The Imperative of Design Thinking and Communication Relevance in Stage Productions: A Technical Consideration of AKSU-FEST 2025

Abstract

The theatre provides the atmosphere for creative imagination apparently determined or guided by the philosophical and ideological disposition, genre, culture and period that informs a performance. Recognizably, the challenges of in-depth user challenge pose a threat to ‘design thinking’. Design thinking is human-centred and the empathy in it is meant to give a designer thorough understanding of the audience members. It is an essential step for solution generation that applies specifically to the audience members so as to help theatre practitioners optimise user experience. This study adopts Augusto Boal’s design theory as it promotes collaborative and inclusive approach to theatre-making, which aligns with the principle of design thinking. It argues that the incorporation of Boal’s technique allows participants to engage in creative problem-solving, empathy-building, and innovative ideation within the context of theatre design. The study submits that the concept of design thinking requires the different areas in the theatre to come together for a realizable production. It further suggests that since ‘design thinking’ promotes experimentation and iteration, by embracing the iterative nature inherent, practitioners can continuously refine designs until they attain the desired objectives.