Design Thinking
Introduction
Design Thinking is a human-centred, iterative problem-solving method used to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems, and create, test, and refine solutions. It originated in product and service design but is now widely used in strategy, innovation, policy and change.
Its core philosophy: start with humans, experiment early, learn fast and improve continuously.
Design Thinking Mindset
- Empathy – understand the lived experience of stakeholders
- Curiosity – seek insights rather than jump to solutions
- Experimentation – test cheaply and learn early
- Co-creation – involve users, don’t design for them
- Bias for action – build, test, refine rather than over-analyse
- Iteration – every loop improves understanding
The 5 Stages of Design Thinking
1. Empathise
- Observe people in context
- Listen deeply (interviews, shadowing, journey mapping, etc)
- Reveal unspoken needs, pain points and workarounds
2. Define
- Synthesise findings into insight statements
- Clearly articulate the real problem, not just the presenting symptom
- Frame “How might we…” questions that invite innovation
3. Ideate
- Generate many possible solutions; initially, quantity over quality
- Use creative techniques (brainstorming, SCAMPER, etc)
- Encourage deferral of judgement and wide participation
4. Prototype
- Build simple versions of selected ideas
- Mock-ups, process maps, role-plays, paper interfaces
- Purpose: to learn, not to launch
5. Test
- Put prototypes in front of real users
- Observe how they interact and what constraints appear
- Improve or pivot based on feedback
This is non-linear—you move back and forth between stages as your understanding evolves.
(source: Madel, Monika et al, 2021)