Design Thinking Problems with Examples

Design Thinking is a great way to be creative and come up with new ideas for solving problems. It's a method that puts people first, trying to understand what they need, how they feel, and understanding the problems they face. Design Thinking isn't just about making things  look nice; it's about making products and services that help people do things better. It is mostly used to solve challenges that require a creative, human-centered, and collaborative approach. These challenges can also be termed as Design Thinking Problems.

Design Thinking gives you a clear and empathetic way to tackle real-life problems and make things better for the people it affects in a good way. Read this blog on Design Thinking Problems and learn the problem-solving framework with great examples for better understanding. 

 Table of Contents 

1) Design Thinking and its use 

2) The five stages of Design Thinking 

3) Benefits of Design Thinking vs. traditional problem-solving

4) Challenges addressed through Design Thinking

5) Three examples of Design Thinking Problems

6) Common challenges in Design Thinking 

7) Conclusion 

Design thinking and its use

Design Thinking represents a problem-solving framework that distinguishes itself from traditional brainstorming methods by placing a strong emphasis on empathetic observation. It focuses initially on human-centred needs before diving into the ideation process.

This approach draws inspiration from the techniques used by professionals such as Designers, Architects, and Engineers in their respective fields. It is used not only for problems directly tied to design but also for a broad spectrum of challenges.

While the concept of Design Thinking has existed for several decades, it gained significant importance in the past five to ten years, particularly through the efforts of IDEO. IDEO is a renowned design consultancy that has championed Design Thinking as an alternative to the purely analytical approach to problem-solving.

The ultimate aim of Design Thinking is to improve the quality of people's lives. This, indeed, serves as the core essence of the entire Design Thinking process. In essence, Design Thinking is all about discovering innovative, creative solutions to Design Thinking Problems while prioritising the needs and desires of individuals.

A notable example of Design Thinking in action can be seen in an organisation selling treadle pumps in East Africa. This approach allowed them to identify the reasons their product was not selling in certain regions and ultimately led to the development of a solution.
 

 

The five stages of Design Thinking 

Design Thinking comprises five distinct stages that guide teams and individuals through the complex process of tackling challenges and generating ideas. Here, we will delve into each of the five stages of Design Thinking, exploring their significance and the activities involved.  

Empathise: Understanding the user   

The Empathise stage focuses on gaining a deep understanding of the users, their needs, and their challenges. It involves methods such as observation, interviews, and empathy-building exercises to uncover insights into users' perspectives.   

Define: Clearly articulating the problem   

In the Define stage, the problem to be solved is precisely defined. This includes crafting clear problem statements, prioritising user needs, and ensuring alignment among stakeholders on the problem definition.   

Ideate: Generating creative solutions   

Ideation encourages brainstorming and the exploration of diverse ideas without judgment. This stage involves activities like brainstorming sessions, mind mapping, and prototyping to encourage creativity and innovation.   

Prototype: creating tangible solutions   

The Prototype stage involves turning abstract ideas into tangible representations. It includes building prototypes, whether physical or digital, to visualise concepts and carry out testing and refinement.   

Test: iterating and refining solutions   

In the test stage, prototypes are evaluated and refined based on feedback from users. This iterative process helps in improving and optimising solutions to ensure they effectively address the defined problem and meet user needs. 

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Benefits of Design Thinking vs. traditional problem-solving  

Design Thinking isn't exclusive to Designers; it's a mindset that anyone, regardless of their background, can embrace in collaborative brainstorming sessions. IDEO suggests that regular brainstorming sessions increase the likelihood of achieving objectives. Implementing Design Thinking simplifies the journey from tackling complex, vague problems to arriving at clear and practical solutions. Let us uncover their differences:

Design Thinking

a) Emphasises creativity and generating fresh ideas for problem-solving.

b) Prioritises a people-centered approach, striving to understand users' needs, emotions, and challenges.

c) Focuses on crafting solutions that genuinely help individuals improve their experiences.

d) Not only concerned with aesthetics but rather practical and user-centric outcomes.

Traditional problem-solving

a) Often follows a more analytical and conventional problem-solving approach.

b) It may not place as much focus on a compassionate understanding of user needs and feelings.

c) Solutions may be functional but may not always prioritise improving the user's experience.

d) It may not possess the same level of creative thinking and innovation seen in Design Thinking.

Challenges addressed through Design Thinking

Design Thinking offers versatile problem-solving capabilities in many diverse fields. Its effectiveness shines when dealing with complex, poorly defined problems, often referred to as 'Wicked Problems.' This collaborative approach uses various Design Thinking Skills to broaden understanding and enhance the likelihood of success with each cycle. 

Design Thinking values inquiry and teamwork because it recognises that the pursuit of knowledge often leads to innovative solutions. While healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability offer inspiring examples, their effectiveness isn't limited to specific sectors. In the private sector, it excels in product development, service enhancement, and function optimisation.

Here are six key problem areas where Design Thinking has a track record of success:

a) Crafting human-centered solutions to address business challenges.

b) Pioneering new products, features, and services.

c) Improving processes, work methodologies, and operational efficiency.

d) Developing innovative business strategies and policies.

e) Elevating organisational efficiency and employee engagement.

f) Catalysing social change and community-driven ambitions.

Three examples of Design Thinking Problems

Here are three examples of problem statements developed through the lens of Design Thinking. These statements show how this human-centred approach addresses diverse challenges:

Audience

a) Challenge: Audiense observed a significant increase in users abandoning the registration process before its completion.

b) Problem statement: To address this problem, the team recognised the necessity for a more user-friendly sign-up process, as users were becoming frustrated with the current account setup.

c) Resolution: Led by Juan Fernandez, Head of Product, the team leveraged Hotjar Session Recordings to identify a malfunction in the password validator feature. After rectifying this problem, registration rates witnessed a substantial improvement.

Zenprint

a) Challenge: The Zenprint team used Google Analytics to analyse bounce rates across various pages, identifying areas of underperformance within the ordering process.

b) Problem Statement: Addressing the problem, it became apparent that prospective customers required a more coherent understanding of the next steps, given the high bounce rate on the current page.

c) Resolution: The team turned to Hotjar Heatmaps to analyse user behaviour on the page and determine its effectiveness. Users spent considerable time on the pricing page, prompting an A/B test to refine its UX design. The chosen design now offers clear guidance upon approaching a price, resulting in a 7% reduction in the page's drop-off rate and a 2% increase in conversions for Zenprint.

Razorpay

a) Challenge: Razorpay undertook a redesign of their dashboard and rolled it out incrementally to small user segments. However, with users rating the design at just 6.2/10, it was obvious that improvements were necessary.

b) Problem Statement: The existing dashboard failed to meet user satisfaction, prompting a demand for an updated version.

c) Resolution: Traditional analytics revealed a decline in user engagement with the new dashboard, but the reasons remained unavailable. To uncover insights, Razorpay reached out to users who had given low ratings to provide feedback through open-ended surveys. This user-driven feedback informed dashboard improvements. This resulted in a remarkable 40% increase in user satisfaction.

Common Challenges in Design Thinking 

While Design Thinking is a powerful problem-solving approach, it is not without its challenges. Successfully navigating these challenges is crucial to ensure that the process leads to innovative and effective solutions.
 

Lack of empathy  

Challenge: Empathy is at the heart of Design Thinking, but it can be challenging to truly understand and connect with users, especially if they have experiences or backgrounds vastly different from the design team.   

Solution: To overcome this challenge, extensive user research is crucial. This includes interviews, observations, and Active Listening to foster genuine empathy. Encourage team members to step into the users' shoes and consider their needs and emotions deeply.
   

 

Poor problem definition  

Challenge: Defining the problem too broadly or too narrowly can hinder the Design Thinking process. A vague problem statement can lead to solutions that miss the mark, while an overly specific one might limit creativity.   

Solution: Spend sufficient time in the Define stage to create a well-articulated problem statement. Involve stakeholders and users in this process to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the problem. Use tools like user personas and journey maps to gain clarity.   

Limited ideation  

Challenge: Generating innovative ideas can be challenging, especially in situations where teams feel pressured to produce immediate results or are constrained by existing norms and practices.   

Solution: Encourage brainstorming sessions where all ideas are welcomed without criticism. Promote a culture of creativity within the team and create a safe space for members to express their ideas freely. Experiment with techniques like 'Crazy 8s' or 'Mind Mapping' to stimulate ideation. 

Inadequate prototyping 

Challenge: Rushing through the prototyping phase or not dedicating sufficient time and resources to creating effective prototypes can result in suboptimal solutions.   

Solution: Allocate sufficient resources, both in terms of time and materials, for prototyping. It's essential to remember that prototypes are not the final solutions but tools for testing and learning. Embrace low-fidelity prototyping as a quick and cost-effective way to explore different concepts before investing heavily.   

Insufficient testing 

Challenge: Failing to gather meaningful feedback from users during the testing phase can result in solutions that do not address user needs adequately.   

Solution: Prioritise user testing as a critical phase in Design Thinking. Engage with a diverse group of users, and be open to their feedback, even if it challenges your assumptions. Iterate based on user insights and continually refine your solutions. 

Resistance to change 

Challenge: Resistance to adopting Design Thinking can be encountered, especially in organisations with deeply ingrained traditional processes.   

Solution: To overcome resistance, educate stakeholders about the benefits of Design Thinking through workshops, case studies, and success stories. Demonstrate how it can lead to more innovative and user-centric solutions, which can ultimately improve business outcomes. 

Resource constraints  

Challenge: Design Thinking can be resource-intensive, requiring time, personnel, and materials for research, ideation, and prototyping.   

Solution: Plan and allocate resources carefully. Consider phased approaches, especially for resource-constrained projects. Prioritise the stages that are most critical to achieving the desired outcomes.

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Lack of cross-functional collaboration  

Challenge: Design Thinking is most effective when it involves individuals with diverse skills and perspectives, but fostering collaboration among different departments or disciplines can be challenging.   

Solution: Encourage cross-functional teams and provide opportunities for team members to learn from each other. Emphasise the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in generating holistic and innovative solutions. 

Conclusion 

Design Thinking is an efficient way to solve Design Thinking Problems because it focuses on what users need and can adapt to different situations. It helps Design Thinkers make solutions that really connect with people. It's like a flexible guide that uses understanding, clear problem statements, creative thinking, making models, and testing to create solutions that matter and work well. 

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