Double Diamond

Definition

The Double Diamond is a design process model that is widely used in design thinking. It consists of two connected diamonds that represent the divergent and convergent stages of the design process, emphasizing the importance of both exploring the problem space and finding the right solution.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Double Diamond model was developed by the British Design Council in 2005 to help organizations better understand and implement the design process.
2. The first diamond represents the 'Discover' and 'Define' stages, where the problem is explored, and the key issues are identified.
3. The second diamond represents the 'Develop' and 'Deliver' stages, where potential solutions are generated, tested, and refined.
4. The Double Diamond emphasizes the importance of iterative and user-centered design, with multiple cycles of divergent and convergent thinking.
5. The model is widely used in various design disciplines, including product design, service design, and user experience (UX) design.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Double Diamond model relates to the design thinking process.
  • The Double Diamond model is closely aligned with the design thinking process. The first diamond represents the 'Discover' and 'Define' stages of design thinking, where the problem is explored, and the key issues are identified through empathizing with users and defining the problem statement. The second diamond represents the 'Develop' and 'Deliver' stages, where potential solutions are generated through ideation, prototyped, and refined based on user feedback, before the final solution is delivered. The iterative nature of the Double Diamond model mirrors the iterative nature of the design thinking process, emphasizing the importance of divergent and convergent thinking throughout the design process.
• Describe the role of divergent and convergent thinking in the Double Diamond model.
  • The Double Diamond model is built on the principles of divergent and convergent thinking. The first diamond represents the divergent stage, where the problem space is explored, and multiple, diverse ideas are generated through techniques like brainstorming. This divergent thinking allows for the exploration of a wide range of possibilities and helps to ensure that the problem is thoroughly understood. The second diamond represents the convergent stage, where the most promising ideas or solutions are evaluated, selected, and refined. This convergent thinking helps to focus the design process and ensure that the final solution is well-aligned with the user's needs and the problem at hand.
• Analyze how the Double Diamond model can be applied to different design disciplines.
  • The Double Diamond model is a versatile design process that can be applied to a wide range of design disciplines, including product design, service design, and user experience (UX) design. Regardless of the specific design challenge, the Double Diamond model provides a structured approach to exploring the problem space, generating and evaluating ideas, and refining the final solution. For example, in product design, the Double Diamond model can be used to deeply understand user needs, ideate and prototype new product concepts, and iteratively refine the design based on user feedback. In service design, the model can guide the exploration of the service ecosystem, the generation of service blueprints, and the testing and refinement of the service offering. In UX design, the Double Diamond can help ensure that the user experience is thoroughly researched, the key pain points are addressed, and the final design is validated through user testing.

Related terms

Design Thinking: Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that involves empathizing with users, defining the problem, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing.

Divergent Thinking: Divergent thinking is the process of generating multiple, diverse ideas or solutions to a problem, often through brainstorming or other creative techniques.

Convergent Thinking: Convergent thinking is the process of evaluating and selecting the most promising ideas or solutions, focusing on identifying the best option.