ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the critiques and challenges with design thinking. There are challenges to implementation and limitations to the application of design thinking that are important to consider. Implementing a design thinking approach can be challenging mostly due to the time required to conduct the process, but also because of the time and resources needed to build the lead designer’s competency on the approach as well as in the subject area of the solution. The perception of design thinking as a formulaic or prescriptive model for something that should be creative and exploratory represents a common criticism. Empathizing with users is done through qualitative data collection and is certainly not unique to design thinking. The success of design thinking assessment implementation rests on both group and individual capabilities of the design team.
