The Art of Design Thinking: Breaking Down Big Problems with Design Thinking
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Written by Digital Innovators
Ever feel like you're stuck in a circle, facing the same problem repeatedly? Or maybe you’ve got a challenge that seems too big; you don’t even know where to start. Trust me, I’ve been there too. But there’s a way out, and it’s called design thinking. Think of design thinking as a way of changing your mindset for breaking down big problems into manageable steps. With design thinking, you can see your way through challenges, even the ones that seem impossible.?
It begins with empathy and comprehending the people affected by the problem. Then you can start to identify the root cause of the problem, and after you understand the problem, put yourself in their position. In this blog, we are going to delve into the art of design thinking and how adopting this way of thinking can be helpful.
Empathy is the most important element in the design thinking process. Learn to empathise!! It’s about really understanding the people affected by the problem. Put yourself in their shoes and feel their struggles. It's really simple: if you can’t understand the problem, how can you solve it? Empathy helps you move to the next step: defining the issue. No more guessing, and you know exactly what needs fixing.
One example of a company using empathy to produce a customised user experience is Spotify. Spotify introduced features like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix to accommodate the user’s specific interests after noticing that their users interact with music differently. They asked the question. “How do people locate the music they love easily? The team at Spotify applied design thinking to understand their users, and they understood that everyone has different tastes in music. So by placing themselves in their user’s shoes, they were able to provide a smooth and customised experience.
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After you have learned to put yourself in people's shoes, you can define or clarify the problem. Now that you know what needs to be fixed, concentrate on the real issue at hand and put all your efforts into resolving the correct problem rather than speculating. Hence, your solutions will be more targeted. One great example is HubSpot; it addressed its customer's dissatisfaction with the completed marketing tools by applying design thinking. They were able to reframe the issue by taking the time to learn how marketers and small company owners were utilising their platform. Hubspot said that their customers needed simpler tools to manage their marketing activities, so they designed solutions that made their lives easier. As such, having a thorough awareness of the problem, you can be able to solve the issue effectively.
After you’ve nailed down what the problem is, it’s time to Ideate. Don’t let the word throw you off; it’s just a fancy way of saying "brainstorm." At this stage, anything goes. Throw out every idea that comes to mind, no matter how wild it is. Hidden in those thoughts is a solution waiting to be discovered. For instance, MailChimp came up with ideas to streamline the process after they observed that their users were having trouble creating email campaigns. Eventually, the team decided to include pre-made templates and drag-and-drop editors, which simplified the process of creating emails for those who don't have the experience.
Next is prototyping. Here’s where you make your ideas real, even if it’s just a rough version. It’s not about perfection; it's about testing out your thoughts. A sketch, a model, a rough draft—whatever it takes to get your idea into the world.?
Then it’s testing time. Does your solution work, or does it need some tweaks? Testing lets you see what’s working and what’s not. It’s okay if things don’t go perfectly on the first try; sometimes the best solutions come from a few failed attempts.
Conclusion: Tackle Your Challenges Creatively
Design thinking turns those giant problems into small, doable steps. It takes what feels impossible and makes it achievable. Lungi Nyathi once said, “Call your bluff if you see yourself beating around the bush.” And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what we need—to face our hesitation and just try.
It might sound like some big, complicated process, but it’s not. Design thinking is for everyone ready to tackle challenges creatively, even if you don’t think you’re a “designer.” Next time you’re staring down a tough problem, try these steps: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
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