Design Thinking: A creative tool to solve problems

Design Thinking is much more than a design methodology created for DesignersIn fact, I like it say that design thinking goes more there and it is, for me, a philosophy that proposes a form of thought focused on creativity and in which, through the empathy, you can solve real problems while advancing promoted by the Innovation and the development of solutions effective in a wide variety of contexts.

But well, beyond me Vision, in this post we will try Explain what is design thinking, how it works and why become an essential tool for all those who want to grow their projects and their companies.

What is the design Thinking?

Design Thinking is conceived for focus on problem solving for and for people and puts special emphasis on empathy, collaboration and experimentation. This philosophy, is based on the idea that to find solutions effective to challenges, is fundamental Thoroughly understand the needs and perspectives of the people involved and, that is why, to Being able to apply this methodology is a series of essential foundations and principles that do so unique and effective. These principles are:

Empathize with your audience

The fact of empathizing with our audience is, Without a doubt, the greatest source of inspiration possible to raise creative solutions and Innovative

The first step of the design thinking is to put yourself in the place of the people for whom you are Designing since, this will help us Understand your needs, hidden desires, points of pain, challenges and expectations. In this sense, it is essential to understand Who are we going to build for Our solution?

If we don't ask ourselves this question, it will be enough complicated to put on the feet of those people and This will prevent us from being able to evaluate whether Our solution proposals fit with The real problems of our users.

If it is difficult for you to empathize with your users and Everything seems very diffuse you can use tools such as empathy maps that, Basically, they raise a structured way to channel all the information you collect of your users. Place the user in the center and collect information about what say? What do they do? that do they hear? Or what do they think? and extract the results of all that information that you have compiled.

Problem Statement

Once you have empathized with your users it is very important that you are able to define clearly The problem you have detected.

The definition of the problem is a Ace of great relationship for any project. Keep in mind that, based on How do you define the problem, the solutions that contribute the team that is working on the solution will be oriented in one direction or other. I will explain this by pulling a little history.

One of the most famous phrases of Gerald Ford (Ford Motor Company founder in 1903) was "if I had asked people What I wanted, they would have told me that faster horses. "

Soon that you analyze the phrase you will see that, the problem detected by Mr. Ford was that people at that time wanted to move from one place to another in less time but, due To the reality of the time, the way of transmitting the need would have been on Something known.

Definition of challenges

Once the problem is detected Design Thinking will help you define challenges on which to raise solutions.

In my experience I will tell you that, the Definition of the challenge is the most aspect Important to address any project. Ten in account that depending on how you define the challenge you will mark the line of thought For the ideation phase.

Continuing with him example of Mr. Gerald Ford and you I will show two different ways that I know They occur from defining the challenge it intended Address Don Geraldo:

• ¿Cómo podemos hacer que los caballos corran más?
• ¿Cómo podemos hacer que la gente llegue antes a los sitios?

I leave in your criteria which of these forms is the more timely when defining the challenge . . . But, what I want to convey is that, in essence, how do you define the challenge is one of The most strategic assets important in everything that has to do with the Design Thinking and product design and services since, this challenge will mark the sheet of Route of your project therefore, do not underestimate it.

Ideation and creativity

Without a doubt this is the fun phase of process. This is where you have to be creative When providing solutions to problem detected and the challenge raised. In this phase you have to allow you to dream, no I know if you will have decided what challenge Of those who raised you for Mr. Ford It was more feasible.

I would like to be in your mind and know if you have decided to put wings on horses or creating a combustion engine, covered by a body and directed by a Free wheel connected but, this is the phase in which you have to allow you and Your team dream a bit and raise solutions to the problem.

Prototyped and tests fast

A fundamental aspect of Design Thinking is the Prototypes approach to evaluate ideas quickly.

In the creation of these prototypes You also have to apply a high dose of creativity since, prototypes of Low fidelity that allows us to extract learning in a quick and economical way.

The fundamental objective of prototypes is to evaluate If what we are considering is what the market or whatever we make to make.

Tell the story that when Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple) I was creating the first iPod, I obsessed that it was the most small possible. Seeing the first prototype The Uncle Steve engineers raised I didn't see it at all clear and urged them to reduce the dimensions of the device. The engineers, apparently, did not see it at all of course and they told him that it was not possible to do it without lose functionalities.

Well, that was when Steve took the prototype and threw it to a fishbowl. While the Ipod sank, small bubbles They began to emerge towards the surface to which the Mr. Jobs commented "this are bubbles of air, which means there is space inside. Do it smaller "

I don't know if you have to drown iPods around the world, but What is no doubt is that this prototype allowed Steve and his engineers to learn many things.

Continuous iterations

Itera continuously, review each of the phases of the process and raises new solutions based on the results and discoveries May you find yourself on the way.

The first of change but, what if the design gives you Thinking are a series of tools and a mentality that allows you to refine your ideas to find the key that makes your project or business They work and provide value to your customers.

Design Thinking applications

This methodology emerged in Silicon Valley and has been applying at the business level since the 80s in a wide variety of contexts:

• Diseño de productos y experiencias de usuario.
• Desarrollo de servicios y procesos empresariales.
• Resolución de problemas complejos.
• Innovación en empresas y startups.
• Diseño de estrategias de marketing y comunicación.
• Mejora de la educación y el aprendizaje.
• Diseño de políticas públicas centradas en el ciudadano.

Companies that you know as Apple, Airbnb that form part of your day to day and to which you have access through a click on your mobile phone have founded in this philospheres to build their products and services.

But not only such recognized companies and Technologists have used this methodology. Others such as the opera of San Francisco or the Pittsburg Children's Hospital They have also innovated thanks to Design Thinking.

In summary

Design Thinking is a powerful tool that It encourages creativity, empathy and collaboration to address challenges more complex and find solutions effectiveThrough your focus focused on people and their iterative process, the design Thinking has proven to be a methodology versatile that can be used in broad range of fields and sectors. You are already a entrepreneur, project manager, engineer expert or The CEO of your company, design thinking can help you unlock your creativity and address Innovative problems allowing you achieve your goals and build value having in Count to your users.