UX/UI Design: Foundations to Practice · The Design Process
The Double Diamond Framework
A widely adopted design process model, developed by the UK Design Council, structures design work around two distinct cycles of divergent and convergent thinking, and understanding why each phase exists prevents the common mistake of jumping straight to a solution.
The Double Diamond, developed by the UK Design Council in 2005 based on a study of design processes across eleven global companies, describes design as moving through four phases across two diamonds: Discover and Define (the first diamond, focused on understanding the right problem) and Develop and Deliver (the second diamond, focused on building the right solution), with each diamond widening to explore broadly before narrowing to a specific conclusion.
- The Double Diamond, developed by the UK Design Council in 2005, structures design around two diamonds: Discover/Define (the right problem) and Develop/Deliver (the right solution).
- Each diamond widens through divergent thinking before narrowing through convergent thinking, preventing premature commitment to the first idea that comes to mind.
- Discover gathers broad understanding of the problem space; Define narrows that into a specific, well-framed problem statement before any solution work begins.
- Develop generates and explores multiple possible solutions; Deliver narrows to a specific, tested solution actually ready to build and ship.