Developed and popularized by the British Design Council, the double diamond frame has been around since 2004. This framework for innovation focuses on a clear and visual description of the design process, and also includes key principles and design methods that can be used to bring about lasting positive change.
The process is symbolized by two diamonds that represent exploring a topic with more divergent thinking and then taking focused action.
Learn more about this design thinking framework and find resources to get started with it below.
The Four Phases of the Double Diamond
The double diamond includes four very different phases:
- Discover: Understanding what the real problem is through communication and discussion with the people who are actively affected by it.
- Define: The insights gathered in the previous phase can help you define the challenge in a different and more beneficial way.
- Develop: find different answers to the clearly defined problem, look everywhere for inspiration, and co-design with different people.
- Deliver: Testing different solutions on a small scale, rejecting the ones that don’t work, and improving the ones that do.
It is not a linear process; sometimes, you’ll learn something about the underlying problem that will require you to go back to the Discover and Define stages, etc.
Because no idea is “finished,” there will always be more work to be done to improve existing products and services.
Design principles on which the double diamond is based
The following four principles are central to the Double Diamond framework, designed to help problem solvers adapt quickly to work as effectively and efficiently as possible.
- Put people first: Focus on deeply understanding the needs of the people who use a service, including their aspirations and challenges.
- Communicate visually and inclusively: Help your team develop a shared understanding of the problem and potential solutions.
- Collaborate and co-create: work together and inspire each other to build better.
- Iterate: Keep testing to avoid risks and build confidence in your ideas.
Resources on the Double Diamond Framework
Here are some additional materials to learn more about this theory of innovation and design thinking.
Book – Just Enough Research
This book by Erika Hall is a great resource for the discovery phase of the double diamond. Learn how to research your audience, spot your own biases and blind spots, and more interesting points. Highly recommended reading.
Video – The Double Diamond de Service Design Academy
This short introductory YouTube video from Service Design Academy explores the basics of the four phases of this framework and may be useful for more visual learners.
Miro Insole – Triple Diamond
This Zendesk-derived double diamond template is actually made up of three diamonds and can be applied to status updates, onboarding, retrospectives, and more.
Downloadable frame
You can also download the framework from the Design Council’s website here.