Problem-solving through design thinking process!

In our daily work and life, innumerable problems can emerge. Although initially we do not know how to solve it, still we can think about it, how it came into existence, why did it happen at this point of time and so on. Then we can keep calm and use our rationale logic and ideas to find some good solutions. This logical way of looking at things with a lucid is called problem solving.

According to Journal article by Michael E. Martinez published in the year 1998, its meaning is quite straightforward:

Problem solving is the process of moving towards a goal when the path to that goal is uncertain.

There are many models, techniques and strategies that could apply for problem-solving.

Design Thinking is Human-centered problem-solving process that emphasize on Empathy, Collaboration, Cocreation and Stakeholders/users feedback to unlock Creativity and Innovation, which devises feasible and viable big Ideas/solutions.

What is Design Thinking?

Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test.

Design Thinking Process

Design teams use design thinking to tackle ill-defined/unknown problems (aka wicked problems) because they can reframe these in human-centric ways and focus on what is most important for users.

Design Thinking revolves around a deep interest in developing an understanding of the people for whom we are designing the products or services.

• Design Thinking helps us observe and develop empathy with the target user.
• Design Thinking helps us in the process of questioning: questioning the problem, questioning the assumptions, and questioning the implications.
• Design Thinking is extremely useful in tackling problems that are ill-defined or unknown, by re-framing the problem in human-centric ways, creating many ideas in brainstorming sessions, and adopting a hands-on approach in prototyping and testing.
• Design Thinking also involves ongoing experimentation: sketching, prototyping, testing, and trying out concepts and ideas.
• Thinking like a designer can transform the way organizations develop products, services, processes, and strategy.

This approach, which is known as design thinking, brings together what is desirable from a human point of view with what is technologically feasible and economically viable.

Five phases of Design Thinking

The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford (aka the d.school) describes design thinking as a five-stage process.

1. Empathize — with your users
2. Define — your users’ needs, their problem, and your insights
3. Ideate — by challenging assumptions and creating ideas for innovative solutions
4. Prototype — to start creating solutions
5. Test — solutions

Design Thinking Phases

Phase 1: Empathize with your Users

The first step in design thinking is to understand the problem we are trying to solve before searching for solutions. Sometimes, the problem we need to address is not the one we originally set out to tackle. We must immerse ourselves in the problem.

In this phase, we should gain an empathetic understanding of the problem we are trying to solve, typically through user research.

Empathy is crucial to a human-centered design process because it allows us to set aside our own assumptions about the world and gain real insight into users and their needs.

In a nutshell, we must look at things from the customers’ lens and develop an empathetic outlook towards the target audience.

Phase 2: Define users’ needs, their problems, and our insights

Next step is to accumulate the information gathered during the Empathize stage.

We then analyze our observations and synthesize them to define the core problems our team has identified. These definitions are called Problem statements. We can create personas to help keep our efforts human-centered before proceeding to ideation.

While defining the problem, we must review our hypothesis and redefine the problem if necessarily required.

Phase 3: Ideate by challenging assumptions and creating ideas for innovative solutions

Now, we are ready to generate ideas. The solid background of knowledge from the first two phases means we can start to “Think Outside the Box,” look for alternative ways to view the problem and identify innovative solutions to the problem statement we have created. Brainstorming is particularly useful here…

In this stage, we are generating as many ideas as we can.

Phase 4: Prototype to start creating solution

This is an experimental phase. The aim is to identify the best possible solution for each problem found. With the team, we should produce some inexpensive, scaled-down versions of the product (or specific features found within the product) to investigate the ideas we have generated. This could simply involve paper prototyping.

We explore potential solutions through modeling and prototyping. We design, we build, we test, and repeat — this design iteration process is critical to effective design thinking.

Phase 5: Test the solutions

Evaluators rigorously test the prototypes. Although this is the final phase, design thinking is iterative: Teams often use the results to redefine one or more further problems. So, we can return to previous stages to make further iterations, alterations, and refinements — to find or rule out alternative solutions.

Repeating this loop of prototyping, testing, and gathering user feedback is crucial for making sure the design is right — that is, it works for customers, we can build it, and we can support it.

Double Diamond Design Process

A framework that allows companies to apply design characteristics to find creative ideas and innovative solutions.

It divides into two spaces: Problem space and Solution space.

Problem space: Exploring a problem including its complex nature and ending with clear definition of problem.

Solution space: Ideas are generated, visualized, & tested prototypes.

This design process includes four steps: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver.

Discovery: (divergence)

The exploration stage, as the team explores problems or the target projects.

• Mind maps
• Multi-perspective problem framing
• Brainstorming
• Reverse brainstorming
• Desk research
• Field research (Interviews, Focus groups, Observations & Consumer journey mapping)

Define (convergent)

It is a convergent part of the problem space as it allows ideas to be narrowed into a clear definition of the problem.

• Root Cause Analysis
• 5 Why’s
• User Story
• Affinity diagrams

Develop (divergence)

It is the first step in the solution space. In this step, the team builds prototypes of the solution and tests it involving the end-user in the testing process.

• Minimum Viable Product
• Rapid prototyping
• Storytelling
• Consumer journey mapping

Deliver (convergent)

Deliver the final product to the consumer and get feedback that will be used to improve the product in the future.

• Surveys
• Think around
• Shadowing

There are many other popular design frameworks and techniques:

Google Design Sprint Technique which focuses on users, business, and technology. The session last s 5 days that answers major business, products, or project roadblocks that involves prototyping and testing the new innovative ideas or even designs.