Design Thinking

''Design Thinking is a process for practical, creative resolution of problems or issues that looks for an improved future result. It is the essential ability to combine empathy, creativity and rationality to meet user needs and drive business success. Unlike analytical thinking, design thinking is a creative process based around the "building up" of ideas. There are no judgements early on in design thinking. This eliminates the fear of failure and encourages maximum input and participation in the ideation and prototype phases. Outside the box thinking is encouraged in these earlier processes since this can often lead to creative solutions.'' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_thinking

Design thinking Process

This process has seven stages, these are:

• Define: 
• Decide what issue you are trying to resolve agree on who the audience is 
• Prioritize this project in terms of urgency 
• Determine what will make this project successful 
• Establish a glossary of terms. 
• Research:
• Review the history of the issue 
• Remember any existing obstacles 
• Collect examples of other attempts to solve the same issue 
• Note the project supporters, investors, and critics 
• Talk to your end-users that brings you the most fruitful ideas for later design. 
• Take into account thought leaders' opinions 
• Ideate: 
• Identify the needs and motivations of your end-users. 
• Generate as many ideas as possible to serve these identified needs. 
• Log your brainstorming session. 
• Do not judge or debate ideas. 
• During brainstorming, have one conversation at a time. 
• Prototype: 
• Combine, expand, and refine ideas. 
• Create multiple drafts. 
• Seek feedback from a diverse group of people, include your end users. 
• Present a selection of ideas to the client. 
• Reserve judgment and maintain neutralit
•  Choose
• Review the objective. 
• Set aside emotion and ownership of ideas. 
• Avoid consensus thinking. 
• Remember: the most practical solution isn't always the best 
• Select the powerful ideas. 
• Implement: 
• Make task descriptions. 
• Plan tasks. 
• Determine resources. 
• Assign tasks. 
• Execute. 
• Deliver to client. 
• Learn: 
• Gather feedback from the consumer. 
• Determine if the solution met its goals. 
• Discuss what could be improved. 
• Measure success; collect data. 
• Document. 

The steps are not linear and can occur simultaneously and can be repeated.

Tim Brown is the CEO of Ideo and is a design industry leader and pioneer for the concept of 'design thinking'. The design council have provided a useful podcast on their website.....unless you want to spend the rest of your adult life reading it the text? Enjoy: http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/Documents/Audio/Intersections07/InterSections07_TimBrown.mp3