Development of Design Thinking in the Field of Design and Crafts

Design thinking is a complicated and time-consuming process that consists of various stages. It helps planning business development. Design thinking is centred on the solution of the problem and creation of desirable outcome. Design thinking is revealed as critical, creative and analytical way of thinking oriented towards reaching better results and improves one's life. The aim of the study is to analyse design thinking concepts and stages in relation to modem design nature, and reflect the invention of design thinking at university and school in the field of design and crafts. The methods used in the study are: the theoretical analysis of design thinking concepts and its stages, and empirical investigation of the usage of leaming of design thinking in the particular courses for design and crafts students at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU) and in the lessons of home economics and technologies at Jelgava Secondary School No. 4. As a result of the theoretical analysis, the authors assessed which definition and which stages of design thinking are the most appropriate for the implementation of the empirical study. The results were obtained from LLU study curriculum "Design and Crafts" courses and school subject "Home Economics and Technologies". The significance of the results manifests in comparison and assessment of design thinking concepts and stages, and opportunities of their implementation at university courses and school subject as well as reflects the holistic picture and reveals pluses and minuses in the leaming process.