{"id":10084,"date":"2019-11-20T17:07:14","date_gmt":"2019-11-20T22:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=10084"},"modified":"2020-11-24T19:10:37","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T00:10:37","slug":"what-is-design-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/what-is-design-thinking","title":{"rendered":"What is Design Thinking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

All UX Designers are problem-solvers. It\u2019s a role that puts a research-backed, creative spin on figuring out how to make life a little better and easier for customers using a company\u2019s digital offerings.<\/span><\/p>\n

With that goal in mind comes the need for a framework to actually make it happen. Enter UX design thinking (and design thinking courses<\/a> at BrainStation).<\/span><\/p>\n

As far back as the 1960s, various types of Designers \u2014 the more traditional kind working in advertising and marketing \u2014 started looking for a more scientific approach to their craft. The notion of \u201cdesign thinking,\u201d as a universal workflow for Designers to follow, started gaining traction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last decade, UX Designers have zeroed in on a process of their own \u2014 an approach to conceptualizing and building products that solve problems while creating positive experiences for end-users.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Become a UX Designer in just 12 weeks!<\/p>\n

BrainStation’s User Experience Diploma Program<\/a> is a full-time, 12-week program that equips professionals with the skills and experience to start a new career in design.<\/p>\n

Speak to a Learning Advisor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

As <\/span>Social Futurist Dirk Knemeyer puts it<\/span><\/a>, design thinking \u201ccaught fire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProgressive and heady Designers joined together with the new breed of liberal arts problem solvers, particularly ethnographers and anthropologists, to help design thinking spread like wildfire,\u201d he writes in Interactions magazine. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhereas UX developed systematically in the bubble of Silicon Valley, design thinking rode the trend of innovation and Web 2.0 to make its way into boardroom conversations straightaway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So how exactly does design thinking work?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the UX side of design, you can create a tool that helps people live their lives to the fullest, with as little stress as possible,\u201d writes <\/span>Rebeca Costa for Justinmind\u2019s blog<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThe design thinking methodology is a means to that end.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The process involves five phases \u2014 empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test \u2014 which Designers move through, though often not in that exact order.<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, it\u2019s \u201ca non-linear, iterative process which seeks to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test,\u201d explains the <\/span>Interaction Design Foundation<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Costa says it\u2019s all about understanding people and problems. And while you might move from one phase to another, it\u2019s okay \u2014 and often a good thing \u2014 to go back and revisit earlier phases in the process to test new and better ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis back and forth is good because it encourages constant reiteration, which tends to help Designers spot issues and potential downfalls of their product while still in the development phase,\u201d she adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

So here\u2019s what it looks like to go through the phases:<\/span><\/p>\n

Phase 1: Empathize<\/span><\/h2>\n

This phase is all about researching your end-users\u2019 needs through an empathetic lens. You want to put yourself in a client or customer\u2019s shoes \u2014 looking at the problem at hand through their worldview, not your own. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho are the future users of a digital product you are creating, what makes the target audience distinctive, what are their habits, what is their online behavior like, where are the pain-points, what are the users\u2019 needs that have to be fulfilled? Answering these questions may help you make a good start,\u201d recommends <\/span>Na\u0111a Bo\u017eovi\u0107<\/span><\/a> a Community Manager for PopArt Studio.<\/span><\/p>\n

Done right, this phase helps set the foundation for a product offering that hits the mark when it comes to what users are looking for.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phase 2: Define<\/span><\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve dug into what your target users need, it\u2019s time to compile and analyze those observations to figure out the real problem you\u2019re trying to solve. <\/span><\/p>\n

As Bo\u017eovi\u0107 notes, this is the time to start thinking about the steps users need to make to successfully use your digital product, whether it\u2019s a website, app, or online store.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat could include mapping your users\u2019 journey and defining all the problems they may stumble upon along the way of interacting with your site,\u201d she adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phase 3: Ideate<\/span><\/h2>\n

With lots of insight into user needs analyzed and ready to go, it\u2019s a good time to start brainstorming concepts and challenging your own assumptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, you\u2019ve done your research and have a clear understanding of who the product is for, what it\u2019s meant to do for its users and why that matters to the users,\u201d writes Costa. \u201cNow, you and your team can start dreaming up ways that your design could check all the right boxes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And don\u2019t be afraid to think outside the box: The sky\u2019s the limit in this phase, so don\u2019t shy away from innovating, atypical ideas. Get those creative juices flowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Phase 4: Prototype<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is the phase where you want to zero in on some solutions that could actually be feasible and produce the best result \u2014 then get building them.<\/span><\/p>\n

That means sketching out ideas for, say, your app offering, and building digital wireframe prototypes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPrototyping is crucial because they make sure that there are no doubts over the main characteristics of the design,\u201d Costa writes. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Learn design skills to boost your career \u2013 from home!<\/p>\n

BrainStation offers Online Live Certificate Courses<\/a> in UX design, UI design, and design thinking. Attend live classes and interact with peers and expert Instructors from anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n

Speak to a Learning Advisor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Phase 5: Test<\/span><\/h2>\n

This isn\u2019t exactly the final phase since you\u2019ll likely wind up jumping back and forth to earlier steps in the process \u2014 but it\u2019s certainly a crucial, unavoidable one.<\/span><\/p>\n

This stage is all about thoroughly testing your product in order to refine the design and ensure it really meets user needs and creates an ideal experience. You\u2019re assessing the basics \u2014 does the website or app work properly, or does it have any bugs or glitches \u2014 and the deeper experiential aspect of how people feel while using it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are fortunate (and skillful) enough, you might create a flawless design out of the first try,\u201d writes Bo\u017eovi\u0107. \u201cMore likely, though, there will be some errors to fix. And that is completely fine, as one of the core principles of design thinking process might also be \u2013 to tolerate failure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, you\u2019ll likely have to pick yourself up, dust your design off, and start the process all over again until you develop a product that hits the mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out more with BrainStation’s Design Thinking Courses<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the last decade, UX Designers have developed an approach to conceptualizing and building products that solve problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":10085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[595,1066],"tags":[111,260,122],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Design Thinking? | BrainStation\u00ae Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UX Designers have created an approach to product development that solves problems. 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