Exploring Design Thinking Methodologies: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Literature, Outstanding Practices, and Their Linkage to Sustainable Development Goals

Matilde Martínez Casanovas ()
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Matilde Martínez Casanovas: IGEMA Business School, An Affiliated Center to Rovira i Virgili University, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-19

Abstract: Design Thinking (DT) has emerged as a relevant methodology for addressing global challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study presents a systematic literature review, conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, which analyzes 42 peer-reviewed publications from 2013 to 2023. Through inductive content analysis, 10 core DT principles—such as empathy, iteration, user-centeredness, and systems thinking—I identified and thematically mapped to specific SDGs, including goals related to health, education, innovation, and climate action. The study also presents five real-world cases from diverse sectors such as technology, healthcare, and urban planning, illustrating how DT has been applied to address practical challenges aligned with the SDGs. However, the review identifies persistent gaps in the field: the lack of standardized evaluation frameworks, limited integration across SDG domains, and weak adaptation of ethical and contextual considerations, particularly in vulnerable communities. As a response, this paper recommends the adoption of structured impact assessment tools (e.g., Cities2030, Responsible Design Thinking), integration of design justice principles, and the development of participatory, iterative ecosystems for innovation. By offering both conceptual synthesis and applied insights, this article positions Design Thinking as a strategic and systemic approach for driving sustainable transformation aligned with the 2030 Agenda.

Keywords: Design Thinking; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); human-centered innovation; systems thinking; participatory design; impact assessment; ethical innovation; design justice; creative problem solving; multidisciplinary collaboration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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