Here, you can learn how to identify a need or problem faced by people around you, and come up with a workable solution using a well-known problem-solving technique known as "Design Thinking".

For e.g., if you have with you the ingredients or the recipe for baking a cake, then you have a solution to the problem of baking a cake for a friend's birthday.

A solution is the outcome of applying the five steps of the problem-solving technique: identifying the problem, generating possible solutions, evaluating and selecting the best solution, implementing the solution, and reviewing and revising the solution. 

• Step 1: Identify the problem. You can ask yourself questions like: What is the current state? What is the desired state? What are the obstacles or constraints? In this case, the current state is that you have no cake, the desired state is that you have a cake, and the obstacles are the lack of ingredients and recipe.

• Step 2: Generate possible solutions. You can brainstorm different ways to overcome the obstacles or constraints. For example, you can buy a ready-made cake, order a cake online, borrow ingredients and recipe from a neighbor, or look for a simple recipe online and substitute the missing ingredients with something else.

• Step 3: Evaluate and select the best solution. You can weigh the pros and cons of each solution and choose the one that best suits your needs and resources. For example, you can consider the cost, time, quality, and availability of each option. Maybe you decide that buying a ready-made cake is the best solution because it is fast, easy, and affordable.

• Step 4: Implement the solution. You can execute the chosen solution and monitor the results. For example, you can go to the nearest bakery, buy a cake, and bring it home.

• Step 5: Review and revise the solution. You can evaluate the outcome and see if it meets your expectations and goals. If not, you can go back to the previous steps and try a different solution. For example, you can check if the cake is fresh, tasty, and suitable for your friend’s preferences. If not, you can try to improve it by adding some decorations, frosting, or candles.

Design thinking typically involves five phases of innovation: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. In each phase, the problem-solver uses different tools and techniques to explore the problem and the solution from the user’s perspective. Here is a brief overview of each phase:

• In Empathize phase, we try to understand the problems faced by people by talking to them, observing them, putting ourselves in their shoes, reading or understanding about their problems from other sources, etc.  

• In Define phase, we synthesize all the knowledge we have gathered about the users and their problems and articulate the problem we wish to tackle.

• In Ideate phase, we come up with a number of ways to solve the defined problem, narrow down the solution alternatives considered, and short-list the most feasible or effective solution for the identified problem.

• In Prototype phase, we build a virtual or physical prototype of the shortlisted solution and demonstrate how it addresses the problem.

• In Test phase, we put the prototype to practical use and gather feedback from people to improve it further.

Design thinking is a flexible and iterative process that can be adapted to different situations and contexts. It is not a linear or rigid process, but rather a cyclical and dynamic one that allows the problem-solver to go back and forth between the phases as needed. The goal of design thinking is to create solutions that are desirable, feasible, and viable for the users and the stakeholders.  

Watch the  below video to understand the application of design thinking through an example:

Refer to the below slide deck to learn how to use the 5-stage Design Thinking approach to come up with a solution to user's need or problem.

Use Design Thinking approach to come up with a solution to any ONE of the two user needs / problems mentioned below:

Submit the solution to one of the above problem as part of assignment submission.

Take the initiative to conduct a Design Thinking workshop for your fellow students in your school.  Refer to the below slide-deck for guidance on how to conduct the workshop.

Submit the outcome of the workshop as part of challenge submission.