The DI process is an iterative process that provides an order of action in design projects holistically. It is built, in part, on the UK Design Council’s 4Ds, and represents a “sprint”. It has a dual diverge-converge cycle and consists of 4 phases: Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver, and its associated mindsets: Empathy, Mindfulness, Joy and Non-attachment.

The sequence of the 4D process phases, Discover through Deliver, is archetypal; it acts as a general guideline. In practice, the unique context of each project will govern how the design team navigates its way through the design process. A project would constitute multiple sprints, pivots, and leaps between phases.