Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem solving that draws on design skills to meet user needs. It can help students develop 21st century skills like creativity, innovation, critical thinking and problem solving. Art teachers are well-positioned to teach design thinking processes and have students apply them to design real-world objects, environments, and experiences. Doing so provides engaging opportunities for visual literacy, collaboration and careers in design fields.

1. The Art of Design & Design Thinking

2. Framework for 21st Century Learning
Adobe, Apple, Microsoft, Crayola, Dell, Intel, Lego,
National Education Association, and Others

3. Design thinking can help students become successful adults
with the 21st century skills of creativity and innovation, critical
thinking, and problem solving, and communication and
elaboration.

4. “Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws
from the designer's toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the
possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.”
Tim Brown, president and CEO of IDEO

5. Daniel Pink is the guru of
design thinking. He
believes the future will be
won by those who use the
right side of their brains,
the side that is emotional
and creative.

7. Design thinking is engaging to students.
Design thinking promotes visual literacy.
Design thinking provides meaningful
opportunities to collaborate with others.
Design thinking is another validation of
the importance of the arts.
Design thinking can lead to careers in the
arts.
Who can teach it better than art
teachers?
Why Should Art Teachers Teach Design Thinking?

8. Design thinking is a process for practical, creative
resolution of problems or issues based around the
building up of ideas. It is about the design of objects,
information, environments, and experiences. It is not
about the elements and principles of art and design.

10. IDEO is an award-winning global design firm that takes a human-centered,
design-based approach to helping organizations in the public and private
sectors innovate and grow.

14. Design thinking is the way we approach the
world when we imagine exciting new solutions
for the future.

16. IDEO’s Rules for Effective Brainstorming
Work collaboratively. The more brains, the better!
Defer judgment. There are no bad ideas at this point!
Encourage wild ideas. It’s the wild ideas that often inspire
the breakthrough insights!
Build on the ideas of Think “and” rather than “but.”
Others.
Stay focused on topic. You get better quality output if
everyone is disciplined.
One conversation at a That way ideas can be heard and
Time. built upon.
Be visual. Try to engage the left and right sides
of the brain.
Go for quantity. Set an outrageous goal and surpass it!

17. A Call to Expand
Art Education to Include
Design Education:
Information Design
Object Design
Environmental Design
Experience Design

18. IDEO: We are a global design consultancy.
We create impact through design.

19. http://www.ideotoylab.com/balloonimals.html

21. Object Design
Designers must be able to design objects that are not only
functional but also beautiful or emotionally engaging.

24. Designed by the Vignelli’s

25. Charles and Ray Eames

26. The Dr Skud Fly Swatter from Alessi.
“Designed by French designer Philippe Starck, it may seem
crude to wield a fly swatter but it is a far more ecological
response than an insecticide spray! To counteract the savagery
of the blow, Dr Skud wears a delicate human face. A tripod
enables him to stand erect like a small guardian angel!”

27. Zolo Toys
“It is our goal to create imagery
and products that are genuine
in spirit, bold in attitude,
becoming to the eye,
and meaningful in truth.”

28. KAWS

29. • interior design
• product design
• garden design
• automotive design
• environmental design
• website design
• fashion design
• architecture
Have Students Apply Design Thinking Processes to
Art Problems Using Real World Scenarios.

30. Automotive Design

31. Information Design

32. Experience Design

33. Bilbao Guggenheim
by Frank Gehry

35. Game Design
Game Design

36. Website Design

37. Latino Cultural Center, Dallas

38. Environmental Design

39. Designers have the unique ability to make us want
things we didn’t even know we wanted or needed.
Sustainable Design

40. Retail businesses such as Target and IKEA
have built their reputations and success
on the basis of selling well-designed objects.

41. How can you have your students use design
thinking in the classroom?
Have students work collaboratively to
build upon each others’ ideas.

42. Have students incorporate technology to create projects and collaborate
from a distance through Art Ed 2.0.

43. Personal Spaces
Explorations in Art, Grade 4
www.dentonisd.org/nwalkup

44. Explorations in Art, Grade 2

45. Dennis Hwang

46. Rainforest Habitat
I chose this doodle because the rainforest is in danger and it is not fair to the plants
and animals. I love everything except spiders and snakes, but I would still save them.
Makenzie Melton, Age 9, Grade 3 El Dorado Springs, Missouri
National Winner for 2010
“Rainforest Habitat”

51. http://hipporoller.org/multimedia/video-audio/kyknet-groen-
bulletin#.U4dGTScb3z5
Design with the Other 90%
The Hippo Roller Project