Making Sense of the Double Diamond
By Kristy Theissling | theissling.com
In a world where urgency often drives decisions, the Double Diamond reminds us to pause, stretch our perspective, and solve the right problem—not just the obvious one.
Originally developed by the UK Design Council, the Double Diamond is a visual model that maps the process of design thinking into two distinct phases: Problem Space and Solution Space. Each phase contains two modes of thinking—divergent and convergent—represented by the expanding and narrowing points of each diamond.
🔹 The First Diamond: Discover + Define
This is where we zoom out before we zoom in.
- Discover: Teams explore the landscape—gathering insights, challenging assumptions, and listening deeply to users, citizens, or stakeholders.
- Define: Insights are synthesised. Patterns emerge. Facilitators help groups converge on a clear, shared definition of the real problem to solve.
It’s uncomfortable, curious, and incredibly powerful when done well. See examples of facilitated exercises in the first Diamond, here: https://theissling.com/2025/07/25/diamond-1-activity-examples/
🔸 The Second Diamond: Develop + Deliver
Now we move from insight to action.
- Develop: Creative thinking ramps up. Possibilities are tested, sketched, prototyped, and explored.
- Deliver: Solutions are refined, validated, and implemented—ideally with feedback loops and real-world testing built in.
The brilliance of the Double Diamond is not just in its structure—it’s in the mindset it invites. As facilitators, our job is to make space for both diamonds to breathe: to resist the rush to solution, and instead hold teams in discovery long enough for something new to emerge.
