Use Design Thinking to Solve any Problem

What is Design Thinking?

“A human-centred innovation process that emphasizes observation, collaboration, fast learning, visualization of ideas, rapid concept prototyping, and concurrent business analysis”

The method in focus in this case, i.e. solving everyday problems, can be credited to Prof. Jeanne Liedtka from Darden Business School

I break the process down into four stages: What is?, What if?, What wows?, and What works?

A quick glance before we delve deeper into each section individually

What Is? — Identify, Accept and Address a problem

What If? — Think about possibilities, solutions and methods to solve the problem

What Wows? — Evaluate your thoughts and considerations, enlist the pros and cons

What Works? — Test the hypothesis, fail fast, learn quick and repeat

Although Design Thinking is much bigger than just solving a problem, it is a vast concept that can be harnessed in a multitude of places; This was my short take on how a beginner can use it to solve any problem systematically.