Empathize & Identify
This step of the District 127 Design Thinking process involves identifying a problem and developing a sense of empathy towards the people that are experiencing the problem or using a product. Students should work to gain insights into what these people need, what they want, how they behave, feel, and think, and why they demonstrate such behaviors, feelings, and thoughts when experiencing the problem or using a product in a real-world setting.
Strategies for Developing Empathy
Define the Audience: Before the design process begins it is important for students to define who their audience will be. Who is affected by the problem? Who will be using the product? Who are you designing for?
What, How, Why: Have students create a table to record their observations. First, they should record the details about WHAT is happening without making assumptions. Second, they should analyze HOW things are happening (effort exerted, frustration). Finally in the WHY section, they should make educated guesses as to the person's motivations and emotions.
Photo &/or Video User-based Studies: Students can use photos or videos of people in their natural setting encountering the problem or record conversations with the person as they discuss the problem so that they can go back to the recordings as they work to solve the problem.
Conduct Interviews: Having students conduct interviews with people encountering the problem is a great way to establish a connection. Students should be thoughtful as they plan the questions they would like to ask in the interview and possibly revisit the person as new questions come up during the design process.
Bodystorming: Have students actually experience the problem personally so they can draw on that experience as they work to solve the problem.
Collage: Have people you are designing for make and explain a collage so students can better understand their values and thought processes.
Draw It: Have students or audience members draw quick sketches, graphs, or timelines to illustrate and spur deeper conversations about the problem.
Ripple Effect: Have students divide into teams. On a sheet of paper, have them draw a circle then a larger circle outside of it. In the inner circle, they should then write the effects on individuals then write the effects on the community in the outer circle. From that they should share the ripple effects over time.
Define the Problem: Before students can begin coming up with solutions, it is important for them to clearly define their problem. The problem should be open enough to allow for creativity but narrow enough to make it manageable.
