Design Thinking uses techniques to determine the viability and feasibility of products and processes. While Human-Centered Design theory uses tools to empathize with the customer, Design Thinking moves beyond empathy to create solution options to problems.
Which one do you need?
Design Thinking determines your direction when you work on creating a change or seeking an improvement, and human-centered design fine-tunes the details through iteration before and after it is in the users’ hands.
Design Thinking is a collaborative process to consider all solutions worth exploring – often leading to innovation. Human-Centered Design helps your team make the best possible version of a product or process that considers inclusion and user experience.
Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design are both iterative processes that have user empathy at their core. Products and processes need to be focused on the customer – whether that is an internal department supporting employees, or external products being purchased by customers, or services being provided to citizens.
Design Thinking uses a variety of tools; a subset of those tools are from Human-Centered Design theory. Journey Maps and Empathy Maps, along with personas, are all tools that can be used in the Design Thinking process.