Design Thinking in Cultural and Heritage Management

Book excerpt: The ability to discover and respond to societal needs in the field of culture requires an integrated, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral approach. Such a holistic view is offered by the design thinking method, which has been extracted from the field of design and could be applied also in the sphere of culture. Interdisciplinarity and consideration of users' needs are characteristics of contemporary design and can be a significant support when faced with the challenges of cultural heritage management. The abovementioned factors act as the premise behind undertaking an analysis of the possibility of adapting the design thinking method to the management of intangible cultural heritage, and to develop a model of the design thinking process for this area. This research volume is the first comprehensive study of the application of the design thinking method to cultural management, especially management of the intangible cultural heritage. It asserts that design thinking can bring numerous benefits to organizations involved in the management of intangible cultural heritage and to its depositories. It will be of interest to researchers and academics in the fields of public and nonprofit management, strategic management, and value creation in the field of culture; students of design for culture and heritage; and practitioners in cultural management.