Rhetoric of Design Thinking

Jason C. K. Tham is an Associate Professor of Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University, USA. His recent publications include Design Thinking in Technical Communication (2021), Designing Technical and Professional Communication (2021), UX Writing (2023), and Designing for Social Justice (2025). He is chief editor of Computers and Composition.Mason Pellegrini is an Assistant Professor of Technical Communication and Rhetoric at Texas Tech University, USA.

“The Rhetoric of Design Thinking forwards methodological discussions of design, and helps readers view design thinking as a lens for understanding innovation. This book is a needed contribution to the ongoing conversation about how we can use design thinking to make the world a better, safer place for everyone. Not only does the book help readers bring about better design outcomes, but it also advances existing conversations by synthesizing multiple, sometimes disparate, strands of knowledge across disciplines. As someone who facilitates design thinking in multiple domains, I’ve found the discussions in this book helpful for establishing the historical and technological context surrounding design thinking practices and how this context informs group dynamics.”Ben Lauren, University of Miami, USA“What does design thinking have to do with technical and professional communication? Quite a lot, as Tham and Pellegrini demonstrate in this book. Not only do they provide historical, theoretical, and practical insights into design thinking, they also reinterpret it in terms of TPC's theories, concerns, and design methodologies. Along the way, they consider ethical research principles; discuss how to make design thinking more inclusive, ethical, and interdisciplinary; and consider how to develop design thinking further to meet TPC-specific needs. This useful, far-ranging guide will help technical and professional communicators seeking to understand their audiences, ethically with their felt problems, and codesign solutions that respond to the ethical, social, and technological dimensions of those problems.”Clay Spinuzzi, University of Texas at Austin, USA “The Rhetoric of Design Thinking is a much-needed addition to the field of professional and technical communication, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding design thinking as more than an industry buzzword. Tham and Pellegrini helpfully contextualize design thinking’s historical, rhetorical, and technological foundations, making the case for its relevance to both TPC scholars and practitioners. The authors move beyond surface-level treatments to position design thinking as a rhetorical and ethical methodology that promotes equity, interdisciplinarity, and user-centered inquiry. This accessible work not only expands the theoretical landscape of the field but also equips it to better address complex communicative and societal challenges with empathy and agility.”Erin Friess, University of North Texas, USA

• Preface Acknowledgements Author Information 1. Introduction 2. Historical Overview of Design Thinking 3. Essential Theories of Design Thinking 4. Rhetorical Concepts and Design Thinking 5. From Discovery to Definition 6. From Ideas to Delivery 7. Technologies of Design Thinking for Innovation 8. Conclusion