I think the steps of Discover, Define, Develop & Deliver are valid as Foundations, Walls, Roof, Interior in building. The genius, the design, personality, fun etc come from how you work, skills, experience & team which can lead to good or bad outcomes....

Interesting, but IMO the problem on both fronts is 'Design' is used as a catch-all term for creative, but varying clients, mediums and goals have varying methodologies. Sometimes those methodologies can't be a 5-step process, & sometimes they can't be holistic musings, either.

I get where shes coming from, but jeesh she sounds like every other ECD/AD Ive met whos allowed their over-inflated ego to block any new paradigm thinking. Her points arent that valid. Shes around same age as me so probably walked a similar design ed. path - Ive learnt so can she

Design IS thinking....you can forget that overused phrase

Going to agree with @njenworks here.