This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Design Thinking as a Business Model for Empowering Creative Entrepreneurs in the Digital Era
Corresponding Author(s) : Kelvin Siahaan
Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA Journal),
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA)
Abstract
In the rapidly evolving digital economy, creativepreneurs individuals who transform artistic and creative ideas into marketable ventures face unique challenges in sustaining innovation, meeting user needs, and creating scalable value. Traditional business models often fall short in supporting the fluid, iterative, and user centric nature of creative industries. This study explores the integration of design thinking as a strategic business model to empower creativepreneurs in the digital era. The research aims to investigate how the principles of empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing within design thinking can foster innovation, user engagement, and business growth among creative driven entrepreneurs. A qualitative research methodology was adopted, employing in-depth interviews and case studies involving 25 selected creativepreneurs from various digital based industries, such as digital art, fashion, content creation, and digital product design. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify common patterns and insights. The findings indicate that the application of design thinking significantly enhances creativepreneurs ability to identify user pain points, develop user centered solutions, and adapt quickly to market feedback. Moreover, design thinking promotes continuous innovation and resilience, two critical traits for success in the digital landscape. In conclusion, design thinking is not only a creative problem solving tool but also a robust business model that aligns with the values and needs of modern creativepreneurs. The study recommends incorporating design thinking frameworks into entrepreneurship education and incubator programs to support creative economy growth in the digital age.
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References
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Y. Xu, Z. Bai, Z. Wang, X. Song, Y. Zhang, and Q. Zhang, “Research on business model innovation of smes in the industrial internet era: building theory from the case of paya,” Nankai Business Review International, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 104–127, 2025.
S. NAKUDOM, S. sirichai NAKUDOM, and P. WANNAPIROON, “Development of creative economy innovation and digital entrepreneurial ability for distribution strategy by using design thinking,” Journal of Distribution Science, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 11–20, 2023.
C. Y. Pacubas, L. T. Lucero Jr, N. R. Umpar, K. L. Armas et al., “Enabling digital servitization in philip- pine manufacturing: A business model innovation framework for msmes in the industry 4.0 era,” Edel- weiss Applied Science and Technology, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 457–465, 2025.
G. Laptev and D. Shaytan, “Co-design-based learning for entrepreneurs in the digital age,” Measuring Business Excellence, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 93–105, 2022.
C. Bruno, M. R. Canina, E. Monestier et al., “Steering digital maturity: a design-based educational model for empowering digital creativity and future skills.” Journal of Entrepreneurial Researchers, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 5–26, 2024.
F. Wang, J. Gu, and A. Liu, “Leveraging structural it capabilities to promote novelty and efficiency in business model design: A knowledge-based view,” Information & Management, vol. 62, no. 2, p. 104090, 2025.
R. D. Hisrich and M. Soltanifar, “Unleashing the creativity of entrepreneurs with digital technologies,” Digital Entrepreneurship, vol. 1, no. 11, pp. 23–49, 2021.
T. Meepung and S. Pratsri, “Virtual commerce management using design thinking process to promote digital entrepreneurship for education studies.” International Education Studies, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 73–88, 2022.
K. Satjaharuthai and K. Lakkhongkha, “The role of entrepreneurs in driving the success of their businesses in the digital era,” International Journal of Professional Business Review: Int. J. Prof. Bus. Rev., vol. 8, no. 7, p. 109, 2023.
M. Fadhli, R. A. Purnomo, S. Arnab, M. H. Avezahra, L. I. Lestari, F. Aulia, and C. Kurniawan, Empow- ering Creativity: Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurial Transformation with Disabled Union Through Batik Art. CV. Gracias Logis Kreatif, 2024.
B. Prabawa, A. Z. Majid, B. Hugo, A. B. Nandya, S. E. Wicaksono, P. Aditia, and A. M. Prajana, “Busi- ness model innovation and brand strengthening at artarindo insurance. a case study of how design is applied at the strategic level,” KnE Social Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 84–90, 2025.
J. Yang, X. Zhang, and Y. Pei, “Digital transformation of the business models of chinese sporting goods enterprises in the post-covid-19 era: a knowledge-management perspective,” Journal of Knowledge Man- agement, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 723–734, 2025.
N. Dragiˇcevi´c, G. Vladova, and A. Ullrich, “Design thinking capabilities in the digital world: A biblio- metric analysis of emerging trends,” in Frontiers in education, vol. 7. Frontiers Media SA, 2023, p. 1012478.
C. Duan, “Thematic evolution, emerging trends for sharing economy business model research, and future research directions in the post-covid-19 era,” R&D Management, vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 1104–1130, 2024.
H. Nurhaeni, A. Delhi, O. P. M. Daeli, S. A. Anjani, and N. A. Yusuf, “Optimizing electrical energy use through ai: An integrated approach for efficiency and sustainability,” International Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 106–113, 2024. [17] M. N. Mondra and N. A. Rakhmawati, “Analysis of market potential and business model of establishment of automotive parts startup in the digital era with the lean startup method,” in 2024 International Confer- ence of Adisutjipto on Aerospace Electrical Engineering and Informatics (ICAAEEI). IEEE, 2024, pp. 1–6.
G. Carella, F. Colombo, S. Migliozzi, V. Arquilla et al., “Design thinking as an enabler of change in the technological market. a practical case study of company’s innovation and differentiation,” INTED PROCEEDINGS, pp. 3025–3033, 2024.
M. Lynch, U. Kamovich, K. K. Longva, and M. Steinert, “Combining technology and entrepreneurial edu- cation through design thinking: Students’ reflections on the learning process,” Technological Forecasting and Social Change, vol. 164, p. 119689, 2021. [20] S. Tanev, “Design thinking for competitive intelligence in a digital business transformation context,” Journal of Intelligence Studies in Business, vol. 14, no. Special Issue 1, pp. 57–85, 2024.
I. Sitaridis and F. Kitsios, “Digital entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education: a review of the literature,” International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, vol. 30, no. 2/3, pp. 277–304, 2024.
O. Prokopenko, M. J¨arvis, T. Bielialov, V. Omelyanenko, and T. Malheiro, “The future of entrepreneur- ship: Bridging the innovation skills gap through digital learning,” in International Conference Innovation in Engineering. Springer, 2024, pp. 206–230.
L. W. Wardana, A. Ahmad, R. Hidayat, and F. I. Maula, “Entrepreneurship education, digital literacy and computational thinking insights for business sustainability among housewives,” , no. 2 (68), pp. 312–325, 2024.
G. Qiao, Y. Li, and A. Hong, “The strategic role of digital transformation: Leveraging digital leadership to enhance employee performance and organizational commitment in the digital era,” Systems, vol. 12, no. 11, p. 457, 2024.
G. A. Pangilinan, S. Audiah, M. R. Shauqy, and O. F. P. Wahyudi, “Entrepreneurial marketing mindset as a determining factor for digital startup success,” Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA Journal), vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 34–46, 2025.
P. Satnur, P. S. Nayak, S. Maity, M. Sharieff, P. V. SAIRUPAK et al., “Implementation of design thinking in schools: Empowering students to solve real-world problems,” IJSAT-International Journal on Science and Technology, vol. 16, no. 1, 2025.
A. Asrijal, K. A. Maspul, A. A. Seto, Z. H. Sain, and M. M. Maq, “Youth organization empowerment through creative entrepreneurship business in the village,” Amalee: Indonesian Journal of Community Research and Engagement, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 631–644, 2024.
B. D. K. Ambon, “Design thinking dalam konteks pengembangan produk bisnis berbasis kebutuhan pengguna,” Jurnal 12 WAIHERU, vol. 11, no. 1, June 2025, diakses pada 24 Juli 2025. [Online]. Available: https://12waiheru.kemenag.go.id/index.php/journal/article/download/333/82/1683? utm source=chatgpt.com
L. Lubna, S. Suhirman, and S. Prayogi, “Hybrid information technology learning based on project work to enhance students’ design thinking in creating digital innovations,” International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 447–67, 2024.
G. George, R. K. Merrill, and S. J. Schillebeeckx, “Digital sustainability and entrepreneurship: How digital innovations are helping tackle climate change and sustainable development,” Entrepreneurship theory and practice, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 999–1027, 2021.