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Design Mindset – predyspozycje do pracy w dziedzinie designu

Design Mindset – Predispositions for Design Work

Contents

How designers think and act? The 1979 experiment

In 1979, an interesting experiment was conducted to understand how designers think and act. Two groups of students – architects (representing the design mind) and mathematicians (representing the analytical mind) – were given the task of arranging colored blocks according to specific requirements.

Analysts adopted a strategy of systematically exploring possible combinations, while designers generated multiple proposals, gradually modifying and eliminating them until they found the solution that best met the requirements.

Conclusion of this experiment: There are analytical minds, representing a “problem-focused” approach, and design minds, which are “solution-focused.”

See also: Design Mindset and Gender Values in Business

Research on Design Mindset

Our research on the “design mindset” lasted several months. During this time, we analyzed various materials to understand what makes it easier for some to work in innovative, interdisciplinary teams, while others find it more challenging, and how this connects to design. Ultimately, we identified key predispositions that make up the so-called design mindset.

Check out our post: Career Predispositions for Working as a Designer

Key Predispositions of Design Mindset

Openness to people, their needs, and collaboration with them

This group of attitudes is characterized by sensitivity to other people, a desire to be with them, understand them, and see the value that arises from the collaboration of different people and perspectives. This group includes two predispositions: people focus and design empathy.

Curiosity about everything new, associated with natural enthusiasm for action

This group of attitudes allows, among other things, to capture a broad perspective of challenges, manifesting itself in inquisitiveness and readiness to quickly move to action. This group includes two more predispositions: holistic thinking and empirical intelligence.

Boldness in taking initiatives and creating new solutions

This group of attitudes combines, among others, the pursuit of seeking what is new and unusual, building value despite incomplete information, and striving to concretize concepts. This group includes two more predispositions: free creativity and materializing ideas.

Determination in pursuing goals, even if it means taking risks

Among the characteristic attitudes of this group are a liking for experimenting and learning through action, as well as perseverance and creativity in overcoming difficulties. Identified predispositions include: appetite for learning, need for impact, and flexible goal pursuit.

These nine predispositions are a real asset for companies striving for innovation today. Interestingly, the “design mindset” can be found not only in professional designers but also in many people who have nothing to do with design professionally.

It is worth noting that people with a design mind often have a passion for music and play instruments. This diversity of interests allows for greater creativity and openness to new ideas and solutions.

In summary, the Design Mindset is a way of thinking characterized by openness to people, curiosity, bold initiative-taking, and determination in achieving goals. These predispositions are crucial for people working in design, but also valuable for other professions, especially in innovative and interdisciplinary environments.

Read also: UI/UX designer – who are they and how to become one?

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About the Author
Magda Kochanowska
She has been involved in design for 20 years, combining design practice with scientific activity and an academic career. Since 2013, she has been running companies specializing in designing processes, services, and experiences - currently Design-Nurture. She is a lecturer at the Faculty of Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, in the postgraduate Total Design Management studies conducted by the Warsaw University of Technology Business School and the Institute of Industrial Design, and the academic head of the postgraduate Service Design studies at SWPS University. Before founding Design Nurture, she carried out projects for, among others: Board of Innovation, Black Red White, EIT Food, Goodie, ING Bank (Poland and the Netherlands), Mercer, City of Warsaw, Bank Millenium, Milton Essex, Nationale-Nederlanden, Polpharma, PTBRiO, Saint Gobain, Santander Bank, Santander Leasing, Sensirion, Szlachetna Paczka, TUiR Warta.

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