Prof Dinesh Korjan, who has been teaching Design Thinking at NID, CEPT and IIT, was telling me: “Design should do more than communicate. It must transform.” He talked of how he and his students had applied design thinking to arrive at solutions to reduce corruption.

The real strength of Design Thinking is in how a problem is articulated. The image below shows how he visualised the path of Corruption v/s Ethical Behaviour.

Got an idea?

When you define the patterns underlying behaviour, and decode the reasons underlying behaviour, the solution seeking is precise and non-linear, even out-of-the box. The focus of design thinking is on solutions and not the problem. While I live in Mumbai, I encounter the same traffic issues in every metro and mini metro in India.

There can be simple solutions that require no investment. Staggered opening times for offices could start from 7.30 am to 10.30 am. This would ensure that there is an even distribution of traffic in peak hours.

The giant ‘Land-Bus’ that would house cars, and not commuters, is nothing short of brilliant to ensure fast and safe movement of traffic.

London has a system of bike-sharing. Cycles can be rented very simply and left at the destination at one of the many bicycle stands across the city. The ease of hire and drop-off makes it a brilliant solution to traffic woes.

Design thinking can solve business problems, help create innovations and find smart solutions that make disproportionate impact. The solutions are there. If not there, they can be found. What is needed is the will to go against conventional wisdom, and have the courage to do things that haven’t been done before.

Alpana Parida is President, DY Works, a brand strategy and design firm that creates culture-based solutions for businesses.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW