DoubleDiamondModell

DoubleDiamondModell, also known as the Double Diamond Design Process, is a framework for organizing design activities and decision making. Developed by the British Design Council and published in 2005, it describes a structured approach to problem finding and solution development. The model presents two consecutive diamonds, each consisting of a divergent phase followed by a convergent phase.

In the first diamond, Discover encourages broad exploration to uncover user needs, context, and opportunities without premature judgments. Define focuses the exploration into a clear brief by synthesizing insights and narrowing to a well-framed problem statement. The second diamond shifts toward solving the right problem: Develop invites ideation and prototyping across many potential solutions, while Deliver concentrates on selecting, refining, and implementing the final concept.

The model is widely used in product design, service design, user experience, and policy design, serving as a visual and communicative tool in workshops, project planning, and collaboration. It aligns with design thinking and human-centered design principles, emphasizing user research, iteration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. While not prescriptive, it provides a language for teams to describe their process and to balance exploration with focus.

Criticisms note that the Diamond metaphor can oversimplify complex projects and that real workflows may be non-linear or iterative beyond the four phases. Some practitioners adapt the framework to agile or lean practices, integrating continuous feedback loops. Despite these caveats, the Double Diamond remains a widely used reference for teaching and practicing structured design thinking.