Ideation and design thinking in action at Currency Research in Mexico City!

Last week we had the privilege to facilitate two design thinking workshops with a focus on ideationin Mexico City at the Currency Research conference. On Monday, we hosted a group of folks focused on bank note’s where the challenge was focused on creating a better bank note. On Wednesday, we hosted a second workshop on getting better adoption of digital currency.

Innovation and creativity are more important than ever. To stay ahead of the curve and bring breakthrough solutions to the table, we need to foster a culture of ideation and embrace the power of design thinking.

Ideation is the process of generating and developing new ideas. It's about unleashing our imagination and exploring possibilities without limitations. Ideation encourages us to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and uncover unique solutions to complex problems. It’s not a problem if you know the solution. The only good answer to a problem is ideas. That’s what the workshop was all about.

Ideation alone is often not enough. That’s when design thinking – a human-centered approach comes into play, it’s a process that combines empathy, creativity, and rationality. Design thinking puts people at the heart of problem-solving, helping us gain a deep understanding of their needs, desires, and challenges. By empathizing with their experiences, we can create solutions that truly make a difference.

Here are a few key steps in the CONTROLTEK method of design thinking:

1. Understand: Begin by understanding the problem from the user's perspective. Dive into their world, listen attentively, and identify their pain points and aspirations.?Once you have a grasp of the users' needs, define the problem clearly and succinctly.

2. Ideate: Time to let your imagination run wild! Encourage diverse thinking, embrace collaboration, and generate a multitude of ideas. Don't worry about judgment or feasibility at this stage – it's all about quantity and creativity.

4. Rapid Prototype: Select the most promising ideas and transform them into tangible representations. Prototyping allows you to test, iterate, and refine your concepts rapidly. Fail fast, learn faster!

5. Test: Put your prototypes in the hands of users and gather feedback. This step is crucial for validating your ideas, refining them further, and ensuring that your solution truly addresses the needs of your target audience.

By embracing ideation and design thinking, we unlock the potential for groundbreaking innovation. These methodologies empower us to approach problems holistically, break down silos, and create meaningful solutions that resonate with our users.

So, let's foster a culture of ideation and design thinking in our organizations. Let's encourage curiosity, embrace diverse perspectives, and empower every individual to contribute their unique ideas. Together, we can shape a future where creativity thrives, problems are solved, and extraordinary solutions are born.

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