Design Thinking

by Rachel Ivy Clarke

The Library Futures Series continues with this primer on design thinking, broadly defined as an approach to problem solving which prioritizes empathy with and deeper understandings of users to define a problem; actively engages in prototyping to develop solutions; and iterates solutions through implementation and resulting modification. Clarke, a researcher whose work has systematically examined the capacity of design thinking to revolutionize LIS education and the exploration of diverse library reading materials, guides readers through this trend. After introducing the concept, she outlines the steps of the design thinking process model. She then shares various examples of design projects in libraries, illustrating how design thinking extends beyond just space planning or website design and is applicable to all library products and services. She also demonstrates the ways in which design can either enable or stifle such foundational library values as intellectual freedom, diversity, and access. Concluding with a rousing call to action for all librarians to recognize their positions as designers, this book will encourage readers to recognize how design thinking can empower libraries.

Genres: Library Science, Librarianship, Nonfiction

ebook

Published January 3, 2020

About the author

Rachel Ivy Clarke is currently an assistant professor at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies. Her research focuses on the application of design methodologies and epistemologies to librarianship to facilitate the systematic, purposeful design of library services and library education. Current projects include the IMLS-funded Designing Future Library Leaders project (RE-98-17-0032-17), investigating the integration of design methods and principles in graduate level library education, and the OCLC/ALISE funded project The Critical Catalog, which draws on critical design methodology to provoke the exploration of diverse library reading materials. She holds a BA in creative writing from California State University, Long Beach, an MLIS from San Jose State University, and a PhD from the University of Washington. Her dissertation, which argues that the field of librarianship is more appropriately viewed as a design field rather than a scientific one, received the 2017 iSchools dissertation award and the 2018 ALISE Eugene Garfield dissertation award. [Nov. 26, 2019]

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all that it's written in a very accessible style, my understanding of design in libraries after reading this still feels more theoretical than practical.

[Malcolm Murrell-Byrd · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot of design thinking feels like giving words to common sense. Design thinking as a process or mindset is not novel. I agree that design thinking is interdisciplinary where all people in any profession can have some common ground. However, positioning design thinking as separate from other "approaches" because it focuses on "problem solving" is rather dismissive. The reading really too much of an overview and not enough detail or explanation. There are several instances where design thinking is trying to sell its sell, no where better than the paragraph conclusion: "there are two possible futures for libraries: one is a passive future, in which libraries sit back and let others design solutions to information problems. The second one, and the one I know I prefer, is the one that libraries design." After going into how design thinking brainstorms numerous ideas and then to be given a very unconvincing ultimatum that lays out a black and white future is underwhelming.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I employ elements of design thinking in my library work and I took a course on the topic during my MLIS program. Clarke's book complements all of that and is a great follow-up since I reading Useful, Usable, Desirable: Applying User Experience Design to Your Library.

[Beth Filar Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a decent overview to design thinking. I've read a lot of other better more in depth or more practical books but I thought the small, short, succinctness of it made it worth passing onto other people who want a quick overview. I did appreciate a little historical perspective, some analogies, and explaining how libraries have often been design thinking models.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would probably rate this just a few stars. Most of the information isn't particularly groundbreaking. However, if I remove my own experience from this book, I think it still has a lot of useful and meaningful things it's saying about design—programs, projects, instruction.

If you are tenured in project management or designing programs, this might not be as helpful. But for a book I read for class, I can understand why it was recommended as a general baseline.