1.2 Stages in design thinking

What the key stages in design thinking are: EDIRRT (DIRTER? / TRRIED?)

This is really important to try and understand the users needs. If you cannot relate to the user then you will design the wrong thing. You need to conduct interviews and feedback groups to find out what the user group wants from the product or solution. When you better understand you design better. For example, if you were designing for a partially sighted person then you need to try and create a similar experience as a designer; if you were designing a new kettle then you need to experience kettles for yourself but then also ask your client groups what problems they experience and why so you can better understand - empathy!

Once you can emphathise with your client or user's you then try to 'unpack' their Need and Problem in more detail to get to the real point (of frustration, anxiety etc.), which will help you to start thinking of a solution. 'Unpacking' a problem is delving deeper into what the exact issue is and then you clearly define (clear writing) what it is. 

Ideation is to come up with lots of ideas with many trying to be radical and innovative. Challenging assumptions is difficult but it is thinking outside of the box. When Samsung introduced the folding phone / tablets so that the screen would be bigger this challeneged assumptions that glass displays could be bent and still work. 

An iterative process is one where you keep testing an idea and then developing further and further through asking more questions to refine the idea, and using testing again and again with user groups a key part of the design process. 

To realise a design is to start making it through models (cardboard, foam, tooling board), 3D CAD visualisation, AR / VR modelling, 3D printing / rapid prototyping, and the actual manufacture of a final design proposal as a solution to the original problem.

Testing your final design with user groups, clients etc. This can include a working prototype so people can test it (usually made in small batches for feedback to the company); an aesthetic model that is put on display so people can leave opinion and comment (car shows often do this with concepts). The link below is to DCRainmaker who is an athlete that reviews products. Because he has a large following, sports companies often send him prototypes to test out to gain feedback before they launch. He reviews products very honestly and gives feedback as to what needs to be improved before a full launch. This gives the company time to go back and makes any changes before launching.