Design: Tools of the Trade

The topic of design is vital to our Army’s ability to prevail in the complex, ambiguous environment of the 21st century. Of the many lessons drawn from over seven years of wartime experience, one that stands out prominently is the critical need to improve our ability to exercise the cognitive aspects of battle command – understanding and visualizing. In this era of persistent conflict, we confront challenges that are often illdefined and multifaceted. Where such “hybrid threats” defy convention and easy definition, traditional Cold War planning paradigms alone are insufficient. Design is not a process, but a set of “thinking tools” that complement and reinforce our operations process with a rational, logical approach to an increasingly complex and dynamic operational environment.