What is design thinking?

Design thinking is a human-centered problem-solving approach that emphasizes understanding the needs of users and involves iterative prototyping. At its core, design thinking consists of several stages, typically including empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing. The process starts by deeply understanding the users and their challenges, which informs the design decisions and solutions.

Iterative prototyping is a crucial component because it allows designers to create and test multiple versions of solutions, refining them based on user feedback. This cycle of prototyping and testing ensures that the final design effectively addresses user needs and preferences.

The other options touch on aspects of design but do not encapsulate the essence of design thinking. For instance, while iterative prototyping is important, the focus on understanding user needs differentiates design thinking from methodologies that may primarily emphasize technical execution or visual aesthetics. Additionally, establishing design trends or enhancing visual aspects, though relevant to the broader field of design, do not accurately represent the comprehensive, user-centered approach of design thinking.