What is Design Thinking? Human-centered Problem-solving | Video

With the continuing rise of Agile Project Management, a term Project Managers are hearing more often is Design Thinking.

So, in this video, I will answer the question, ‘What is Design Thinking?’

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This is learning, so, sit back and enjoy

So, what is Design Thinking?

Design Thinking is a technical problem-solving method that learns from the world of industrial design. It’s characterized by being very much human-centered – focused on the needs and behaviors of users.

It makes incremental changes to improve the way a solution adapts to the needs of users. It’s also highly iterative. And therefore, it is great for dealing with poorly characterized or partially understood problems. Hence its frequent use alongside Agile methodologies.

And it is empathetic. You need to show empathy for the needs of the people who will use the products or solutions you design.

(Do you want to know what Agile is?)

There are 4 Phases to Design Thinking:

1. Empathy
2. Essence
3. Experiment
4. Evolution

There are many variants on this process. This one is my own interpretation, so as not to run afoul of any proprietary Design Thinking methodologies.

Empathy

Step 1: Discovery

Understand users and their needs. Most of all, you must empathize with them and understand their mindsets.

Step 2: Define

Challenge assumptions and redefine the problem until you have a clear understanding of the solution you need to find. As a result, state the problem in terms of the solution users need. Frame it in a people-centred way.

Essence

Step 3: Ideate

Find solutions that meet the needs of the people. This is where you create the initial design. Continually challenge assumptions to create a strong idea.

Experiment

Step 4: Prototype

Build a simple model of a solution for the sole purpose of learning

Step 5: Test

Next, put the prototype to the test. Expose it to users in real situations. Then, evaluate how it performs and how it disappoints users.

Design thinking is iterative. So, cycle back to Step 3.

Evolution

Step 6: Evaluate

Once your solution is out there, evaluate its performance. Look at the need for changes.

Step 7: Iterate

Finally, treat the product as a prototype and develop it further. Create subsequent versions or releases.

Other Resources for Agile and Agile-related topics:

What is…

• Agile Project Management?
• a Minimum Viable Product – MVP?
• Lean Project Management?
• the Cone of Uncertainty?

You may also like our…

• Agile Project Management Playlist in our Free Academy of Project Management
• Agile Learning Roadmap and guide to our Agile resources.

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