How to be a design thinker

Design thinking is perceived to be complex, unfathomable and profound. It is not. Design thinking is simple and almost omnipotent. It is not restricted to designing a product or a service, and definitely not restricted only to designers. We think the “design thinking” way on a daily basis without knowing it, irrespective of the field we work in; kids being the best example of this.

Their ability to think laterally and synthesise information has no limits, because they are unburdened by experience and conventions. We are inherently and by evolution creative, lateral thinkers and problem solvers – it’s in our core as human beings!

 As we grow up, our education and experiences clutter our ability to think in an unrestricted fashion, and at times, we make solutions seem more difficult than they are. This unique, unrestricted yet structured way of solving problems is, simply,  design thinking. 

Solving problems with the help of creative, lateral methods or ideas with an aim to achieve desirable solutions for the client is design thinking. A design thinker will not only look at solving the problem on a macro scale, but will look at it from various perspectives to understand the core of the problem.  So yes, we all can be, and at times are, design thinkers! How cool is this! 

 Differing from the analytical scientific method, design thinking begins with analysing every possible parameter of the problem on the way to finding a solution. Design thinking looks into known and ambiguous aspects of the current situation in order to open alternative paths, which may have not have been considered before.

 Let’s take a simple example to understand this better. A product that we use first thing in the morning is a toothbrush. If we were to ask anyone the need to brush using a brush, the typical answers would range from the usual – remove food particles between the teeth, clean bacteria to get rid of bad breath.

While these are perceived needs, a designer would actually dig deeper to come up with the core of the problem. The range of core questions could be do we need to brush using a toothbrush, what was used before a toothbrush, how can the brush be used to massage gums, how much pressure should be applied and how long we should brush. What are the ill-effects of brushing and what are the important health benefits?

What happens if we eliminate the toothbrush? Thinking of the solution comes only after synthesising the foundation of the problem.

This is how brands could use design thinking to ask the right questions and use synthesising processes to form an appropriate problem statement and then solutions eventually. 

 One can hone their design thinking skills with a conscious approach to the core of the problem. Do you adjust the height of your chair to better your posture? Or, ever thought why the most used items in your fridge are kept at the most convenient to reach spots? These are good examples of everyday design thinking, explaining its power.  A conscious approach to making a product or brand affect the customer’s life through ease of use and targeting the core of the problem is a habit we have to inculcate. 

 Design thinking is an important asset for each of us to have in today’s highly cluttered market environment. So if we want to understand radical design-oriented solution, we must think design. Start design thinking!

 Shekhar Badve is Founder, Lokusdesign

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