Step 3 in the Design Thinking Process is Ideate

Ideate is an important part of the design thinking process. The reason is because it is thestage in the design thinking process where ideas are created (Dam and Siang). Basically, in the ideate mode the goal is to generate a large number of ideas, these ideas are potentially inspired newer, better ideas that have the design team can then cut down into the best and innovative ideas.
This one article talks about how ideation is the mode of the design process where you are supposed to “go wide” in your ideas in terms of concepts and outcomes. The main idea of the ideation stage is to create new ideas in order to develop solutions for the problem trying to be solved.

In class, we used the ideate method to help create a solution for roommate’s ages 18-25. This was a whole process in one when we did this. We used an empathy map, and this helped us to empathize and come to an answer for the problem of living with roommates. This map was a whole entire process that made our class put our own experiences as roommates and were able to relate and come up with ideas to define and used ideation to find a solution to the problem. This week in class we used our ideas with our teams in order to create our own app features and draw out each feature.

In the ideation stage there are brainstorm sessions that involves sprouting related points from a central idea. Using brain storming is one of the primary methods in the ideation process/ stage of the typical design thinking process (Dam and Siang). Being able to have a brainstorming session is a great way to generate many ideas by gathering the collective thinking of the group/ team. This is because the team is able to engage with each other, listen and build on each other’s ideas. The aim of these brainstorming sessions is to generate as many ideas as possible in order to get many more potential solutions. Later on, these ideas can be narrowed down to find the best solution.

Another technique that was mentioned was prototyping. One of the articles mentioned how prototyping is another technique used in the ideation stage. It said that when building things or ideas more ideas will come naturally to you.

In conclusion, the ideate mode is one of the many important steps in the design thinking process. The ideate process helps designers to think more creatively to find more ideas for the end goal of finding the solution to the problem.