Plans for Solving the Problems of Residents of Gamcheon Culture Village with Design Thinking

Abstract

Design thinking is a next-generation problem-solving method that global companies, such as SAP and Google, use to manage innovation. Design thinking is a human-oriented method of finding and searching for solutions in which the many interested parties related to the problem participate. This method is being broadly used in diverse corporate and social areas. This study investigated problems that residents in urban regeneration regions are facing and tried to solve these problems through the application of design thinking. This study specifically targeted Gamcheon Culture Village, which is known as a successful case of urban regeneration. The study participants identified the fundamental problems behind the inconveniences that the residents in urban regeneration regions were experiencing. Differing from existing problem-solving processes, design thinking could provide an opportunity for mutual understanding through the gathering of many interested parties to empathize with the residents’ troubles, define problems, and search for solutions. This study proved that the most important success factor for urban regeneration projects was a common goal for the related interested parties, including residents, and the sharing of created values. This study’s academic contributions were its application of design thinking for the first time to a case that involved multiple interested parties that were related to urban regeneration project, consequently inducing future studies. Practically, the study provided a problem-solving methodology that relevant institutions can apply when developing policies regarding urban regeneration projects.