This blog is posted on the American Evaluation Association website.  Asma M. Ali, of AA & Associates, LLC in Chicago and Isabel P. Cuervo of the City University of New York have been incorporating Design Thinking strategies across projects in their evaluation practice. Design Thinking (DT), also known as human-centered design, has emerged across several fields as a user-centric approach to promote the integration of participants’ needs, life experiences, and understandings in projects.

Design Thinking (DT):

Accessing stakeholder experiences and wisdom in project brainstorming

Creating Feedback loops between evaluation team members and stakeholders to develop and execute projects

Solution-oriented and iterative work processes and results

Supporting culturally responsive evaluation (CRE) practices