Funded by the Hasso Plattner Design Thinking Research Program
Arguably the most pressing and urgent threats to the health and wellbeing of our society--climate change, resource degradation and, most recently, COVID-19--are at their core collective action issues. This project sought to address how we might most effectively cultivate the transition from individual- to collective-action mindsets to advance sustainability solutions, leveraging process and insight-driven aspects of design thinking.
Collective Action for Sustainability Solutions (Part 1): How might design thinking catalyze shifts from individual to community mindsets?
Our research project began with a synthesis of what we’ve learned to date regarding the application of design thinking to collective environmental action challenges, as well as how the theoretical underpinnings of design thinking aimed to catalyze innovation and collaboration. Through our review and analysis of peer-reviewed literature, in conjunction with insights from interactions with and writings of design-thinking practitioners, we sought to elucidate the aspects of design thinking that foster shifts toward collective mindsets to address complex social-ecological challenges.
See resulting publication here.
Collective Action for Sustainability Solutions (Part 2): Building and testing theory to catalyze shifts from individual to community mindsets
Expanding on research completed in Part I of this grant, we interviewed educators and designers to explore how practitioners address sustainability challenges using design thinking approaches. Interview findings informed development of a book chapter and website.
See resulting publication here.