This case study explores how design thinking can move beyond surface-level engagement – from sticky notes and brainstorming walls to deeply embedded, context-aware learning experiences. Drawing on 17 real-world cases developed within the DORP project, this study examines how students, educators, professionals, and starting designers can use physical and digital tools to navigate complex design processes. The cases are structured around three core principles: ‘Empathise’, ‘Make it tangible’, and ‘Try it out’. The DORP project addressed a growing challenge in design education: toolkit fatigue – the overwhelming abundance of design methods without clear guidance or contextual relevance. By integrating metadata-driven filtering, hybrid formats, and context-led curation, a new model is proposed for facilitating design learning. Grounded in the principles of Design-Based Learning (DBL), this approach empowers creative practitioners to become critical, autonomous designers capable of selecting, adapting, and reflecting on their own methods.