Comparative Study of Futures Thinking and Design Thinking Processes: Analysis of Approaches and Application Cases

Abstract

The Future’s Thinking process, through repeated convergence and open-ended thinking, forms different future scenarios. From this perspective, it shares similarities and differences with the Design Thinking process. This study explores the similarities and differences between Futures Thinking and Design Thinking methodologies and analyze their characteristics in application cases. In the design field, in addition to the human-centered design objectives of the present, there is also a need for thinking and vision towards the future. This study combines literature review and case analysis to examine relevant literature, summarizing and identifying the key concepts in the processes of Futures Thinking and Design Thinking. An analytical framework that aligns with the characteristics of each methodology is derived, and the main differences and commonalities in practical application cases are analyzed. Although this research is still in its preliminary stages, it hopes that the discussion, based on literature and case analysis, can provide insights for the interdisciplinary application and practice of Futures Thinking and Design Thinking, expanding the future vision in the design field.

Presenters

Meiwen Wang
Student, PhD, Dongseo University , Busan, South Korea

Details

Presentation Type

Poster Session

Theme

2025 Special Focus—Thinking, Learning, Doing: Plural Ways of Design

KEYWORDS

Future's Thinking, Design Thinking, Application Cases, Comparative Study