What in the world is Resolutive Thinking from a design research perspective?
Resolutive Thinking
In design research, Resolutive Thinking refers to a problem-solving mindset focused on crafting concrete, actionable solutions to complex and often ill-defined problems. It contrasts with purely analytical or critical thinking by emphasizing the generation, testing, and refinement of tangible interventions or prototypes.
This mode of thinking is grounded in the belief that understanding emerges through doing—by iteratively constructing and evaluating responses to real-world challenges. It is typically employed in the latter phases of design processes, where insight has been generated through exploratory research, and the aim shifts toward resolution and implementation.
Key Characteristics:
- Action-oriented: Aims to generate solutions rather than only analyze problems.
- Integrative: Balances creativity, feasibility, and desirability.
- Iterative: Involves prototyping, testing, and refining.
- Situated: Takes into account the context and stakeholders’ needs.
Contrast with Explorative Thinking:
| Thinking Mode | Focus | Common Phase in Design |
|---|---|---|
| Explorative Thinking | Understanding the problem | Early research & framing |
| Resolutive Thinking | Developing solutions | Concept development & prototyping |
This concept is often linked to the later stages of the Double Diamond model and is informed by practices in Design Thinking, Strategic Design, and Systems-Oriented Design.
Elaborating on Resolutive Thinking and Resolutive Design
Resolutive thinking is a cognitive and practical approach in design that focuses on formulating, prototyping, and implementing concrete solutions to well-framed or emergent problems. Unlike exploratory or sense-making modes of thought, which dwell in ambiguity and analysis, resolutive thinking emphasizes action, synthesis, and delivery. It is inherently pragmatic and future-oriented, guided by the belief that real-world interventions help both clarify the problem and test its possible resolutions.
In design research, resolutive design refers to the applied outcome of this thinking mode. It is the process through which abstract ideas are translated into material or systemic solutions—be they products, services, processes, or policies. Resolutive design requires balancing creative ideation with real-world constraints such as resources, stakeholder expectations, technological feasibility, and time.
The roots of resolutive thinking lie in Herbert Simon’s (1969) assertion that “everyone designs who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones” (p. 111). This definition underpins design as a resolutive discipline—distinct from sciences that primarily seek to understand the world. In contrast, design aims to change the world through intervention.
Resolutive thinking is critical in strategic design, design thinking, and service design, especially during the “define” and “deliver” stages of frameworks like the Double Diamond or Stanford d.school’s Design Thinking model. It requires designers to synthesize user insights, stakeholder goals, and systemic parameters into workable paths forward. This is not a mechanical process—it is both analytical and intuitive, depending on abductive reasoning to bridge gaps between what is and what could be.
Examples of Resolutive Thinking in Practice
1. Solution-Oriented Design in E-commerce UX (versus complexity-oriented systems analysis)
In the design of e-commerce checkout systems, companies often employ resolutive thinking to improve user conversion rates. For instance, Amazon’s “1-Click Ordering” emerged from identifying a pain point (checkout friction) and resolving it with a streamlined, patentable feature. This is resolutive design in action: a clear problem, a direct solution, and measurable business impact.
By contrast, a complexity-oriented approach might study the entire consumer decision-making ecosystem—including socioeconomic behavior, platform algorithms, and global supply chain logistics—without necessarily resolving a specific bottleneck. Both approaches are valuable, but resolutive design delivers immediate value through intervention.
2. Service Redesign in Public Sector Healthcare (versus systemic policy reform)
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has used resolutive design approaches in service innovation labs to reduce patient wait times in emergency departments. Rather than overhaul the entire healthcare policy framework (a complex, political task), designers collaborated with front-line staff to prototype new triage procedures, signage systems, and role workflows. These changes were localized, testable, and scalable—typical of resolutive thinking.
On the other hand, a complexity-oriented approach might involve a systems analysis of healthcare equity, insurance models, or legislative frameworks, which, while important, rarely lead to immediate solutions at the service level.
Conclusion
Resolutive thinking and resolutive design are essential for translating understanding into action. While not a substitute for systemic thinking, they provide a focused lens for intervention, testing, and iterative improvement. In environments that value innovation and responsiveness—such as tech startups, public sector innovation labs, or social enterprises—resolutive approaches are key to navigating complexity with tangible outcomes.
Reference
Simon, H. A. (1969). The Sciences of the Artificial. MIT Press.
Certification for Work Skills and Complex Problem Solving 
Leave a comment