Design thinking (DT) is expanding its horizons across a variety of different domains. One of the early and debated contributions regarding DT addressed its relationship with the entrepreneurial field. Today, there are numerous contributions that design thinking can offer in the creation of new ventures. However, there are few examples in the literature that discuss the concrete impacts and benefits of adopting DT in this field, demonstrating it through entrepreneurial projects. This paper aims to explore practitioners’ experiences with the application of theories from design thinking inside an entrepreneurial context. The impacts of the learning and the relative application of the main design thinking principles are evaluated via a sample of 50 participants in an international summer academy that offered education on DT concepts and practices. Through this research, a deep understanding of how design thinking can contribute to entrepreneurship is provided, highlighting which specific DT abilities enable the development of entrepreneurial activity.

The furniture industry represents a substantial segment of Europe’s economy, with the European Union producing approximately 25% of the world’s furniture. This sector is currently transitioning towards a circular economy. This study aims to thoroughly examine the circular initiatives undertaken by European furniture companies, emphasising the role of design in fostering innovative solutions. By employing a multiple case study methodology, the research demonstrates that existing circular solutions predominantly focus on materials and products, with significant adoption of circular design strategies. The majority of furniture companies are implementing these strategies to enhance resource efficiency and prolong product lifespans. Additionally, some companies are developing complementary service systems to improve product performance and longevity further. However, only a few have successfully implemented circular business models alongside circular product design strategies. This study also highlights that increasing user engagement and adopting a systemic perspective that includes various stakeholders in creating mutually beneficial solutions are areas that are still underdeveloped. Finally, we propose a framework to effectively guide furniture companies in implementing design strategies from a systemic perspective, aiming to generate comprehensive circular solutions within the European furniture sector.

The proposed article addresses pressing sustainability challenges, advocating for a profound transformation of existing development models, particularly emphasizing sustainable production and lifestyles. Utilizing a research method grounded in a comprehensive international knowledge base, the study explores the evolution of design for sustainability (DfS) approaches. Its significant contribution lies in systematically investigating connections among diverse DfS approaches, providing an initial framework for situating practices within the fashion and furniture industries. The research outcomes obtained iteratively involve mapping design-driven sustainability practices in European fashion and furniture companies. This mapping reveals a transition from a product-centric to an organization-centered design perspective, calling for a holistic ecosystemic framework to revolutionize business operations. The article analyzes contemporary design-driven practices, proposing an interpretative model that identifies ongoing practices fostering incremental changes toward sustainability guided by design. Furthermore, the article outlines a three-stage design-driven sustainability continuum, synthesizing potential future trajectories. Beyond contributing to the understanding of current practices, the research provides insights into future possibilities, highlighting the transformative role of design in reshaping consumeristic systems. Ultimately, the study offers valuable insights into the transformative power of design, paving the way for sustainable business practices in the fashion and furniture industries.

This paper is based on the research project – “LONGEVICITY” - carried out in the Metropolitan Area of Milan, which looks at the cities of the future as highly populated by long-living active people and innovative technological facilities. The project is conducted by a multidisciplinary research approach to study how to support social inclusion of elderlies’ living in urban environments by enhancing their active walking. The whole process will engage participants (senior citizens) and stakeholders in a human-centred design approach. In this paper we will present the results from the preliminary research activities carried out: case studies and territorial observations. The first activity was oriented to investigate and select innovative solutions to enhance the mobility of elderly pedestrians and to improve their (social) lives. The second one helped us in better framing the design context of action and assessing at, a microscopic level, the degree of walkability of specific territorial areas.

This study adopts the metaphor of a “Playground” to explore how to create effective learning environments and situated guides and tools that enable non-design students to learn and practice the early phases of the design process: design research and problem framing. Grounded in both theoretical frameworks and the authors’ practical experience in applying and teaching design thinking, the research introduces a structured yet adaptable visual toolkit aimed at supporting educators in facilitating design-based learning for students with non-design backgrounds. The toolkit was developed and refined through an iterative action research approach across three higher education courses. Emphasising empathy, ambiguity navigation, and creative exploration, it seeks to cultivate key designer mindsets and problem-framing capabilities. The findings present both practical toolkits, including the process and specific tools, and pedagogical insights for educators and researchers who apply design thinking to interdisciplinary educational contexts. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on design pedagogy by examining the opportunities and challenges of transferring design thinking methodologies and practices across disciplines. It underscores the value of situated and experiential learning strategies in fostering a designerly approach to complex problem-framing in non-design domains.

Humanity faces a period of changes, leading to a global transition with unpredictable outcomes. Design can play a key role in guiding society to face these challenges, helping the different socio-technical system stakeholders cope with the sustainable transition. The change towards more sustainable economic and social systems requires the design of products and services and new business models and integrated systems that deliver them. This implies shifting from individual company thinking towards coalitions and partnerships like collaborative ecosystems. The furniture industry is facing a sustainable transition, therefore, companies and the market are experimenting with new approaches, including collaborative ecosystems. Because of this, it is important to understand how design can contribute to the definition, creation, and development of a collaborative ecosystem for sustainable transition in the furniture industry. The article adopts the single case study methodology, proposing the analysis of Opendesk, a furniture delocalised network. The research shows how the design mindset has enabled Opendesk to create a collaborative, scalable, and resilient business that values stakeholders in the system and local production. It was possible to address the challenges of building and maintaining a community and network, creating engagement through design. Through the design mindset in the creation of a collaborative ecosystem, it was possible to help local manufacturers to be efficient and economically viable, allowing customers to contribute to the local economy and value. The case study shows the potential of design to catalyse relationships for fruitful collaborations between stakeholders with different goals and provide systemic innovations.