A holistic understanding of design thinking is essential to get a comprehensive and interconnected view of different elements of the field. This research aims to improve comprehension of design thinking by first analysing prevalent models of the design and design thinking process, scrutinising their major stages, and culminating in the presentation of a generic four-stage model. The analysis extends to methods employed in the design thinking process, considering attributes such as applicability and context. With the goal of enhancing the process execution and providing a structured application of methods within each stage, the work identifies primitive design activities and establishes a relationship between stages and activities through the application of the objective tree method. Second, the work identifies diverse mindsets associated with design thinking and explains the interrelations and associations between the process, methods, activities, and mindsets. Lastly, it discusses how this comprehensive understanding contributes valuable insights for developing design thinking curricula, allowing for detailed tailoring to specific situations. This work serves as a foundation for refining and enriching the educational aspects of design thinking.