Putting it as succinctly as possible, design thinking is a perspective on problems:

Problem finding

• All people-thing problems are design problems.
• Alternative wordier definition: all problems that involve systems of interacting objects and subjects (“soft system” problems) are design problems.
• Design problems are often misdiagnosed as engineering, management and marketing-advertising problems.

Problem shaping

• Design problems are “wicked problems“, which have peculiar and disturbing characteristics:

• The problem is not understood until after the formulation of a solution.
• Wicked problems have no stopping rule.
• Solutions to wicked problems are not right or wrong.
• Every wicked problem is essentially novel and unique.
• Every solution to a wicked problem is a ‘one shot operation.’
• Wicked problems have no given alternative solutions.

Problem solving

• The best known way to resolve wicked problems is to use the methods and tools of human-centered design with a strong emphasis on prototyping and testing.