Abduction to Argument: A Framework of Design Thinking

This paper presents a constructivist framework for design thinking based on the recognition that there are different kinds of generative propositions. Five different "What if ... ?" questions are identified. It is offered that subsequent design development occurs in two ways. First, intensive development seeks an increasingly precise understanding of a proposed change by refining the generative proposition with respect to the initial "What if ... ?" question. Second, extensive development seeks an increasingly comprehensive understanding of a proposed change by applying, adapting, and adjusting the generative proposition with respect to the other "What if ... ?" questions. It is suggested that when both kinds of design development are performed successfully, the generative proposition of change becomes a reasoned argument for change.