The award-winning Cambridge University professor Nathan Crilly (BEng, PhD), and academic lead of our course on Creativity, Problem Solving, and Design Thinking has just published a new book: “Design Thinking and Other Approaches: How Different Disciplines See, Think and Act.”

This groundbreaking work that delves into the heart of creative work from the perspective of the different disciplines involved. It explores the mindsets associated with many disciplinary approaches, including (but not limited to) 'design thinking', 'systems thinking', and 'entrepreneurial thinking'. By examining what such approaches are, the relationships between them and how they can be combined, two useful resources are provided:

• Collected descriptions twelve disciplinary approaches from across the professions, sciences, arts and humanities.

• Visual representations of the connections and contrasts between these approaches.

Although 'design thinking', 'systems thinking', and 'entrepreneurial thinking' are often recognised as contributing to creative work, there are also other useful approaches to draw from. These other approaches include 'computational thinking', 'engineering thinking', 'scientific thinking', 'mathematical thinking', 'geographical thinking', 'historical thinking', 'anthropological thinking' and many more.

However, these approaches are often taught and applied separately, which obscures what is distinctive about each of them, but also how they overlap. The book argues that these forms of thinking should not be understood in isolation but instead in relation to each other as they can all help us to identify, understand and solve problems.

By examining a wide range of thinking approaches, the book reveals both the connections and contrasts between disciplines, offering a more comprehensive framework for how creativity can be fostered by drawing on different mindsets. It advocates for a more coordinated project where diverse ways of thinking are represented as part of the creative process, making it easier to see how different disciplines contribute to innovation.

Discover the book and access it for free until the 13th of May from Cambridge University Press and Assessment(Opens in a new window).

You can also explore an interactive visualisation(Opens in a new window) based on the book (relating design thinking, systems thinking, entrepreneurial thinking and computational thinking):

To further immerse yourself in these concepts, enrol in the exclusive CAO course on Creativity, Problem Solving, and Design Thinking, taught by Professor Crilly. This course provides practical methods and tools to enhance these skills in your professional life and advance your career.

This structured 6-week online course with live sessions will give you the opportunity to learn interactively and apply what you’re learning directly to your own context while engaging with peers from across different sectors. Plus, you will gain a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge upon successful completion.

Enrol in the course Creativity, Problem Solving and Design Thinking.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sonia Arroyo

Senior Marketing Executive

Cambridge Advance Online

Cambridge University Press & Assessment