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Problem Solving & Design Thinking Guide

Module 3 focuses on Problem Solving and Design Thinking, outlining definitions, models, and frameworks for effective problem resolution. It emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach and includes activities like creating a problem statement and empathy mapping. The document also highlights the iterative nature of design thinking and its application across various fields beyond product development.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
14 views21 pages

Problem Solving & Design Thinking Guide

Module 3 focuses on Problem Solving and Design Thinking, outlining definitions, models, and frameworks for effective problem resolution. It emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach and includes activities like creating a problem statement and empathy mapping. The document also highlights the iterative nature of design thinking and its application across various fields beyond product development.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

11/3/25

Module 3
Problem Solving &
Design Thinking

Main Contents
• Problem Solving
• Defini&on
• Problem Solving Models
• Activity: Problem Statement
• Design Thinking: A Crea7ve Approach to Problem Solving
• Introduc&on to Design Thinking
• Design Thinking Frameworks

• Activities: Empathy Map, Solution Presentation

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Models of
Problem Solving

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The steps are repeatable.

h"ps://[Link]/sites/www/Uploads/Assessme
nt/webinar/session%203/NewFolder/6%20Step%20Pr
oblem%20Solving%[Link]
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by McKensey

[Link]
problem-solving-process-for-better-decision-
making/?expand_article=1
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“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend


55 minutes thinking about the problem and
5 minutes thinking about solutions.”
Einstein

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Problem Statement

• A problem statement is a short description of a specific


problem that needs to be solved. It’s used to help
teams understand the problem so they can work towards
solving it.

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Group work: Problem Statement


In group: Discuss your problem and present the problem statement

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Group work:
Problem Statement Review

• Can you summarize your problem in one clear


sentence?
• Is it free from any implied solution?
• Is it human-centered?
• How might different users define this problem
differently?

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Design Thinking: A Creative


Approach to Problem Sovling

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What is Design Thinking?

¡ Design is not only an outcome; it is a way of creating.

¡ The approach behind designing is often referred to as Design


Thinking.

¡ Design thinking is gaining large popularity outside design settings


because it offers a compelling roadmap and great tools to
innovate and be creative during any type of project.

¡ Design Thinking is not only about product development. The


approach can be applied to the design of services, experiences,
environments, systems, or organizations.

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What is Design Thinking?

¡ Design Thinking is a way to solve problems through creativity

¡ [Link]

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CEO of IDEO

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The Sweet Spot for Innovation


The Sweet Spot
for Innovation

Desirability - A desirable
solution, one that your
customer really needs

Feasibility- A
Viability- A feasible solution,
profitable solu<on, building on the
with a sustainable strengths of your
business model. current operational
capabilities

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Beliefs
at the heart of design thinking

¡ Everything is solvable; « even the seemingly intractable ones like


poverty, gender equality, and clean water.»
¡ We are all creative; you can build your confidence in your creative
abilities, you can overcome cognitive fixedness, open your
perspectives, and generate and integrate ideas into new ways of
thinking.
¡ Empathy is queen; understand who you are helping, seek inspiration
from users, get in their shoes, and define the real problem.
¡ Ambiguity is an opportunity; accept when the journey is messy and
the road unclear, create in order to learn, and don't wait to know
all the answers before making something.
¡ Collaboration wins; embrace diversity, cherish multidisciplinary
teamwork, involve users, and design with communities.

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The mindset of Design Thinking

¡ The mindset of Design Thinking involves embracing curiosity, openness to


ambiguity, a willingness to challenge assumptions, and a bias towards
action and learning through experimentation.

¡ It encourages collaboration, multidisciplinary teamwork, and a focus on


the end-users throughout the entire process.

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The Essence of Design Thinking

¡ The Design Thinking process provides a structured framework for


problem-solving that is adaptable, human-centered, and iterative.

¡ It helps to uncover unmet user needs, identify innovative solutions,


reduce the risk of failure, and create products and services that
resonate with users.

¡ It fosters creativity, empathy, collaboration, and a mindset of


continuous improvement, enabling individuals and teams to tackle
complex challenges effectively.

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Design Thinking
Frameworks
1. Head, Heart and Hand by the American Institution of Graphic Arts (AIGA)

(It integrates the intellectual, emotional, and practical aspects of the

creative process.)

2. Inspire, Ideate, Implement by IDEO

(IDEO’s design thinking process is a cyclical three-step process that

involves Inspiration, Ideation and Implementation.)

3. The Double Diamond by the British Design Council

(Divergence-Convergence Model)

4. Stanford University’s Five Stages of Design Thinking

(Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test)

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IDEO: 3-I Model

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IDEO 3-I Model


The Process of Design Thinking

¡ Empathy

¡ Ideation

¡ Implement
(Iteration)
Repeat the cycle
The last phase of the
design process is about
Implementation. It's when
you test your ideas and
refine them until they are
ready for delivery.

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IDEO 3-I Model


The Process of Design Thinking

1. Empathy: Start With Humans

¡ Design starts with the human in mind.

¡ This approach is also referred to as


user/customer centricity: Starting from
the identification and understanding of
your user and its context.
¡ This helps you define the real needs and
problems before building value
propositions.

Original diagram presented in the Human-


Centered Design field guide by IDEO.

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IDEO 3-I Model


The Process of Design Thinking
2. Ideation: Explore possibilities
¡ Learn to generate ideas. This mindset is called Divergent Thinking: The act of
expanding one's perspective by deliberately questioning conventions,
searching different points of view, and welcoming ideas from diverse
contexts.

¡ You will eventually come to converge your ideas into key decisions, but it is
very important to start your design process by exploring many possibilities. This
exploration is the foundation to generate quality solutions down the road.

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IDEO 3-I Model


The Process of Design Thinking

3. Iteration: Learn by doing

¡ Design thinking is based on an experimentation mindset.


¡ It is also about visual thinking: Getting your ideas out of your head and into
the world using an endless variety of means, from sketches to mockups,
maps, and prototypes (more on prototyping in the next section). Testing
your ideas in the world allows you to learn and improve.

« Instead of thinking about what to build, build in order to think. Prototypes


speed up the process of innovation because it’s only when we put our ideas
out into the world that we start to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
The faster we do that, the faster our ideas evolve. » - Tim Brown

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IDEO 3-I Model


The Process of Design Thinking

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The Bri(sh Design Council:


The Double Diamond

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Stanford [Link]
The Process of Design Thinking

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Group work: Empathy Map


Development

¡In group: Empathize with your customers (the


one who use your solution) and fill in the
Empathy Map Canvas.

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Group Work: Empathy Map Canvas

Empathy Map Canvas Template: [Link]


map-canvas

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Define Problem and Ideate Solution

• In group: Define the problem you would like to tackle


and ideate your solution

¡ Present a pitch (5 minutes/group)


¡ Suggested pitch format:
¡ What’s the problem?
¡ Name of the idea (solution)
¡ Who are the main users/customers?
¡ What core value is being offered?
¡ How does it solve the problem?

We believe [problem] is solved by [solution] because


[evidence].

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Empathy Map Canvas


For your Reference:
• Empathy Map Canvas Template
t[Link]
• Explanation:
[Link]
• Examples
[Link]
• Best Practices
[Link]

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For reference
¡ Tim Brown urges designers to think big (video)

[Link]

¡ Documentary on the increasing recognition of Design in business (trailer)

[Link]

¡ A Case Study of IDEO Shopping Cart

[Link]

¡ The Field Guide to Human Centered Design by IDEO

[Link]

¡ Design Kit from IDEO

[Link]

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Common questions

Powered by AI

Design Thinking differentiates itself by being a creative, iterative approach that is human-centered and collaborative. It emphasizes empathy with users, encourages divergent thinking, and embraces ambiguity as a catalyst for innovation. Unlike traditional methods which may focus on the logical and linear progression, Design Thinking integrates empathy and collaboration as core components, embracing a more flexible and adaptive problem-solving process that allows for continuous iteration and improvement .

Design Thinking helps manage ambiguity by treating it as an opportunity rather than a hindrance. It encourages keeping options open, exploring multiple possibilities before converging on a solution, and viewing the unknown as a drive for creativity and discovery. Embracing ambiguity is important as it allows for flexible responses to changing requirements and unexpected challenges, fostering a proactive and adaptive mindset that is essential for tackling complex problems effectively .

Empathy is foundational in the Design Thinking process as it ensures that solutions are user-centered and address real needs rather than perceived ones. It involves deeply understanding users' experiences, challenges, and emotions. This emphasis on empathy helps to uncover latent needs and drives the innovation toward solutions that truly resonate with and benefit the end-users. Empathy is seen as critical for ensuring the desirability of the innovations, influencing how problems are framed, and solutions are ideated .

The IDEO 3-I Model structures the Design Thinking process into three key stages: Empathy, Ideation, and Implementation. The Empathy stage focuses on understanding the user and their needs deeply. Ideation involves exploring a wide range of possibilities and generating creative solutions. Implementation is about prototyping and testing those ideas in the real world to refine them. Each stage serves to ground the innovation process in user insights, ensure creativity in solution development, and refine concepts through practical experimentation .

A multidisciplinary approach is crucial in Design Thinking as it brings together diverse perspectives, expertise, and experiences, enriching the creativity and depth of the problem-solving process. Different disciplines contribute varied angles and insights, leading to more holistic solutions. This collaboration fosters innovation by challenging existing norms, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, and integrating multiple viewpoints, thereby enhancing the robustness and creativity of the solutions developed .

The problem statement is crucial in the problem-solving process as it provides a clear and concise description of the problem that needs to be solved. It helps teams to understand the issue comprehensively, ensuring alignment on what needs to be addressed before embarking on solution generation. A good problem statement is free from implied solutions, human-centered, and might vary in interpretation by different users .

Prototyping is a core component of the Design Thinking process, allowing ideas to be turned into tangible forms for testing and refinement. It shifts the focus from abstract ideation to concrete execution, enabling designers to explore the strengths and weaknesses of a concept quickly. By creating prototypes, designers can gather feedback, learn, and iterate efficiently, ultimately speeding up the innovation process and improving the final product's relevance and usability .

The 'Sweet Spot for Innovation' in Design Thinking refers to the intersection of desirability, feasibility, and viability. Desirability ensures that the solution meets the real needs of customers. Feasibility examines whether the solution can be implemented with existing capabilities. Viability checks the sustainability and profitability of the solution. By focusing on this intersection, Design Thinking ensures that innovations are not only creative and impactful but also practical and sustainable .

The mindset of Design Thinking facilitates better innovation outcomes by fostering a culture of curiosity, embracing ambiguity, encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration, and driving action through experimentation. This mindset challenges assumptions, opens pathways to new insights, and reduces the risks associated with innovation. By centering the design process around users and being open to change and learning, teams can create more meaningful and impactful solutions .

The Double Diamond model in Design Thinking signifies a process of divergence and convergence used to enhance the innovation process. Initially, teams diverge to explore a broad range of ideas and insights, encouraging expansive thinking. Subsequently, they converge to focus on the most promising solutions, applying critical and analytical thinking to refine and implement them. This model helps in structuring the design process to allow for creative exploration and critical evaluation, ensuring thoroughness and focus in developing impactful solutions .

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