Design thinking combined with curriculum development

The aim of this article is to analyze how design thinking can be integrated with curriculum development. A master degree programme in arts and culture is used as a reference point, where design thinking can be implemented and utilized. Design thinking can be integrated with a variety of methods to create, share and evaluate innovative ideas. Also, agile development and decision-making are connected with design thinking: these are used in order to make the necessary decisions more quickly, to adopt new types of expertise and to commit to the desired changes and the goals required. Agile development methods are often used in the corporate context, where is a clear need to, for example, more boldly question existing thought patterns and to test new ideas. It is clear that in companies, design thinking can play a significant role in seeking distinctiveness in the marketplace. Are the above ideas also applicable to higher education context? It is interesting to stimulate ideas about how, for example, multidisciplinarity, co-creation, creativity and experimentation as essential elements of design thinking can be utilized in curriculum development. Interdisciplinarity plays an important role if we aim to share and co-develop new innovations with peer teachers from various disciplines.