Contrary to how it sounds, Design Thinking is not a process exclusively for designers. Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach, that can be undertaken by both, a common man and a CEO.
Let’s have a look at some of the ‘non-design’ examples of design thinking and also at the key steps that are involved in the process.
When Apple began to ‘Think Different’
Design Thinking can uplift businesses
It would be hard to believe now, but technology giant Apple also faced glaring problems way back in 1985, when Steve Jobs left the company. Their products were failing, their strategies didn’t have any direction, and worst of all, their customers were confused and losing faith in them. Enter 1997, Jobs’s return. Immediately afterward, Jobs implemented design thinking to identify the PROBLEM AREAS and build focus points in order to INVENT Apple’s future. He RESEARCHED into the consumer psyche and thought of coming up with simple yet user-friendly products. The ‘Think Different’ slogan was introduced as a motto and an approach to reflect the Apple vision.
Learn more about the thought process here: https://www.designorate.com/design-thinking-case-study-innovation-at-apple/
How “one thought” transformed a community
Design Thinking for Social Innovation
Jeff Chaplin of Ideo implemented design thinking for a sanitation project in Cambodia and Vietnam. He was faced with a ‘shitty’ problem…literally. The people in a Cambodian village used to defecate in the open, causing hygiene issues and diseases. Jeff Chaplin had to step into the shoes of local villagers, EMPATHIZE, and come up with a sanitation system that is affordable, useful and, appealing at the same time. His team built PROTOTYPES and tested them to ensure the end product is just as expected. The outcome was in the form of Easy Latrines in Cambodia and Hand Washing Stations in Vietnam which benefited people and businesses together.
Learn more of this story here: https://vimeo.com/67542403
The questions of not asking enough questions
When Talkd thought through Design
Talkd in itself is a great example of Design Thinking being a process for everybody. We all sat down together to identify why our marketing projects were not executing as expected. We asked QUESTIONS to understand what the designers, writers, project managers, and developers had to say. Eventually, we arrived at the conclusion that we were just not asking enough questions. Through teamwork and brainstorming, we charted out an elaborate system of questions, from the client down to the designer, which when answered, solved the entire issue altogether.
At Talkd, we practice Design Thinking regularly across our business units of Lead Generation, UX, and Marketing to generate positive outcomes. We utilize this approach to solve problems both internally and for our projects. This is what everyone needs to know:
Design Thinking is a human-centered, immersive process that can solve problems – both organizational and real world.
