Desing thinking process I follow
Empathise
In my role as a product designer, I prioritize the first stage of the Design Thinking process, which involves cultivating an empathic understanding of the problem at hand. I engage with experts and conduct thorough research to delve deeper into the area of concern. By observing, interacting, and empathizing with people, I gain valuable insights into their experiences and motivations. Immerse myself in the physical environment to develop a personal understanding of the issues involved. This empathetic approach allows me to set aside my own assumptions and gain meaningful insights into users and their needs. Gathering a substantial amount of information during this stage helps inform the next steps and ensures a comprehensive understanding of users, their needs, and the underlying problems that shape the development of the product.
Define the problem
During the Define stage, I bring together the information I've created and gathered during the Empathise stage. This is where I analyse my observations and synthesise them to define the core problems that I and the relevant teams have identified so far. I aim to define the problem in a human-centred manner, using a problem statement.
For instance, instead of defining the problem based on my own wishes or the company's needs, such as "We need to increase our market share of food products among young teenage girls by 5%," a more effective approach would be to define the problem as "Teenage girls require nutritious food to thrive, be healthy, and grow."
The Define stage helps to generate excellent ideas for features, functions, and other elements that will enable my team and me to solve the problems or empower users to address issues themselves with minimal difficulty. In the Define stage, I begin to transition to the third stage, Ideate, by asking questions that can inspire solutions. For example, "How might we encourage teenage girls to take actions that benefit them and involve our company's food products or services?"
Ideation
During the third stage of the Design Thinking process, I embark on the journey of generating ideas. Having gained a deep understanding of the users and their needs in the Empathise stage, and having analysed and synthesised the observations in the Define stage to craft a human-centered problem statement, I am equipped with a solid foundation. Now, it's time to unleash my creativity and explore unconventional avenues to find innovative solutions to the defined problem. Collaboration with stakeholders is crucial, ensuring their involvement in relevant touchpoints along the way. Numerous Ideation techniques like Brainstorming, Brainwriting, Worst Possible Idea, and SCAMPER serve as catalysts for free thinking and expanding the problem space. At the outset of the Ideation phase, it's important to generate as many ideas or potential problem solutions as possible.
Prototype
As a product designer, my next step is to create a series of cost-effective, scaled-down versions of the product or specific features within it. These prototypes will allow me to explore the problem solutions generated in the previous stage. I can share and test these prototypes within my design team, other departments, or with a small group of external individuals. This phase is experimental, with the goal of identifying the best possible solutions for each of the problems identified in the initial stages.
Within these prototypes, the proposed solutions are implemented and examined one by one. They are tested and evaluated based on the users' experiences. Some solutions may be accepted, while others may need improvement and further examination. Additionally, some solutions may be rejected altogether. This iterative process allows us to understand how real users would behave, think, and feel when interacting with the final product.
By the end of this stage, my design team will have a clearer understanding of the constraints associated with the product and the existing problems. We will also gain valuable insights into how real users are likely to engage with and respond to the end product.
Test
I enter the final stage of the 5-stage model, where the complete product is rigorously tested using the best solutions identified during the prototyping phase. This testing phase is crucial in the iterative process, as the results obtained inform the redefinition of one or more problems and deepen our understanding of the users, their conditions of use, and their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
Even at this stage, I continue to make alterations and refinements to the product to eliminate any remaining issues and gain a comprehensive understanding of both the product and its users. The testing phase allows us to empathize with the users, ensuring that the final design meets their needs and expectations. By incorporating the insights gained from testing, we can refine our understanding of the product and make necessary adjustments to deliver the best possible user experience.
Non-Linear Nature of Design Thinking
In my role as a product designer, I understand that while we have outlined a direct and linear Design Thinking process, the reality is that it is often carried out in a more flexible and non-linear manner. In practice, different groups within the design team may work on multiple stages concurrently, allowing for a dynamic approach to problem-solving.
Throughout the entire project, I actively collect information and create prototypes to bring my ideas to life and visualize potential solutions. This continuous iteration enables me to adapt and refine my designs based on new insights and feedback.
The testing phase plays a crucial role in this process. The results obtained from user testing can provide valuable insights that may trigger additional brainstorming sessions or the development of new prototypes. This iterative approach allows for continuous improvement and ensures that the final product meets the needs and expectations of the users.