What if the best way to solve problems isn’t about knowing all the answers but asking the right questions? All organizations face challenges at some point. Leaders often turn to quick fixes based on past solutions that only address surface issues, leaving deeper problems unresolved. These approaches can overlook the people who experience the issues daily. Starting with questions and observations to develop empathy for the people involved can help leaders design innovative solutions that tackle root causes and bring long-term benefits to the organization.Design Thinking leads to innovative solutions in a variety of settings. Whether you're in healthcare, business, education, or the arts, design thinking encourages a fresh perspective on the entire situation. This human-centered approach promotes empathy, creativity, collaboration, and solutions that address root problems and serve the people within the environment over time.
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is an iterative and collaborative methodology for solving problems with innovative solutions. With empathy driving the process, issues are examined using a human-centered approach to get to the root of the problems.
The five stages are typically shown in sequence, but the process is non-linear, allowing leaders to move back and forth as needed while staying grounded in empathy.
- Empathize: Understand the people involved. Listen, observe, and engage to learn what users think, feel, say, and do. This builds empathy and ensures that solutions meet real needs.
- Define: Synthesize what was learned from the people to identify the problem(s). Asking a series of “why” questions can help uncover root causes. A strong problem statement is specific and human-centered, keeping the focus on the people, the heart of design thinking.
- Ideate: Brainstorm as many ideas as possible, without judgment. This stage encourages creativity and exploration before narrowing down to the best options.
- Prototype: Create simple, low-cost models or mockups of your top ideas. These versions give a sample of the solutions and allow for early and iterative feedback.
- Test: Share prototypes with real users, observe how they respond, and gather insights. Use what you learn to refine the problem, improve the solution, and revisit earlier stages in the process.
What are the Results of using Design Thinking?
Design Thinking crosses boundaries within a business or organization by inviting input from all areas affected by the issues. Instead of solutions coming from the top down or from one department alone, this method encourages teams to work together, drawing on the perspectives of various people to understand problems more fully. Leaders using design thinking promote collaboration, creativity, and empathy throughout the process. When teams are encouraged to listen, ask better questions, and test new ideas, the result is meaningful and lasting change.
Design Thinking supports innovation in various areas, including product development, internal processes, customer experiences, and systems across the board. By focusing on people and encouraging open communication, Design Thinking helps businesses and organizations become more responsive, adaptable, and effective. An internet search for companies using design thinking results in many examples of positive and innovative changes that have led to a variety of success stories, including companies like Airbnb, Uber Eats, Apple, GE Healthcare, Netflix, and more.
Does Design Thinking apply to Instructional Design?
At Southern Nazarene University, students in the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology program explore Design Thinking as one of many methodologies in their instructional design toolkit. It equips them to lead cross-functional teams, design with empathy, and solve problems that matter.
While Design Thinking is an excellent tool for instructional designers, it is also a helpful tool for anyone solving complex problems, looking to uncover the root of issues, and implementing a human-centered approach to leading change and innovation.
If you're interested in learning more about how our MS in IDT program prepares students to use approaches like this in the real world, visit https://www.snu.edu/pgs/idt.
