Design Thinking: A Powerful Tool for Solving Business Challenges

What do you think about when you hear the word “Design”? Probably some sort of abstract art form that is aesthetically pleasing! I know I do. But you would be surprised to learn that design goes way beyond just good-looking visuals. Anything and I literally mean anything, around us can be an example of functional design thinking output.?

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I bet you are now wondering what design thinking is! Sit tight. We, Team Remote Resource, are here to the rescue again.?

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Any product is the outcome of a rigorous design process that involves a good deal of creative thinking. It can be products for everyday use or daily essentials, say for instance, unrelated objects like tires or soaps! It may also range from high-end luxury clothing items to digital assets of brands which consist of social media posts. The creation of every item, as banal as it might appear to laymen, requires a level of attention to detail that echoes the ethos of the brand while satisfying the end goal of its clientele.?

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Briefly, there are four broad frameworks to adhere to while carrying out the design thinking process, namely:?

1. Empathizing- This is the starting point where you gather as much information as you need to understand and explore the problem at hand. Empathizing and thinking like a user is essential to any designer’s core thinking process.?
2. Defining- Having done that, it now comes down to pinpointing the specific needs that the design solution is supposed to satisfy. A crucial aspect of it involves gaining insight into the user’s previous experience and what their end experience should feel like.?
3. Ideating- The next stage entails developing mockups, like sketches, wireframes or prototypes, with available resources to figure out unmet details in your design delivery. The priority should be simplifying the process and making it more accessible.?
4. Implementing- Perhaps the most time-consuming and expensive stage of the process, it is better to get the preceding phases leading up to this right to ensure a seamless user experience. Finally, you can realize the goal of your design process.?

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And that is exactly how design thinking serves as a tool for solving business challenges. So, just to cover all the bases, let us try and look for any definition of the term. Even though, from what we know, it is safe to assume that the process has been around for as long as things have been designed, it only gained traction as a term which stood for a specific set of programs after an article.?

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When Tim Brown, CEO and president of a design company, wrote an article titled ‘Design Thinking’ to be published in the Harvard Business Review in 2008, little did he know that it would be unequivocally adopted to develop future products, services and strategies.?

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So, why has it been so? One of the “Big Three’s”, 麦肯锡 , found that, as opposed to conventional approaches, “The right design at the right price point spurs sustainability and resilience in a demonstrable way- a key driver of growth”.?

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By approaching problem solving through a widely accepted triad- desirability, feasibility, viability- in the design circles, not just products but everyday business (and life) challenges can be tackled with ease.?

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Hope this helps. Until next time.?