A Design Thinker’s Reading List

I have read three books in the last few months that I think provide ample inspiration and thought-provoking fodder for any design thinker:

• The Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp: In this “how-to” guide, Tharp suggests that being creatively inclined is not some pre-ordained gift, but rather a skill that can be acquired and honed by anyone with the right outlook and set of tools. Using anecdotes from her own life and career as a professional choreographer, Tharp discusses both the theory and psychology behind harnessing creativity, and the practical steps that can help. Her straightforward and no-nonsense writing style lends credibility to her credo – you feel as if you have just had a stern but productive talk with an experienced mentor.

• Design Thinking, by Tim Brown: Brown is the CEO of IDEO, the well-known Palo Alto based design consultancy. In this book he shares the secrets behind IDEO's success and discusses how design thinking can transform organizations and societies. To paraphrase, Brown describes the concept of ‘design thinking’ as the act of intensely and intelligently observing human activity and interaction, with the goal of uncovering a need and turning it into demand. The idea that design thinking is a business and management strategy and not just a designer’s tool has been gaining traction – as evidenced by this recent NY Times article discussing the ways in which Business Schools are incorporating it into their curriculum. As a businessperson, this book excites me – too often in the business world we approach problems from a staid and wholly left-brained perspective; design thinking teaches us to question assumptions and address the ‘why’ before we jump to the ‘how’.

• Beautiful Evidence, by Edward Tufte: This is the first in a series of four volumes by Tufte that seek to explore how the components of an image, be it a scientific diagram or an artistic masterpiece, can either enlighten or subvert the intended meaning of the visual. For example, in the first chapter Tufte explains how any image whose purpose is direct visual evidence must contain a scale or map, in order to inform the viewer of the image’s context within its broader environment. The subject matter may sound uninspiring and the tone egregiously academic (Tufte is a Professor Emeritus at Yale University), but trust me, you will never look at a PowerPoint deck or a scatter plot the same way again. Tufte’s insights and observations will inspire you to consider the elements of style and design with every visual you create or encounter.

Tharp, Brown, and Tufte have inspired me to foster a creative habit everyday, look for design-centric solutions to business challenges, and be intensely aware of the role design plays in everything we create. Not a bad starting set of principles.

Twyla Tharp: twlatharp.org

Tim Brown: designthinking.ideo.com

Edward Tufte: edwardtufte.com