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Design Thinking.

Rebecca Flores

Sara Mitschke

There are many types and stages to design methodology. Design thinking is just one of many. However, there are important stages of design thinking that help provide a solution to complex and simple problems. The stages are; Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Though there is no correct order of operation, many times you will bounce back and forth between steps. (Dan, R)

Stage One: Empathize. To empathize means to “understand and share the feelings of another.” If there is a problem that needs to be addressed, you must first WANT to fix it and understand WHY it needs to be fixed at all. This come from researching said problem, asking experts, engaging in the topic, and finding the motivation.

Stage Two: Define. Here, after conducting research, expressing empathy, and gaining information about a particular field, is where you will define WHAT exactly the problem is. You should take what you’ve learned and analyze where the problem is starting, what it’s cause and effect is, and define it with a problem statement.

Stage Three: Ideate. The next step, after defining the problem is to brainstorm ideas that could potentially solve said problem. This is where you can begin to think of simple or “outside-the-box” solutions. You can brainstorm in many ways, always ask for other people opinions and write down your train of thought to go back to later.

Stage Four: Prototype. After deciding on an idea that might work, its time to put it into action. Here you will reconstruct, if necessary, a small scale version of the entire problem and implement the potential solution. It could be something you physically build or design or even just act on differently.

Stage Five: Test. Once a prototype has been proven to work on a small scale, it is time to test it in the real life situation. Did it correct the problem? Did it create new problems? Is it user friendly? This is many times where the design thinkers must go back to the drawing board and redefine the problem. However, they will have even more understanding and knowledge of the challenge than before and can start with new ideas.

These stages are merely outlines of what design thinking entails. As mentioned, there is no right or wrong way to go about design thinking. You will eventually hit all these steps throughout your process. You may stay in one stage longer than others, or you may keep going back to square one, or there may be a whole other group of people working on different stages. No matter what, design thinking is a crucial part in problem solving, creative thinking, and often leads directly to human centered thinking.

 Citation:

Creative thinking is used in people’s daily lives. It allows for a fresh perspective on solutions to problems. People use creative thinking to solve problems that they are faced with. There are different ways that creativity can emerge which is through a process called Creative thinking process.

           Throughout this process, there are different steps for the process to take place. Step one is preparation, step two is incubation, step three is illumination, and step four is verification. In the preparation stage, “you define the problem, need, or desire, and then collect any information regarding the topic or problem”. You want to acquire as much knowledge about your problem as you possibly can. Then after you gather all of the information, create an outline to guide you to a solution. In this stage, you can immerse yourself into your problem so you can fully understand it.

In the next stage, incubation, you make sense of the information you just found. Your brain works through the information to make “new connections, separating out unnecessary information, and cultivating new thoughts”. Throughout this stage, you can take a wider look and let your brain work through possible solutions. This will also help you get ideas since you have more creativity when your mind wanders. In this stage, it is best for you to stop consciously thinking about the subject. This means for you to do other activities that occupy you thought process so you can unconsciously come up with a solution.

           The third step is Illumination. In this stage, you finally have an “Aha moment” for when the idea comes to you at a random time. This is the briefest stage as that after your moment, you are encouraged and ready to begin the next process. The little insight leads to a strong push to acquire that light from that “lightbulb”.

           The final step, verification, is when you decide if your solution will work. Throughout this stage, you will examine and test your solution to make sure that it will fit and solve your problem. You need to use your thinking skills, such as critical and analytical to make sure your solution will work. If the solution does not solve the problem, you will either have to redo the whole process to come up with a new solution or make minor adjustments to your current solution.

             These steps are just an outline to help designers come up with a creative solution to a problem. Within these steps there are also other things that you can do to help you be creative and think outside of the box. You can do things such as re-conceptualizing the problem, daydreaming, embracing the absurd, or even simply brainstorming. These extra little steps will help anyone renew their brain if they are all out of ideas and can not think anymore. Even simply taking a break to go eat lunch can still produce these effects. These tips help to make the creative thinking process even easier for everyday people.  

Creativity is present when solving any problem. Problems make people think creatively, which then the creative thoughts are used to produce a solution to a problem. Creative thinking means to view problems or situations with fresh eyes. It is important to view situations or problems with fresh eyes in order to transcend past limitations of a problem (Learning).  To do this, people use a the creative thinking process.

The creative thinking process involves four stages: 1. Preparation, 2. Incubation. 3. Illumination, and 4. Verification. During Preparation, the first stage, a person should come up with a problem or situation they want to define and gather research on it. At this stage a person should collect an abundance of information regarding the topic. Record all ideas, even the seemingly crazy ones. It is important to come up with as much research as you can. Word listing, sorting, and jotting down data would also work great throughout this process.

The incubation stage requires a person to sit with all the information they have gathered and let their mind think of  possible solutions. You would like your mind to take in all the information. While at this stage, all the information gathered should slowly take an subconscious effect until the creative ideas come to mind unexpectedly. All of this could take minutes up to years, so take time to give your conscious mind some rest in between periods of incubation.

The next stage is illumination. This is the part where the ideas that you have been incubating take form into shape. One moment everything becomes clear and a solution is present. It seems like everything has come together. When this moment comes, you may have an urgent need to record your ideas.

The verification stage or stage four is where a person should verify their solutions and see if they will work or not. This is where you test your ideas and do modifications if needed. If the solution was not effective, you should go back through the creative process from the beginning and start over (“Creative Thinking Process”).

While creative thinking seems intimidating for some, we use creative thinking every day. Whether that be writing a paper for class or finding a new route to go to classes or work, you are generating ideas. The only difference between everyday creative thinking and the creative thinking process is that the creative thinking process helps you consciously generate ideas towards whatever problem you are trying to solve. It is as simple as that and everyone can do it.

 References:

“Creative Thinking Process.” The Peak Performance Center, thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/thinking/types-of-thinking-2/creative-thinking-process/.

    Human-centered design focuses on what people need, the context they live in, and finding a solution that satisfies the people. Human centered design is a process that is not linear and may feel more like madness rather than an actual progressive method to finding a suitable solution. This type of design has multiple different solutions but each and every one has its pros and cons; a community might be happier with one more than the other. Human centered designers focus find a problem and look for multiple different ways and angles to solve a problem in hand. They gather ideas from other problem solvers, people who are exposed to these problems, and people witness these problems. The people who give the best feedback are the ones who experience these problems first hand. Asking questions creates deep empathy with communities and individuals, making the feedback genuine and reliable for the designers. The steps that designer goes through are inspiration, ideation, and implantation; these steps are unavoidable to execute a design that serves its purpose.

    When looking for inspiration a designer should ask many questions to the target audience. They should also try and to witness or experience the problems first hand for the best ideas, to solve these problems they strive to design for. Working together with others is key to progressing to the best solution possible; an individual may be able to solve a problem themselves, but with a team with the same goal set in mind the process becomes quicker and more ideas from different mental perspectives arise.

    Every idea is valuable; one idea might lead to another. Testing out every idea given is very helpful because the craziest idea might be the best and another might be too complicated for the audience. That isn’t to say every idea is the best idea but rather a stepping stool for others. Sharing your ideas with a team is very helpful; finding a solution shouldn’t be done alone, nor is it easy. The idea isn’t to steal solutions from one another but rebound off what they have or supporting them in their progress.

    The designer should ask for feedback of the product created after it is tested and shown to others. The designer should redesign the product; solving problems the prior outcome had. According to The Field to Human Centered Design failure is an incredibly powerful for learning. The problems that arise from the solution that was tested are seen road blocks but creating something beautiful shouldn’t be easy; Rome wasn’t built in a day. Humans are always progressing, the world around us changes, and people’s views of the world they live in change too; the solution that work now may not work in the future. When something is produced, we live with it then over time we learn from it, and later we can produce something more creative. There is never a perfect product, anything and everything can be better than how it is, but is practically impossible to achieve without recognizing all the feedback that the designer has received.

Cited sources:

IDEO. “The Field Guide to Human-Centered Design.” IDEO.org, bestgraz.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Field-Guide-to-Human-Centered-Design_IDEOorg.pdf.