The double daimond
Double Diamond Model 2019.pdf

The process: using the Double Diamond

Design Council’s Double Diamond clearly conveys a design process to designers and non-designers alike. The two diamonds represent a process of exploring an issue more widely or deeply (divergent thinking) and then taking focused action (convergent thinking).

  • Discover.The first diamond helps people understand, rather than simply assume, what the problem is. It involves speaking to and spending time with people who are affected by the issues.
  • Define. The insight gathered from the discovery phase can help you to define the challenge in a different way.
  • Develop. The second diamond encourages people to give different answers to the clearly defined problem, seeking inspiration from elsewhere and co-designing with a range of different people.
  • Deliver. Delivery involves testing out different solutions at small-scale, rejecting those that will not work and improving the ones that will.

This is not a linear process as the arrows on the diagram show. Many of the organisations we support learn something more about the underlying problems which can send them back to the beginning. Making and testing very early stage ideas can be part of discovery. And in an ever-changing and digital world, no idea is ever ‘finished’. We are constantly getting feedback on how products and services are working and iteratively improving them.

Design theright things

  • Discover: goals focused - find the future
  • Define: area to focus on - insight= meet the users need and commercial goals

The design principles

The framework for innovation outlines four core principles for problem-solvers to adopt so that they can work as effectively as possible.

  • Put people first. Start with an understanding of the people using a service, their needs, strengths and aspirations.
  • Communicate visually and inclusively. Help people gain a shared understanding of the problem and ideas.
  • Collaborate and co-create. Work together and get inspired by what others are doing.

  • Iterate, iterate, iterate. Do this to spot errors early, avoid risk and build confidence in your ideas.

    The methods bank

  • Explore: challenges, needs and opportunities

  • Shape: prototypes, insights and visions
  • Build: ideas, plans and expertise