Design Thinking and Healthcare Innovation: Notes for Researchers and Practitioners

Design thinking has become a valuable tool for conducting research and conducting practical programs of transformation. It has been especially useful in extending the reach of design from its traditional focus on objects to an expanded field of "wicked problems" including corporate strategy, disaster relief, and social policy. As such, it has entered the complex field of healthcare, where design thinking has been adopted by leading medical institutions and affiliated professional associations. These Methodological Notes draw upon research that has led to the formulation of a set of tools that can be adapted by researchers and practitioners preparing to launch transformation projects within their respective institutions. With the understanding that in the complex and dynamic environment of healthcare, one size most definitely does not fit all, we propose an 8-phase design cycle that may serve as a practical guide to preparing, conducting, and evaluating such an initiative.