What is Design Thinking? IDEO U (1:54)
The Five Stages of Design Thinking (d.school framework) (3:56)
5 Stages in the Design Thinking Process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test
d.school Resources including d.school Starter Kit
Techniques used and products from each stage
Stage 1 in the Design Thinking Process: Empathise with Your Users
Assuming a Beginner’s Mindset
Ask What? How? Why?
Photo and Video User-based Studies
Personal Photo and Video Journals
Interviews
Engaging with Extreme Users
Using analogies
Sharing Inspiring Stories
Bodystorming
Empathy Map said, did, thought, felt
Reference:
Typical components
A photo (like a stock image or an AI generated image.)
A name (a persona is fictional but giving them a name helps you identify with them and refer to them)
Demographic information (age, income, education, and employment / profession, along with race, ethnicity, gender, and / or marital status if they matter for your idea)
Psychographic information (activities, interests, and opinions)
Geographic information (city, state, country)
Behavioral information (goals, needs, and motivations; "A Day in the Life", apps used, how they make purchases, etc.)
Stage 2 in the Design Thinking Process: Define the Problem and Interpret the Results
This stage is about defining a problem statement. It is the "No solution zone".
A problem statement is a clear, concise statement of the problem or issue that needs to be addressed.
Tip: You are most likely to solve a new problem based on a trend, or an old problem that could be impacted by something new. Consider your means. Don't work on an old problem that experts have been spending years and millions of dollars trying to solve already.
Basic problem statement templates
(Person's Name + Descriptor) needs a way to (Verb about deeper problem) in a way that (Lets them do something).
(Client name) is (problem being experienced). (Client) is trying to ___________________but ____________________ because _________________ which makes them feel ____________________.
POV: [User . . . (descriptive)] needs [need . . . (verb)] because [insight. . . (compelling)]
"I" problem statement template: (use with the 5 whys technique so the "because" represents the underlying problem)
I am: [your role or position]
I'm trying to: [your goal or objective]
But: [the problem or obstacle you are facing]
Because: [the impact of the problem]
Which makes me feel: [your emotion]
Detailed problem statement template based on Problem Statement Canvas - visual format (xlsx)
“When (context) occurs, (customers) who have (characteristic) and (characteristic), have (problem). Because of this, they feel (emotional impact), then experience (quantifiable impact). Currently, they use (alternatives) despite (alternative shortcomings).”
Tools and Techniques
“How Might We” (HMW) Questions
Ask questions
Design Brief / Design Problem Statement
No judgement zone, quantity over quality, groups should be diverse
Worst Possible Idea (using sticky notes or Padlet)
Brainstorm
Stage 4 in the Design Thinking Process: Prototype
Low fidelity vs. High fidelity
Prototype Canvas / Paper Prototype
Software prototype evolution: storyboard -> wireframe -> mockup -> prototype
The idea is to do a little work at a time and do testing to get feedback before spending more time and money on more detailed prototypes.
Storyboard - a diagram showing the screens that make up the user interface of a system and how you navigate between them
Within software development, the term storyboard is used more specifically than in general design
Wireframe - a visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of an app or website, depicts the layout, lacks typographic style, color, or graphics, since the main focus lies in functionality, behavior, and priority of content
Mockup - visual detail, will look like the real thing, but will not do anything beyond what the user sees
Prototype - clickable / interactive, doesn't really do what it will do but looks like it does
Stage 5 in the Design Thinking Process: Test
5 Guidelines
1. Show, don’t tell: let your users experience the prototype
2. Ask Participants to Talk Through Their Experience
3. Observe Your Participants
4. Ask Follow-Up Questions
5. Negative Feedback is Your Way to Learn and Improve
Rapid usability testing for designers
Examples
Click test
Preference test
Microsoft usability test
Research methods - Example tests
Question Test - How does a design make you feel?
5-second Test - Five Second Test
Navigation Test - An introduction to navigation testing
Click Test - First click tests
Preference Test - Preference tests
Using the Microsoft Desirability Toolkit to Test Visual Appeal
Feedback Grid (IBM) - FigJam
Test Cards pdf - strategyzer Video (3:00)
Use the following prompts in ChatGPT or a similar generative AI.
Instead of someone related to a SDG, you could also have it pretend to be a customer for your business idea or a persona you have already developed.
Research
"What type of people are related to UN SDG __ in Southwest Florida?" (Fill in the blank with a SDG number.
"Pretend you are a _________________ in Southwest Florida." (Fill in the blank with someone from the first response.)
"Tell me a little more about what you do and your relationship to that SDG."
"What are some of the challenges you deal with in working toward that SDG?"
"Stop pretending to be a ________________."
Document
"Create a persona for a __________ with sections for Name, Archetype, Background, Motivations, Concerns, Challenges, Goals, and Scenario." Fill in the blank with the type of person.
"Create an empathy map for __________ with sections for Thinks, Says, Feels, and Does." Fill in the blank with the name from the persona.
"Create an emotional journey map for __________ related to _________________." Fill in the first blank with the name from the persona and the second blank with the scenario from the persona.
"Define a point of view problem statement for __________ in one sentence written in the third person using the template [User . . . (descriptive)] needs [need . . . (verb)] because [insight. . . (compelling)]."
"Create a detailed problem statement for ___________."
With no constraints:
"What are some entrepreneurial product or service solutions to this problem?"
With constraints:
"What are some entrepreneurial product or service solutions to this problem that involve ____________?" (fill in the blank with your unique skills, interests, or resources)
"What are some entrepreneurial product solutions to this problem that could be made with a _____________?" (3d printer, Glowforge, CNC, or Cricut)
"What are some entrepreneurial product or service solutions to this problem that involve media production?" (utilizing the media production room in Lucas Hall)
"Elaborate on the solution to _____________________." (fill in the blank with one of the generated ideas)
"Create a value proposition for this solution."
"Create a value proposition for this solution that matches this template: "Our <product or service> helps(s) <customer segment> who want to <jobs to be done> by <verb (e.g. reducing, avoiding)> <a customer pain> and <verb (e.g. increasing, enabling)> <a customer gain>. "
"How would I go about creating a ___________________ using ________________?"
"How can I test that this idea is feasible?"
"How can I test that this idea is viable?"
"How can I test that this idea is desirable?"
"Create a lean canvas related to this solution."