ABSTRACT
Design thinking as an ethos is built on empathy, but that alone is not enough to fix inequities and dismantle oppressive systems. This chapter discusses the issues of equity and one of the terms that has been used to describe people who are impacted by dominant systems of oppression is equity-seeking. Multiple systemic barriers present within higher education can prevent equity-seeking students from attaining positive educational outcomes. Many professionals working in student affairs can articulate the importance of equity in their work, though far fewer could identify how they are personally contributing to dismantling colonial systems in their day-to-day activities. Design thinking as a process is not a magic solution to equity problems, though it can be a powerful tool to approach the development of solutions that can address inequity. Design thinking begins with empathy for the end users, and human empathy can be a powerful tool that can be used to disrupt the implicit biases.
