Overview

Design thinking is the core creative process for any designer; this book explores and explains this apparently mysterious design ability. This new edition is a completely revised, updated and extended version of a classic text. Focusing on what designers actually do when they are designing, the book is structured around a series of in-depth case studies of the work of outstanding and expert designers, interwoven and developed with commentary and comparison. The coverage reflects the breadth of design from architecture to engineering, consumer products to communications, and from individual designing to teamwork and collaborative designing. The scale of designing ranges from Formula One racing cars to city commuting cars, locomotives to bicycles, sewing machines to litter bins and lemon squeezers. The book is based on evidence from observation and investigation of design practice, providing insights into and understanding of design thinking, and the development of design ability from novice to expert. This second edition of Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work offers an overview from one of design’s most experienced and influential scholars. Nigel Cross goes to the heart of what it means to think and work as a designer. It is an ideal guide for anyone who wants to become a designer or to know how good designers work in the field of contemporary design.

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9781350305021

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Reviews

Nigel Cross is widely recognised as the leading figure of his generation in design research. In this book he has produced an accessible, lucid and authoritative description of designers' thought processes and strategies, which is essential reading for understanding design. [review of 1st edition] * Michael Tovey, Coventry University * Mixing analysis with case studies, Nigel Cross provides a succinct introduction to 'design thinking'. His message - that creativity can be taught, nurtured and developed - should empower even the most elementary design students. [review of 1st edition] * Elizabeth Guffey, Purchase College * This book proves that Nigel Cross is truly one of the leading thinkers who are working hard to establish the body of knowledge for design. [review of 1st edition] * Lee, Kun-Pyo, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology * A highly accessible read that will doubtless help many designers to better understand - and perhaps also to question - the things they do in their work life, and why they do them. [review of 1st edition] * The Designer Magazine * Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work is a useful resource for people wanting to get a deeper insight into how designers go about designing things and systems, and a great first year student handbook. [review of 1st edition] * Curve *

I came across the first edition of this book and adopted it immediately for my instructional design course…The second edition is even richer with engaging storytelling and case studies. A must-read for future designers-to-be. * Minjuan Wang, Professor and Chair of Learning Design and Technology, San Diego State University, USA * This is the classic book on how designers think and work. While based on solid research, it is also a compelling read: the interviews, case studies and stories from design practice are lively and very accessible. There still is no better explanation. * Kees Dorst, Professor of Transdisciplinary Innovation, University of Technology Sydney, Australia * Are you looking for a book that can help you advance your ability to be a reflective designer? This straightforward book takes on the complex topic of design thinking and gives you gems to reflect on and incorporate into your own design practice. * Cynthia Atman, Professor of Human Centered Design and Engineering and Director of CELT, University of Washington, USA * Nigel Cross has been at the forefront of research in design thinking for several decades. This book elegantly encapsulates his exceptional knowledge of just what it is that makes designing such a unique and valuable activity. * Peter Lloyd, Professor of Integrated Design Methodology, TU Delft, the Netherlands * This book highlights the core characteristics of design thinking and its processes through empirical case studies on how designers generate creative designs. Nigel Cross, a pioneer in design research and methodology, analyzes design thinking with insights based on his long-standing experience, which can be of great help to design researchers, educators and students. * Kun-Pyo Lee, Dean of the School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University * Design thinking has radically changed the world. Long before the concept got traction in many disciplines beyond design, Nigel already engaged deeply with the cognitive processes of designers and architects. This book is a much needed refresher on the understanding of these fascinating phenomena. As a design professor with a background in psychology, I am hugely inspired by this book. * Cees de Bont, Dean of the School of Design and Creative Arts, Loughborough University, UK *

Author Information

Nigel Cross is Emeritus Professor of Design Studies, Open University, UK. He has vast experience as a design teacher and an international reputation as a design researcher through books such as Designerly Ways of Knowing and Analysing Design Activity, and editorship of the leading research journal, Design Studies.

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