Try This Next: Apply Design Thinking Process to your Practice

Have you heard of design thinking process or design thinking learning? You probably do it already in some way shape or form.

Here are the basics:

  1. You are faced with a challenge or problem

  2. Investigate what is causing or contributing to the challenge or problem

  3. Brainstorm some possible solutions

  4. Try out your solutions

  5. Figure out what works and what could be better and repeat

I like breaking it into these steps as sometimes we forget to continue with the iteration process and give up too quickly. I know I have.

Try this on the next challenge or problem you face. Whether it has to do with work, home life, or a question a friend brings to you. When you brainstorm, go for quantity, not quality. You can sort out the details later.


Here are some resources to get started:

https://spencerauthor.com/the-launch-cycle/

If you’re in the California Bay Area, check out:

https://krauseinnovationcenter.org/program/space-program/

I would highly recommend this program as I’m finishing this in July 2022. It really sparks creativity and innovation. I enjoyed getting back to learning, celebrating failure as a way to keep trying, and focusing on the process, not the results.

Rachel Okazaki