STEM Concepts Involved

What Is Design Thinking?

Design thinking is a creative process that helps people devise solutions to complex problems. It's not just about making things look good; it's about meeting real needs in smart, effective ways.
It includes five steps:

  • Empathize – Understand what people need.
  • Define – Identify the core problem.
  • Ideate – Brainstorm creative solutions.
  • Prototype – Build a model or test version.
  • Test – Try it out and improve based on feedback.

In biophilic design, you might use design thinking to create:

  • A park bench made from local wood and mycelium foam.
  • A school courtyard with natural light, trees, and seating shaped like leaves.
  • A small rooftop greenhouse that collects rainwater.

Research shows that using design thinking in sustainability projects helps people collaborate better and create real-world solutions. It’s already being used to tackle significant challenges like climate change, green transportation, and eco-friendly housing (Leal Filho et al., 2024).