--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fundamental purpose of design…" description: "\"The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce something that does not now exist. And so it is with integrative thinking - in the face of con..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/roger-martin-35362_creative_the-fundamental-purpose-of-design-thinki_616576.png" --- # The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce… ![“The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce something that does not now exist. And so it is with integrative thinking - in the face of conflicting models, it seeks to generate a creative resolution of the tension in the form of a model that contains elements of each but is superior to…” quote by Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/roger-martin-35362_creative_the-fundamental-purpose-of-design-thinki_616576.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/roger-martin-35362_creative_the-fundamental-purpose-of-design-thinki_616576.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/roger-martin-35362_creative_the-fundamental-purpose-of-design-thinki_616576.png) > “The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce something that does not now exist. And so it is with integrative thinking - in the face of conflicting models, it seeks to generate a creative resolution of the tension in the form of a model that contains elements of each but is superior to both. So the goals are aligned completely.” [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Design thinking creates novel solutions by integrating conflicting ideas into a superior, unified model. **In simple terms:** Combine opposing ideas to craft something new. Key Takeaway Embrace tension to innovate. Themes creativity innovation integrative thinking problem solving strategy Mood optimistic analytical inspirational Type business philosophical When to use this quote - product development - business strategy - team brainstorming - conflict resolution - organizational change Key Concepts design thinking integrative thinking systems theory Questions to Reflect On - When have you turned conflict into a breakthrough? - How can you ensure the new model truly outperforms both originals? A Different Perspective Balancing diverse models can be time‑consuming and may dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“People must therefore get away from the idea that serious work is restricted to beating to death a well-defined problem in a narrow discipline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-christian/people-must-therefore-get-away-from-the-idea-that-serious-work-is/) [David Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-christian/) > [Critiquing relieves you of the responsibility of doing integrative thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/critiquing-relieves-you-of-the-responsibility-of-doing-integrative/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [“The true purpose of testing, just like the true purpose of design, is to reduce costs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-purpose-of-testing-just-like-the-true-purpose-of-design-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take a human body, a male and a female, it is obvious that certain parts are meant together. There is a purpose and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/take-a-human-body-a-male-and-a-female-it-is-obvious-that-certain/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [It is actually nonsense to link menswear and travel. But it is important that you have a purpose when you design menswear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junya-watanabe/it-is-actually-nonsense-to-link-menswear-and-travel-but-it-is/) Junya Watanabe > [Conscious of our many problems, I seek today to lay a foundation to our public policy. My fundamental purpose is to devote my term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/conscious-of-our-many-problems-i-seek-today-to-lay-a-foundation-to/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baha-u-llah/o-ye-children-of-men-the-fundamental-purpose-animating-the-faith-of/) [Bahá'u'lláh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baha-u-llah/) > [“One powerful method for getting at purpose is the five whys. Start with the descriptive statement We make X products or We deliver X…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/one-powerful-method-for-getting-at-purpose-is-the-five-whys-start/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The fundamental purpose of a novel like Count Julian is to achieve the unity of object and means of representation, the fusion of treason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-goytisolo/the-fundamental-purpose-of-a-novel-like-count-julian-is-to-achieve/) [Juan Goytisolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-goytisolo/) > [“The fundamental purpose of storytelling is to pass the time, which is infinite, slow, and weighs heavy in our hands. When the first storyteller,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/the-fundamental-purpose-of-storytelling-is-to-pass-the-time-which-is/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [If your basic premise about the fundamental purpose of our government is that it must provide for the common defense, then no other position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nickles/if-your-basic-premise-about-the-fundamental-purpose-of-our-government/) [Don Nickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nickles/) > [The fundamental purpose of government is to protect its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/the-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-to-protect-its-citizens/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [The most fundamental purpose of government is defense, not empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/the-most-fundamental-purpose-of-government-is-defense-not-empire/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [The fundamental purpose of school is learning, not teaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dufour/the-fundamental-purpose-of-school-is-learning-not-teaching/) Richard DuFour > [The whole notion of journalism being an institution whose fundamental purpose is to educate and inform and even, one might say, elevate, has altered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/the-whole-notion-of-journalism-being-an-institution-whose-fundamental/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) ## More by Roger Martin > [The virtue of small-to-midsize companies is that they tend to be more flexible and it is easier to experiment with new ways of working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-virtue-of-small-to-midsize-companies-is-that-they-tend-to-be-more/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather than change. So it really has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-anyone-would-ever-imagine-the/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great integrative moves that I studied came as a result of starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that-none-of-the-great/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Business people don't need to understand designers better. They need to be designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/business-people-don-t-need-to-understand-designers-better-they-need/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [In order to have a hope of creating better answers, we need to deeply understand the logic of the opposing answers. That means thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/in-order-to-have-a-hope-of-creating-better-answers-we-need-to-deeply/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Design isn't just about making things beautiful; it's also about making things work beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/design-isn-t-just-about-making-things-beautiful-it-s-also-about/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [I love that Toronto is demonstrating that a big, highly diverse, multicultural city can actually work and work well, if its residents have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/i-love-that-toronto-is-demonstrating-that-a-big-highly-diverse/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Typically to get toward a productive outcome in negotiation you have to make the initial move of genuinely exploring someone's model. If you don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/typically-to-get-toward-a-productive-outcome-in-negotiation-you-have/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [When it comes to innovation, business has much to learn from design. The philosophy in design shops is, 'try it, prototype it, and improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/when-it-comes-to-innovation-business-has-much-to-learn-from-design/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The two most fundamental strategic choices are deciding where to play and how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-two-most-fundamental-strategic-choices-are-deciding-where-to-play/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [You need to be uncomfortable and apprehensive: True strategy is about placing bets and making hard choices. The objective is not to eliminate risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/you-need-to-be-uncomfortable-and-apprehensive-true-strategy-is-about/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The ability to face constructively the tension of opposing ideas and instead of choosing one at the expense of the other, generate a creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-ability-to-face-constructively-the-tension-of-opposing-ideas-and/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) [Explore all 13 Roger Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) ## More Creative quotes > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [The creative strength is good enough and deep enough to bring itself to flower and to grow in spite of this sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-greenberg/the-creative-strength-is-good-enough-and-deep-enough-to-bring-itself/) [Joanne Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-greenberg/) > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [What Sri Chinmoy does is God-given! He has a tremendous, a fantastic creative urge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/what-sri-chinmoy-does-is-god-given-he-has-a-tremendous-a-fantastic/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Teasing out the way the world might look through another's eyes is what makes the creative process so fascinating and enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/teasing-out-the-way-the-world-might-look-through-another-s-eyes-is/) [Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) [Browse all 7,284 Creative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fundamental purpose of design thinking is to produce something that does not now exist. And so it is with integrative thinking - in the face of conflicting models, it seeks to generate a creative resolution of the tension in the form of a model that contains elements of each but is superior to both. 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