The thing about design thinking is that it is not a trend, nor a buzzword, however administrators, managers and non-designers are turning it into one. In order for design thinking to be successful, the designer doing the thinking should not only be familiar, but immersed in what design is, in a holistic way, not just visual. People might not know that in order to become a good design thinker you have to have been making stuff, failing many times, iterating and gaining as much experience first and second hand as possible. DT is a mindset, a philosophy and a process that helps you solve challenges in a robust manner because it assists in making you define what the real challenge is by bring multiple perspectives to the table, not just one voice.

I too, empathize with the frustrating sentiment about the buzzword DT has become. How design thinking has been hijacked by people that do not truly understand what it is, and are not qualified to facilitate it due to their skills, disciplines and habits.

Experience is gained with first-hand accounts, practice, failure, cultural exchange and age. Not everyone can be a designer, yet everyone can gain insight and help design solutions if we all become familiar with design thinking. We should think about it as a discipline we all can learn a little from it. Just like it is helpful to know code but not everyone is a programmer from it, or know how to cook but not everyone is a chef.

A note to all CEO’s, executives and administrators. If you want to empower your company with design thinking, make sure that a experienced designer is facilitating the conversation. Design thinking is not a certificate or quick workshop anyone can earn, it is a principled practice and lifestyle.