Development of Design Thinking Skills among Young Farmers in Chiang Mai Province DOI:

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) investigate the needs for developing design thinking skills among young farmers in Chiang Mai Province, and (2) enhance their design thinking skills through a design thinking skills training program. A mixed-methods research design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 161 young farmers using a questionnaire on design thinking skill development needs, and the results were used to design the training program. Subsequently, the program was implemented with a voluntary group of 30 young farmers over a three-day period. Qualitative data were gathered through behavioral observations during activities, group discussions, and participants’ reflections on their learning experiences. The findings revealed that young farmers demonstrated a high level of need for developing design thinking skills, with the highest demand in the ideation stage. In contrast, the prototype development and testing stages were rated at a moderate level, reflecting limitations in practical, hands-on skills. Furthermore, a comparison of design thinking scores before and after the training indicated that the post-training mean scores were significantly higher than the pre-training scores across all dimensions. Notably, substantial improvements were observed in the empathize stage, which focuses on understanding contexts and stakeholders, and in the testing stage. These results demonstrated that the training program effectively enhanced participants’ knowledge, practical skills, and capacity for innovation among young farmers.