Reimagining the Box
By: Nia Braccidiferro
Although the process of Design Thinking isn’t new to the professional world, it is to me. I recently came across this new way of thinking and it drastically changed my approach to projects and ideas. Design Thinking, in simple terms, is the process of innovating ideas that appeal to the needs of people and turning them into a reality, through trial and error. Throughout my life, I have learned that everything isn’t achieved in one go.
You are allowed, and more importantly, you need to fail to achieve your final product. According to Fast Company’s article, “Design Thinking...What is it?”, the options for a solution will need to be combined and smaller ideas must be integrated into selected schemes that make it through. This statement is trying to convey that not every solution consists of a singular idea. Most problems are solved by a combination of multiple ideas that worked better together.
In a more recent Ted Talk entitled, “Designers-Think Big!”, Tim Brown elaborates more on this concept. He states that through the process of Design Thinking, companies are beginning to explore the potential of participation. Before this process was introduced, companies were stuck in their old ways of leaving designing to the designers and no else. They were unaware of the idea of asking others to contribute their ideas and design being centered around humans.
With allowing everyday workers and people, in general, to contribute their ideas and express their needs, companies have the ability to combine several ideas into a singular one that wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution from consumers. With this way of thinking, every idea is a candidate for a prototype. No matter how insane the idea might seem, the company should consider making it into a prototype or scale model to test out. You never know when you have a breakthrough on your hands.
The Institute of Design at Stanford’s “An Introduction to Design Thinking Process Guide”, explains that prototyping is important because it often sparks a conversation and allows people to relate and communicate. It allows companies to test out their possibilities as well as fail quickly and cheaply. I plan to use the process of Design Thinking in my daily life as well as in my future careers. This is because the problems of the world and people’s personal lives cannot be solved by simply thinking of ideas by one's self. Before I even think about brainstorming, I must evaluate and understand the demographic I’m targeting.
Allowing myself to be immersed with a certain group of people enables me to gain knowledge that I would have never even been aware of if I didn’t conduct the research. I think anyone can use the process of Design Thinking and integrate it into their daily or work life because it allows us to understand the world around us a little bit better. We need to let ourselves empathize with the people in our lives and those we are unaware of, to help us create a better world for all of us. Integrating this process into a company or life isn’t as easy as I make it out to seem.
In David Kelley’s Ted Talk, “How to Build Your Creative Confidence”, he elaborates on the fact that not everyone feels comfortable with expressing their ideas with others. He states that most people have a fear of judgment which prevents them from speaking their mind and changing the world. People can overcome this fear with practice. Once they have, they will be able to contribute to their company's discussion and help transform their own future as well. The process of Design Thinking works of multiple levels to allow anyone to use it successfully in life and in work.