A Wicked Design Problem: How to Hang an Old Tiki (on the Wall)

Abstract

Existing literature on wicked problems deals with them in the context of planning, public policy, or management. Researchers refer to those who solve wicked problems as designers. These problem solvers use Design Thinking methods (DT2) for solution attempts. This paper claims that wicked design problems differ in some respects from wicked problems in planning, and to solve them, designers use different thinking and solution processes than those used by planners and others who deal with wicked problems in planning. A case study is presented to illustrate a designer’s actual design thinking process (DT1) that led to a satisfactory solution of a wicked design problem by changing its representation and by concurrently making an insight discovery. Characteristics of design thinking and Gestalt psychology are presented to shed light on these processes.