Learning to think as a designer

Recently a friend and collegue of mine asked how and where she could learn about design. Mind you, she is not in the design business, but has an urge to better understand how designers work and think.

Caught off guard I could not come up with any good ideas, except for the obvious that every time she and I worked together on a project she was learning (as I am learning something about her professional field). But she needed more substance.

So far my best suggestions has focused on readings and especially the excellent book, “Universal Principles of Design". But I have to do better. Suggestions are welcome.