DeSIGN ThinKING: The King with a Consciousness

A mind that thinks in design language cries Eureka!

Traditional methods of problem solving are superseded by various techniques and one such notable and most effective methodology is Design Thinking. 

Being Concise:  

Design Thinking is a creative problem-solving approach to solve and resolve problems.  Essentially design thinking is an iterative process where we empathize with the user, challenge assumptions, define and postulate the problem, ideate solutions, evaluate and put to test our findings for usability.

Being Attributive:

The attributes and characteristics of design thinking well paint the need for creative approach.

Collaborative	Design thinking is a collaborative process which enables working across disciplines, industries and teams
Constructive	Always a constructive process that is solution based – completely new or from the old ones
Curiosity	Being interested in things you don’t know or understand has its own advantages, as your perception will always be fresh. This also feeds your curiosity
Empathy	Helps understand the requirements from customer’s PoV
Holistic	Helps apprehend issues at a bigger context
Iterative	The cynical approach helps in improvement that are solution based
Non-judgemental	As the approach is about empathizing, ideating and prototyping, there are no judgement
Social	Apart from empathizing, the approach also makes you conscious to real life social problems.
Communication	Lays a better way to communicate and listen
Skills	One skill leads to the development of another

Being Imperative:

Multiple variants of design thinking are in use today and range from three to seven phases or modes, but all modes align with each other’s thinking, embodying the same principles, as described by the Nobel Prize laureate Herbert Simon in The Sciences of the Artificial in 1996.

Let’s now discuss about the five-phase model proposed by the Hasso-Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford, which is also known as d.school and they are

• ·         Empathise – comprehending the user and their needs
• ·         Define –  formulating the requirement
• ·         Ideate – challenging assumptions and creating ideas for innovative solutions
• ·         Prototype – creating solutions
• ·         Test – solutions

The key thing about the five phase approach is that, they are never sequential and linear.

A No Linear Nonsense: Let’s Talk Business

Applying design thinking to business or any problem, it always delivers the best. Apart from delivering the best, the approach also makes us thinkers, thereby encouraging problem solvers, innovators and leaders.  Steve Jobs is an exemplary design thinker, where he applied design thinking and being the Chief Innovator, he just got it right, cutting all nonsense.