Design thinking is a human-centered approach to solving problems our libraries and patrons encounter. Design thinking excels as a process for working with those tough wicked problems that do not have clear answers. With an emphasis on listening, empathy, whole-brain thinking, collaboration, and experimentation, design thinking offers an alternative and complementary approach to analytical decision thinking. The process can open a new path to innovation at your library and foster greater engagement with all library staff and your community. This session is great for anyone in the library, from shelvers to senior administrators. You will leave this session a budding design thinker, ready to apply new ideas in your own library to deliver outstanding services for your patrons. You will understand what design thinking is, be inspired by your day-to-day environment to design human-centered services, and know how to create low-cost, low-risk experiments to address the wicked problems your library and your patrons face.
