---
last-redoc-date: 2025-09-28
---

# Design Thinking Workflow

**Type:** Interactive Document Workflow
**Module:** Creative Intelligence System (CIS)

## Purpose

Guides human-centered design processes through the complete design thinking methodology: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Creates solutions deeply rooted in user needs by combining empathy-driven research with systematic creative problem-solving.

## Distinctive Features

- **Phase-Based Structure**: Full five-phase design thinking journey from empathy to testing
- **Method Library**: Curated collection of design methods in `design-methods.csv` organized by phase
- **Context Integration**: Accepts design briefs or user research via data attribute
- **Facilitation Principles**: Guides divergent thinking before convergent action, emphasizes rapid prototyping over discussion

## Usage

```bash
# Basic invocation
workflow design-thinking

# With project context
workflow design-thinking --data /path/to/product-context.md
```

## Inputs

- **design_challenge**: Problem or opportunity being explored
- **users_stakeholders**: Primary users and affected parties
- **constraints**: Time, budget, technology limitations
- **recommended_inputs**: Existing research or context documents

## Outputs

**File:** `{output_folder}/design-thinking-{date}.md`

**Structure:**

- Design challenge statement and point-of-view
- User insights and empathy mapping
- "How Might We" questions and problem framing
- Generated solution concepts
- Prototype designs and test plans
- Validated learning and iteration roadmap

## Workflow Components

- `workflow.yaml` - Configuration with design_methods CSV reference
- `instructions.md` - 7-step facilitation guide through design thinking phases
- `template.md` - Structured output format
- `design-methods.csv` - Phase-specific design techniques library