Richard Buchanan discusses the concept of design thinking from the perspective of Wicked Problems, using this theory to explain better why design is misunderstood by many. Wicked Problems are types of challenges that require diverse knowledge and skills and integrating several professional fields. In this way, design thinking is understood as pratical process with idea generation, planning and production. Currently, Buchanan argues, many in liberal arts think of design as an intervention, a practical demonstration, a tool that is applied or just as the final product itself.
Thinking of this concept in relation to myself, I think of two ideas. Firstly, when I made the additional spaces in my NYUSH bag for last weeks class, the “design” others might see the functionality of the bag and consider the “design process” as that of cutting out and sewing in the additional fabrics. But using Buchanan’s ideas, I see now that I underwent a process of design thinking because I considered different options for fabrics, different colors and different functionalities. In that process, I am developing my own placements for design. The second line of thinking for me is the wicked problems. Adding additional textile to the bag was not a wicked problems, but I can recognize them from my work experience. There is a problem to be solved, that is not necessarily the root cause, a solution has to be created /”designed,” and there is only one chance to get it right, and the result is either good or bad. This is very helpful to consider challenging situations in life.