How does design work?

We’re asked this question often and we’ll always be curious about it. The reality is that design is useful, a bit mysterious, and forever in flux. Right now, this is a guide to some of what we know—and don’t know—about how design works.

This site is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a useful guide—our FAQ for design understanding. We hope it will inspire discussion, some questioning, a little soul searching, and ideally, a bit of intellectual support for your everyday endeavors.

Here are nine questions we think a lot about. Each links to deeper descriptions and related research we’ve uncovered along the way.

How do designers “think” with “things?"

Where do new ideas come from

Why do building, sharing, and testing a work in progress help you get to a good solution?

Who produces better ideas: individuals or teams?

When should you move quickly and when should you pause to reflect?

When building a diverse team, how can you set them up for success?

How does empathy influence creativity?How do you teach someone synthesis?

What are simple ways to meaningfully boost creativity?