Definition
Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative methodology that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems, and create innovative solutions to prototype and test.
Why It Matters
Design thinking prevents the waste of resources on solving the wrong problems. By prioritizing human needs and iterative testing, it ensures that innovation is both relevant and effective, leading to products that people actually want and can use.
Core Concepts
- The Five Phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test.
- Human-Centered Design: Prioritizing the psychological and physical needs of the end-user.
- Divergent & Convergent Thinking: Expanding the solution space broadly before narrowing down to the most viable options.
- Rapid Prototyping: Building low-fidelity models to fail fast and learn quickly.