a journey of design learning

I did some research on a book called Design Thinking: Understand, Improve, Apply, and I found some interesting assertions in the chapter called The Co-evolution of Theory and Practice in Design Thinking. I discovered that there are many experts on the field of “design thinking” that do not approach the actual subject of design thinking in the same manner. There are many differing expert opinions on design thinking methods, and in the way to implement design thinking in the process of creating new innovations that benefit the users of the product or design. I will attempt to dissect some of the differing approaches, as well as highlight the commonalities between them.

In one example, when some experts on design thinking were interviewed for the book, there were widely varying opinions on whether innovative design work should be outsourced or not. For many of these experts, it was held truth that they should try to collaborate outside of their respective field in order to avoid getting “trapped” in their own methods and routines of design thinking. They argued that creative thinking should be expanded beyond the specific field, so the development of original design ideas should be done by an outside designer(s). However, there were other opinions that an integrative “in-house” approach was more beneficial, and that the designated team (comprised of representatives from different departments) could oversee the creative process from beginning to end stages. This approach is where the collaborative team from fields within the business would be responsible/oversee their respective steps in the design process like research, ideation, and implementation, etc. 

Although there are many differing opinions in the leading experts in the field of “design thinking,” there are some common themes that they mostly agree upon. One commonality that most design thinkers agree upon is the benefit of the diversity of disciplines within the design team. It is important to have many different leaders in any collaborative team in order to keep the ideas and innovation flowing. Another one of these commonalities is the idea of focusing on “user needs” as the central focus of designer innovation.

 A great design team should not just try to come up with a solution to the first obvious problem, but they should be trying to identify and improve the issue that is at the heart of the users problem. By rethinking or “reframing” the initial design challenge, they can begin to understand what the users actual needs are. Once this is identified, the team can approach the design challenge and apply the problem within their chosen design procedure. This procedure should include many different methods, both unusual and common. Finally, by keeping an open dialogue with the user, the solution will eventually come to fruition. 

Since taking part of some of the communication design classes at Texas State University, I have come to understand the vast importance of collaboration with others in the field of design. When creating a unique design solution to an issue (professional or otherwise) it is SO important and helpful to have outside influence and opinions in the refining process. Regardless of the “expert” opinions of the “right way” to be involved with/or direct the creative and design thinking process, the importance of collaboration is paramount.

Walk On: The Pace and Place of Creative Thinking

“Sit as little as possible.” The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche continues: “Do not believe any idea that was not born in the open air and of free movement—in which the muscles do not also revel.” 

In this article, the author highlights the notion that the power of exercise can lead to better creative thinking, and I wholeheartedly agree. While this theory used to be just an abstract idea, many of the great thinkers and philosophers of history have used this secret to getting into a creative mindset. However, neurotechnology has vastly improved and in 2014, Stanford University was able to quantify this idea, and published a cognitive study that definitively concluded that just walking regularly improved both convergent and divergent thinking by at least sixty percent.

In the past, I was never a regular at the gym, and I believe my creativity took a dive because of it. When you have a sedentary lifestyle, your entire mindset becomes lazy as a default. As an active child, I was always coming up with crazy ideas, making crafts and drawings, seemingly having unending energy and imagination. A few years ago I came to realize that as an adult, I could sit in front of my easel for hours without making any significant progress. My brain felt foggy, distracted and slow. I wanted to recapture that zest for art and creativity that I used to have ever flowing when I was younger. Having hardly any motivation or energy for creating, I decided that I should start a yoga practice to help with the problem. 

Once I began taking small steps toward being more active, I realized that afterwards, I felt more like sitting down and figuring out how and what to paint. Eventually, yoga turned into jogging and then I decided to join a boxing gym. Since I have been training, the endorphins and adrenaline that are released help significantly lessen anxiety about how “good” or “bad” my work is and I am able to detach myself from the creative blocks in my head. Intense exercising helps me to open my mind, leading to finding solutions for many different problems in my life. When you quiet the useless thoughts, there is a whole other world of intuitive thinking for open ended ideas. 

The author of this article asserts that “seeking out the ‘path less traveled’ is synonymous with a creative lifestyle, literally and figuratively.” Mental dexterity and thinking outside the box are the basis of any creative practice, and I have discovered that for me, having a regular routine of waking up, boxing and kickboxing for a few hours, cooling down and then sitting at my desk with the intention of having a productive day has completely changed my mindset in my creative practice. Once you begin training your body, you are training your mind to overcome the voice that says “you can’t do it” at the same time, and it eventually becomes second nature.