blog Designing Better Libraries provides additional information.
Follow These Blogs
ACRLog - the official blog of ACRL
Designing Better Libraries- using design and innovation
to create better libraries and user experiences
The Kept-Up Academic Librarian - helping academic librarians keep up with higher education news