Design thinking for innovation in sustainable built environments: a systematic literature review

Abstract

PurposeThis systematic literature review investigates the contribution of design thinking (DT) as a process and tool to drive innovation in a sustainable built environment (SBE) and develops a new model for sustainability research integrating DT and future thinking approaches toward achieving a unified DT and foresight notion for future research and applications.Design/methodology/approachThis review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Open-access English articles published between 2000 and 2022 identified using the EBSCOhost, Emerald Insight, DOJA, JSTOR, Scopus and Taylor and Francis database searches were reviewed. The review framework deploys a previously proposed modified Ansoff matrix with an integrated innovation matrix to identify and analyze the challenges and opportunities for innovation growth in SBE. Additionally, a citation analysis was conducted to explore the impact of DT for innovation in SBE, and a proposed framework based on design by drawing on foresight theory was developed.FindingsResearch on DT for innovation in SBE faces the challenge of unanticipated impacts. According to the average number of citations per document, innovation associated with new solutions within a new context seems to become highly influential. Additionally, research gaps exist in the integration of foresight and DT into sustainability research to identify new contexts and solutions to SBE. A model of foresight design thinking (FDT) is proposed to guide future research and support the practical application of DT in sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsThis analysis was limited by the selection criteria as only certain keywords were used and English-only articles were selected. Future research should consider the use of DT for innovation in SBE using various important keywords, which would improve research findings and expand the contribution of DT to SBE.Practical implicationsThe FDT model offers a new holistic framework for the iterative process of reframing and reperception, focusing on divergent and convergent thinking with the goal of contributing to SBE practices.Social implicationsThe integrated framework of DT and foresight can contribute to the study and development of sustainable innovation and a strategic shift toward a sustainable society.Originality/valueThe integration of DT, foresight and sustainability can broaden the horizons of sustainability research by systematically addressing future challenges related to SBE, which can be translated into feasible and innovative solutions. Thus, the FDT model complements the application of DT in sustainable innovation in this research field.

Design-Driven Innovation in Urban Context—Exploring the Sustainable Development of City Design Weeks

“…This initiative adds even more vitality to the development of the city. To conclude, this DDI type is adapted mainly to serve the tourism-oriented creative cities rich in local cultural heritage but experiencing moderate economic growth to leverage 'incremental improvement' in urban development [47,48]. It emphasises design as an innovation tool, integrating cross-disciplinary resources to conduct cultural research and participate collaboratively in the design process, to together create cultural artefacts that foster cultural consumption [17,49,50].…”

Аналіз Інноваційних Підходів До Територіального Планування Як Фактор Підтримки Сталого Розвитку У Поствоєнний Період

“…and Sharma, A., Oke, A.E. and Stephen, S.S., Fedirko, O. and Fedirko, N., Matos, S., Jorge, S. and Moura e Sá, P., Губа, М. І., Злепко, Н. І., Тацій , О. В., Fitz-Oliveira, M. and Wasgen, A.M. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] та інші автори.…”

“…Значущим елементом є інтеграція інновацій у планування та управління агломераціями. Розробка інноваційних стратегій планування, які враховують потреби сучасного суспільства та ринкові вимоги, може стати каталізатором для сталого розвитку агломерацій у довгостроковій перспективі [10].…”

Editorial: Innovation and lean practices for sustainable construction project management; emerging technologies, strategies and challenges

“…Tantiyaswasdikul (2024), conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, explores design thinking’s (DT) role as a methodology and tool in promoting innovation within the sustainable built environment. This study aims to create a novel model that combines DT and future thinking strategies, paving the way for a cohesive DT and foresight concept for subsequent research and practical uses.…”

“…The key functionalities identified include project progress and performance management, assessment of look-ahead level performance, evaluation of workflow reliability and stability, examination of the make-ready process, constraint management and quality measurement of construction flow. Tantiyaswasdikul (2024), conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, explores design thinking's (DT) role as a methodology and tool in promoting innovation within the sustainable built environment. This study aims to create a novel model that combines DT and future thinking strategies, paving the way for a cohesive DT and foresight concept for subsequent research and practical uses.…”