College - Author 1
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Department - Author 1
Experience Industry Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration
Date
3-2025
Primary Advisor
Keri Schwab, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Experience Industry Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Design thinking is a human-centered design framework which combines the considerations of feasibility, viability, and deep human empathy. This framework can be applied within the tourism and experience industry, specifically during the brand repositioning of a tourist destination. The purpose of this study was to assess the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) use of design thinking throughout the process of their redevelopment of Lake Berryessa, a popular recreational destination. Research was conducted across numerous government websites, to find that the BOR’s use of design thinking has been effective in some ways and ineffective in others, both prior to and during the redevelopment. General recommendations were made to professionals in the tourism and experience industry encouraging the use of design thinking, consideration of nostalgia’s influence on visitor sentiment, and the strategic positioning of destinations as individual brands. The same recommendations were made to the BOR, with additional emphasis on utilizing deeper empathy and nostalgia-based marketing materials.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/expindsp/41