If you’re struggling to solve a problem, you might want to look into new approaches you haven’t tried before. One especially useful approach is called design thinking. It was created to help businesses come up with innovative ideas that satisfy real needs. What does it have to do with education, you ask? Oh, design thinking has so much potential for changing the way you see problems! And if you look from a different angle, you can find a perfect solution that will deal with your woes once and for all.
The basics of design thinking
This approach includes five steps that will help you breeze through any problem, no matter how complicated. It’s a tried-and-true framework that has already brought success to many businesses and entrepreneurs. As a student, you often rely on what other people invented to get more out of your education. For example, this tool often helps students save time paraphrasing academic writing. Just like it complements human efforts with smart algorithms, you can improve your problem-solving attempts with design thinking.
The first step is to empathize – learn what needs must be satisfied with your future solution. Then, you have to clearly define the problem at hand, making sure that you center your attention on what truly matters. The third step encourages you to ideate, meaning that you have to brainstorm and use your creative thinking to come up with as many solutions as possible.
Once you understand the problem and have multiple ideas about how to approach it, it’s time to build a prototype. What does it mean? A prototype is a specific plan that singles out one solution and outlines what you have to do. When that is done, you can finally test your plan and ask people for feedback. Sounds pretty straightforward, doesn’t it?
Design thinking and problem-solving skills
Now that you know the basics, we can talk about putting design thinking into practice. It’s not just about solving an immediate problem because this approach will help you hone your problem-solving skills in the long run. You may struggle at first, but soon enough you will be able to turn all five steps into a subconscious habit.
Empathize. So, what needs must be met? What can be gained? What may be lost? For example, if you’re thinking about climate change, you might want to consider who is affected the most. Look through the eyes of vulnerable populations and understand their specific struggles like health issues and displacement. This effort will help you see the full picture.
Define. Problems are rarely simple, so you have to narrow down your focus to one key issue that you can address. Climate change itself isn’t a problem – it’s an outcome. Think about the causes behind it, then choose the cause that looks manageable to you. Always pick your battles with care, don’t overextend yourself.
Ideate. Set your mind free and consider every angle you can possibly think of. It might seem like a waste of time, but it’s a sure way to get unstuck and find your perfect solution. Don’t stop until you feel like you’ve hit the wall and have nothing left to explore. For example, climate change can have social, environmental, biological, and many other related influences – give a thought to them all.
Prototype. How do you go about creating your prototype? That’s for you to decide. You can write an outline that gives you an overview of every step. You can draw a diagram that visualizes your plan of action. You’re good as long as you have something you can act on. Let your imagination run wild and cater to your preferred learning style.
Test. This final step can take many forms. You can test your solution through a discussion with other students. You can present your ideas to the class. You can seek feedback from your instructor. You can even ask your friends and family what they think. No matter what you pick in the end, you need to consider how practical and effective your solution is.
Turning these steps into a habit can be an absolute game-changer. You will no longer feel lost and overwhelmed when approaching a new problem because you will know exactly what to do. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes along the way and returning to previous steps – it’s all part of the process.
