Double Diamond
Design methodology with Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver.
PURPOSE
The Double Diamond is used to ensure that teams solve the right problem before developing the right solution. It prevents the common mistake of jumping into solution mode too quickly without sufficiently understanding the problem. The framework provides structure for complex innovation and design projects and ensures a systematic alternation between divergent and convergent thinking.
HOW TO USE
Go through four phases: In Discover, open up and broadly collect insights about the problem space. In Define, condense these into a clear problem definition. In Develop, generate as many solution ideas as possible. In Deliver, select the best solution and implement it. The key is the conscious alternation between broad exploration (diverging) and focused narrowing (converging) in each diamond half.
WHAT IT IS
The Double Diamond is a design framework developed in 2004 by the British Design Council. It consists of two diamonds: the first diamond focuses on problem understanding (Discover and Define), the second on solution development (Develop and Deliver). The model visualizes the creative process as a systematic alternation between divergent and convergent thinking.
EXAMPLE
Example: You lead a UX team tasked with redesigning the booking flow of a travel platform. In the Double Diamond, your team first goes through the Discover phase with user interviews, defines the core problem (users drop off because they fear hidden costs), and then develops multiple solution prototypes in the Develop phase before implementing the best approach in Deliver.