Design thinking is a human-centered approach to problem-solving that has become integral to innovation across industries. It offers a framework for addressing complex challenges by focusing on the needs of people, the feasibility of technology, and business viability. Originating from the field of design, this methodology has evolved into a powerful tool for businesses, educators, and organizations around the world.
Originated in 1960s when industrial designers and engineers began discussing "wicked problems"—issues that are difficult or impossible to solve due to incomplete, contradictory, or changing requirements. Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber argued that traditional problem-solving approaches were inadequate for dealing with complex societal issues. This is where design thinking was born.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, design firms like IDEO started formalizing design thinking. They helped popularize the process as an approach to tackle not just product design but also service design and organizational change.
According to Tim Brown, design thinking bridges the gap between desirability (human needs), feasibility (technology), and viability (business)
Today, the design thinking process is widely recognized for its five core phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. These steps are not always sequential and often overlap in an iterative loop.
The first phase of design thinking focuses on understanding the needs, wants, and emotions of the users you’re designing for. This involves direct observation, user interviews, and other techniques to gain deep insights.
A clear understanding of user pain points, motivations, and needs.
In this phase, the insights gathered from the Empathize stage are synthesized into a clear problem statement. Designers seek to define a specific, actionable problem that can guide the ideation process.
A clear problem statement or "How might we" question.
The ideation phase is where brainstorming and creativity take center stage. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible before refining and selecting the most promising ones.
A wide range of potential solutions or concepts
Prototyping involves creating low-fidelity models of your ideas. These could be sketches, mockups, or digital simulations that allow users to interact with the concept.
Initial prototypes that are ready for testing.
The final phase involves testing prototypes with real users to gather feedback and refine the solution. This step is often cyclical, feeding back into the earlier phases as the design evolves.
Refined product based on user feedback.
You can read in more detail about this process at
