HPI Design Thinking Impact 2022: Overcoming Cognitive Biases in Design Thinking

CLIENT: Hasso-Plattner-Institut | EVENT: Design Thinking Impact 2022 | Berlin, 16.09.2022

Last week, I had the privilege of participating in the Design Thinking Impact 2022 event at the Hasso Plattner Institute. The event brought together an incredible community of creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators, all eager to explore the ways Design Thinking can be applied to tackle complex challenges.

One of the highlights of my experience was co-hosting the workshop “…and then comes life” with Martin Talmeier. Martin invited me to share insights from my research on “How to Overcome Cognitive Biases in Design Thinking,” a topic that continues to spark my passion and curiosity.

Design Thinking is often celebrated as a methodology that fosters creativity, collaboration, and human-centered solutions. However, as I’ve observed in both my research and professional practice, even the most well-structured Design Thinking processes can be undermined by cognitive biases.

Cognitive biases—our mental shortcuts and unconscious patterns of thought—can subtly influence decisions, limit creativity, and steer teams toward less effective outcomes. Whether it’s confirmation bias leading teams to validate preexisting assumptions, or groupthink discouraging dissenting opinions, these biases are always present, often unnoticed but undeniably impactful.

During the workshop, I focused on how teams can identify these biases and develop strategies to mitigate their effects. The goal isn’t to eliminate biases entirely—that’s impossible—but to build awareness and integrate practices that allow teams to navigate them effectively.

Being part of this workshop was both inspiring and humbling. The participants brought a wealth of knowledge and experience, and their willingness to engage deeply with the topic reminded me why I’m so passionate about this work. This experience has motivated me to continue exploring how Design Thinking can evolve to address biases and support more inclusive and impactful innovations.

A heartfelt thank you to Martin Talmeier and the Hasso Plattner Institute for the opportunity to co-host at Design Thinking Impact 2022. It was an honor to share my research with such an inspiring community!