Design thinking is a human-centred approach to problem-solving that can help you identify and solve complex problems with innovative solutions. Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to expand your creative mindset, reading about design thinking can help you develop a deeper understanding of this problem-solving method. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten books on design thinking, providing you with a valuable resource for learning about this innovative approach.
Top ten books on design thinking
“The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman
This classic book explores how design affects our daily lives and how design thinking can lead to more user-friendly products and services.
“Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work” by Nigel Cross
This book provides an overview of the design thinking process, as well as case studies of successful design thinking projects.
“Change by Design” by Tim Brown
Tim Brown, the CEO of IDEO, a design firm known for its innovative approach, shares insights into how design thinking can be used to drive positive change in business and society.
“Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Toolkit for Managers” by Jeanne Liedtka and Tim Ogilvie
This book provides practical tools and techniques for applying design thinking to business challenges.
“Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
This book offers a step-by-step guide to the design sprint process, which is a time-limited, focused approach to problem-solving.
“Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation: What They Can’t Teach You at Business or Design School” by Idris Mootee
This book explores the intersection of design thinking and strategic innovation, providing insights into how design thinking can be used to drive business success.
“Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All” by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
The Kelley brothers, both designers and entrepreneurs, share their insights into how design thinking can help individuals and teams unleash their creative potential.
“Design Thinking for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: Putting the Power of Design to Work” by Beverly Rudkin Ingle
This book provides a practical guide to applying design thinking to small business challenges, with case studies and real-world examples.
“Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
This book applies design thinking principles to personal life challenges, providing tools and techniques for building a fulfilling life.
“The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm” by Tom Kelley
This design thinking book offers a behind-the-scenes look at IDEO, a design firm known for its innovative approach, and shares lessons on how to foster creativity and innovation in any organisation.
“The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman
“The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman is a classic book that explores how design affects our daily lives. Norman argues that poorly designed products and services can cause frustration and even harm to users, while well-designed ones can improve our quality of life. Using examples from everyday objects like doors, telephones, and cars, Norman shows how design can be used to create more user-friendly and intuitive products. He also discusses the importance of user-centred design and the role of psychology in shaping user behaviour. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in design thinking and human-centred design.
“Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work” by Nigel Cross
“Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work” by Nigel Cross provides an overview of the design thinking process and how designers approach problem-solving. The book covers the different stages of the design thinking process, from understanding the problem to ideation, prototyping, and testing. Cross also provides case studies of successful design thinking projects, illustrating how design thinking can be applied in various industries and contexts. The book emphasises the importance of empathy and user-centred design, as well as the need for collaboration and iteration in the design process. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about design thinking and how it can be used to solve complex problems.
“Change by Design” by Tim Brown
“Change by Design” by Tim Brown is a book that explores the power of design thinking to drive positive change in business and society. Brown, who is the CEO of IDEO, a design firm known for its innovative approach, shares insights into how design thinking can be used to tackle complex challenges, from designing sustainable products to transforming organisational cultures. He argues that design thinking can help organisations to be more creative, customer-focused, and adaptive to change. The book provides case studies of successful design thinking projects and practical tools and techniques for applying design thinking in your own organisation. It is a valuable resource for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in using design thinking to drive innovation and positive change.
“Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Toolkit for Managers” by Jeanne Liedtka and Tim Ogilvie
“Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Toolkit for Managers” by Jeanne Liedtka and Tim Ogilvie is a book that provides practical tools and techniques for applying design thinking to business challenges. The authors argue that design thinking can help managers to innovate and grow their organisations by focusing on customer needs, prototyping, and iteration. The book covers the different stages of the design thinking process, from understanding the problem to testing solutions. It also provides case studies of successful design thinking projects in a variety of industries, illustrating how design thinking can be applied in practice. The book includes hands-on exercises and tools, making it a useful resource for managers and entrepreneurs who want to incorporate design thinking into their work.
“Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
“Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz is a book that offers a step-by-step guide to the design sprint process. Design sprints are a time-limited, focused approach to problem-solving that can help teams to generate and test new ideas quickly. The book covers the different stages of the design sprint process, from understanding the problem to prototyping and testing solutions. It provides practical tools and techniques for each stage, as well as real-world examples of successful design sprints. The book emphasises the importance of collaboration, iteration, and customer feedback in the design process. It is a valuable resource for teams and entrepreneurs who want to accelerate their innovation process and bring new products or services to market quickly.
“Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation: What They Can’t Teach You at Business or Design School” by Idris Mootee
“Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation: What They Can’t Teach You at Business or Design School” by Idris Mootee is a book that explores the intersection of design thinking and strategic innovation. The author argues that design thinking can be used as a tool for driving business success by fostering creativity, collaboration, and customer-focused solutions. The book covers the different stages of the design thinking process, from empathising with the customer to prototyping and testing solutions. It also provides case studies of successful design thinking projects in various industries, demonstrating how design thinking can be applied to solve complex business challenges. The book emphasises the importance of storytelling, visual thinking, and continuous learning in the design process. It is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone interested in using design thinking to drive strategic innovation.
“Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All” by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
“Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All” by Tom Kelley and David Kelley is a book that explores how design thinking can help individuals and teams unleash their creative potential. The authors argue that everyone has the potential to be creative, and that design thinking can be used as a tool for unlocking that potential. The book provides practical tools and techniques for applying design thinking to personal and professional challenges, as well as case studies of successful design thinking projects. It also covers the importance of collaboration, empathy, and experimentation in the creative process. The book encourages readers to overcome their fear of failure and to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and growth. It is a valuable resource for anyone looking to develop their creative confidence and to apply design thinking to their work and life.
“Design Thinking for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: Putting the Power of Design to Work” by Beverly Rudkin Ingle
“Design Thinking for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: Putting the Power of Design to Work” by Beverly Rudkin Ingle is a book that provides a practical guide to applying design thinking to small business challenges. The author argues that design thinking can help entrepreneurs and small business owners to create more customer-focused products and services, and to differentiate themselves in crowded markets. The book covers the different stages of the design thinking process, from understanding the customer to prototyping and testing solutions. It also provides case studies of successful design thinking projects in small businesses, demonstrating how design thinking can be applied in practice. The book emphasises the importance of collaboration, empathy, and iteration in the design process, as well as the need for a customer-centred approach to business. It is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to apply design thinking to their business challenges and create more innovative and successful products and services.
“Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
“Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans is a book that applies design thinking principles to personal life challenges. The authors argue that design thinking can be used to create a fulfilling and joyful life by focusing on the user’s needs, prototyping and iterating solutions, and collaborating with others. The book covers different life challenges, such as career transitions, relationships, and health, and provides practical tools and techniques for applying design thinking to these challenges. It also emphasises the importance of experimenting, learning, and adapting to change in the design process. The book encourages readers to approach their life as a design project, with the goal of creating a well-lived and joyful life. It is a valuable resource for anyone looking to apply design thinking principles to their personal life challenges and to create a more fulfilling and joyful life.
“The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm” by Tom Kelley
“The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm” by Tom Kelley is a book that offers a behind-the-scenes look at IDEO, a design firm known for its innovative approach, and shares lessons on how to foster creativity and innovation in any organisation. The author emphasises the importance of empathy, prototyping, and experimentation in the design process, and provides practical tools and techniques for applying these principles in any context. The book includes case studies of successful design projects and offers insights into how to create a culture of innovation within an organisation. It also covers topics such as brainstorming, design critiques, and storytelling, which are all important elements of the design process. The book encourages readers to embrace a mindset of continuous learning and to approach their work with a sense of curiosity and experimentation. It is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone interested in fostering creativity and innovation in their work or organisation.