What is Design Thinking ?
Design thinking is a problem solving method. It begins with understanding the user's needs. It then involves brainstorming potential solutions, testing them with users, and iterating based on feedback. Design thinking is often used in fields such as product design and marketing, but it can be applied to any problem - including complex business problems. Key elements of design thinking are empathy, creativity, and iteration.
Empathy helps in seeing the problem from the user’s perspective and to understand the context of the problem better
Creativity helps in thinking “outside of the box” which is crucial in generating new ideas that could change the game and could solve the problem in a manner that is valued by the users
Finally, Iteration helps in accelerating the whole idea-to-value lifecycle as it deploys rapid feedback & validation to ensure target solution meets user's needs.
If you're looking for a better way to solve problems, design thinking just might be your answer.
5 Myths About Design Thinking in 2022
There are several myths about design thinking that have been circulating in recent years. As design thinking has become more popular, organizations have been seeking to adopt it in their own business processes. However, there is a lot of misinformation out there about what design thinking actually is. In order to ensure that design thinking persists, it is necessary to dispel these myths.
Myth 1 : Design Thinking is only for creating new products
Design thinking has become increasingly popular in recent years, as businesses strive to find creative solutions to complex problems. However, there are still many misconceptions about what design thinking is and how it can be used. One common misconception is that design thinking is only for creating new products. In reality, design thinking can be applied to any type of problem, whether it is designing a new product or finding a more efficient way to run a business. By taking a creative and user-centered approach, design thinking can help businesses solve problems in innovative ways. As design thinking becomes more widely understood, it is likely that even more businesses will begin to use this approach to solving complex problems.
Myth 2: Design Thinking is a linear process
As a design thinking professional, I often hear people say that design thinking is a linear process. This is one of the biggest design thinking myths out there. Design thinking is not a linear process; it is a non-linear, iterative process. The reason people think design thinking is linear is because they are only familiar with the end result of the design thinking process: a finished product or solution. However, the design thinking process itself is not linear; it is messy, chaotic, and often involves false starts and dead ends. The design thinking process is non-linear because it is constantly evolving and changing as new information is discovered and new problems are identified. The design thinking process is also iterative because it involves multiple iterations of testing, refining, and retesting before a final solution is reached. So if you've been told that design thinking is a linear process, don't believe it! Design thinking is non-linear and iterative, and that's what makes it so powerful.
Myth 3 : Design Thinking is only for IT
There are many misconceptions about design thinking, with some believing that it is only applicable to fields such as information technology. However, design thinking can be used in any industry in order to solve complex problems. The design thinking process involves sections such as empathizing with users, defining the problem, ideate solutions, prototype and test. This methodology can be used in various business industries such as healthcare, education and retail sectors. Design thinking has been proven to be successful in a wide range of industries - from banking & financial services, to healthcare, to retail & packaged goods, to travel & hospitality and even in industrial manufacturing - there are plenty of success stories out there. It is therefore clear that design thinking is not restricted to IT, but can be used in any industry to generate creative solutions.
Myth 4 : Design Thinking requires an innovation lab
Design thinking has become one of the most popular approaches to innovation in recent years. However, there are a number of design thinking myths that have emerged, including the belief that design thinking requires an innovation lab. In reality, design thinking can be applied in any number of settings, from a corporate boardroom to a government office. The key is to create an environment that is conducive to creativity and collaboration. This can be done by providing ample opportunities for people to come together and share ideas. It can also be helpful to encourage divergence by allowing for different points of view. ultimately, the success of design thinking depends on the people involved, not the physical space.
Myth 5: Design thinking increases the risk of failure
There are many design thinking myths that circulate in the professional world. One of the most common is that design thinking increases the risk of failure. While it is true that design thinking requires a certain amount of risk-taking, the goal is not to fail. Rather, design thinking focuses on creating new solutions to problems. This means that failure is simply seen as part of the process - an opportunity to learn & align (in order to be more precise or close to the true expectation), and it is not viewed as a negative outcome. Design thinking does not increase the risk of failure; rather, it helps businesses to better understand potential risks, pre-empt the risk scenarios, and helps avoid the obvious by finding new ways to succeed.