Beyond Double Diamond: Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Design Dialogue

Robert Meza's recent post on the "double diamond" design process sparked a thought-provoking debate. As GK VanPatter's rebuttal highlighted, the double diamond oversimplifies the complexity inherent in real-world design and innovation challenges. However, as designers, we must balance complexity and simplicity - simple enough to communicate meaningfully, but complex enough to address multifaceted problems.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robertcmeza_build-a-solution-before-you-know-if-it-will-activity-7160158709136936960-4F_W?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

Rather than further critiquing established design models, the opportunity is to foster understanding across disciplines. As a lifelong learner, I follow many thought leaders like Robert, GK, Jo Ann and many others , but apply my own lens for meaning making and sense making. Jo Ann's  perspective suggests, design is an ever-evolving philosophy and practice, not a rigid, linear process. Individual mindsets and organizational capabilities evolve from delivering products to transforming systems and services. 

No single design framework can address the dimensionality of challenges we face today. As VanPatter argues, we need processes with more spaces and cycles that support divergence, transformation and convergence. At the same time, the double diamond retains strategic value for its clarity and memorability.

The solution lies not in wholesale replacement of existing models, but in integrating multiple ways of seeing. This requires curiosity, listening, and letting go of disciplinary biases. Designers have much to learn from creative problem solving approaches, while business strategists can benefit from human-centered principles.

In the spirit of open, cross-disciplinary dialogue, I propose convening a discussion on moving the practice of design forward constructively. Rather than reverse or multiply diamonds, let's focus on building adaptive capacity, psychological safety, and creative confidence across teams and organizations. Diverse mindsets will illuminate angles we cannot see alone.

I invite designers, strategists, systems thinkers and changemakers to join me in envisioning the next stage in the evolution of design. The complex challenges we face call for empathy, whole systems understanding, and fearless co-creation across disciplines. Together, we can transform not just processes, but mindsets and organizational cultures. 

Let the dialogue begin!   

  

What are your thoughts on carrying the discussion forward to build understanding? I'm happy to incorporate suggestions in developing this draft.