Double diamond

What is the Double Diamond?

The Design Council’s Double Diamond depicts design as two rounds of divergent thinking (exploring possibilities) and convergent thinking (focusing them). First, understand the problem. Then explore how to solve it.

How it works

The four phases are Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver. In the first diamond, a team gathers information and narrows it into a problem to address. In the second, it explores possible responses, then tests and refines them. New information can send the team back to an earlier question.

For example, a team investigating missed appointments might learn from patients that getting to the clinic is difficult. That would give it a different problem to work on than assuming patients need more reminders.

Why it matters

Jumping straight to a solution is tempting. The first diamond makes room to check what problem you are solving before committing to a response. The diagram gives that work a structure; the quality still comes from the research and testing inside it.