Design thinking, as a complement to science thinking, embodies a wide range of creative characteristics as well as a number of other special qualities of distinct value to decision makers. In advisory roles, properly prepared design professionals could make substantial contributions to a process now dominated by political and economic views….

I would nominate for design thinking the following characteristics and ways of working:

• Conditioned inventiveness.
• Human-centered focus.
• Environment-centered concern.
• Ability to visualize.
• Tempered optimism.
• Bias for adaptivity.
• Predisposition toward multifunctionality.
• Systemic Vision.
• View of the Generalist.
• Ability to use language as a tool.
• Affinity for teamwork.
• Facility for avoiding the necessity of choice.
• Self-governing practicality.
• Ability to work systematically with qualitative information.

Design Thinking: What It Is, Why It Is Different, Where It Has New Value (.pdf)