5 Stages of Design Thinking
Business leaders solve problems. Often times, it's hard to find the right solution or even know where to begin. That's where design thinking comes in.
Key Takeaways
Design thinking is a process that seeks to solve complex problems by approaching it from the users perspective.
Five actionable stages that make up the entire design thinking process: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.
Although these steps appear to be sequential, keep in mind design thinking is less linear, and more iterative.
In early civilization, when we wanted to move something heavy, we had to carry it with using our bare hands and utilizing our own strength. As time went on, we humans figured how to use leverage, pulley systems, and wheels to our advantage. Thus, moving heavy and massive objects became more achievable. This is an example of how design thinking has advanced our society.
Design Thinking
Design thinking is a process that seeks to solve complex problems by approaching it from the users perspective. It also aims to turn your ideas into tangible, testable products as quickly as possible.
The Design Thinking framework can be drilled down into three distinct phases: immersion, ideation, and implementation.
Now if we zoom in a little bit, these phases can be broken down into five actionable stages that make up the entire design thinking process: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.
The Empathize stage
You'll get to know your target audience and paint a clearer picture of who the users are, what challenges they face, and what they need. This can be achieved through interviews, user testing, surveys. Basically, by talking to people and understanding how they think, act and feel.
The Define Stage
Based on what you learn from the Empathize stage, you'll then define your problem statement. When creating your problem statement, focus on the users needs over the business goals. Keeping it human centered is the theme.
This problem statement will act as your Northstar if you start to trail off or get lost. Just look back to the problem statement to refocus.
The ideation Stage1
With your problem statement defined, you're ready to ideate. Keep in mind, innovation is rarely born in isolation. So don't fly solo. Get up from your desk, cubicle or spaceship, gather some key individuals from other teams and collaborate. The name of the game is quantity over quality. So think outside of the box and explore new angles. There are many ideation techniques to get you and your team started. A few examples of ideation techniques include:
Brainstorming: The most recognizable ideation techniques, and an activity you might already perform at your organization.
Five Whys Analysis: The “Five Whys” technique, in which employees are forced to ask “why” five times.
Method 6-3-5: A form of brainstorming in which six people write down three ideas in five minutes.
Prototyping: Creating a physical representation of your idea
Storyboard: Develop a visual story to the problem by illustrating their prospective customer and scenarios in which he or she might interact with the organization and how.
The Prototype Stage
Prototypes come in all shapes and sizes from basic paper models to interactive digital mock ups. The goal is to have something tangible that can be tested on real people.
The Test Stage
Getting your prototype into the hands of real users will give you great insight on if the solution you provided is valid, or if it needs some more work. Based on their feedback, you can make changes and improvements before spending the time and money building the real thing.
Although these steps appear to be sequential, keep in mind design thinking is less linear, and more iterative. At each stage, you'll most likely discover new things that require you to go back and repeat a previous step.
https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/ideation-techniques-impact-on-business/