| name | niopd-st-design-thinking |
| description | Applies Design Thinking methodology for human-centered problem solving. Use for innovation challenges, service design, or user experience improvements. |
Design Thinking Skill
This skill applies the Design Thinking methodology to solve complex problems through human-centered, iterative innovation.
Theoretical Foundation
Origin
Design Thinking was developed at IDEO and Stanford d.school, building on work by Tim Brown, David Kelley, and Roger Martin.
The Five Phases
flowchart LR
E[Empathize] --> D[Define]
D --> I[Ideate]
I --> P[Prototype]
P --> T[Test]
T -.->|Iterate| E
| Phase | Purpose | Activities |
|---|
| Empathize | Understand users | Interviews, observation, immersion |
| Define | Frame the problem | Problem statement, POV |
| Ideate | Generate solutions | Brainstorming, sketching |
| Prototype | Make ideas tangible | Quick prototypes, mockups |
| Test | Validate solutions | User feedback, iteration |
Key Mindsets
- Human-centered
- Bias toward action
- Embrace ambiguity
- Radical collaboration
- Learn from failure
When to Use
- Complex, ill-defined problems
- Innovation challenges
- Service design
- User experience improvement
- Organizational change
Instructions
Step 1: Empathize
- Conduct user interviews
- Observe users in context
- Create empathy maps
- Document insights
Step 2: Define
Create problem statement:
- POV (Point of View): [User] needs [need] because [insight]
- Challenge: "How Might We...?"
Step 3: Ideate
Generate solutions:
- Brainstorming rules: defer judgment, encourage wild ideas
- Quantity over quality
- Build on others' ideas
- Select promising concepts
Step 4: Prototype
Make ideas tangible:
- Quick and cheap
- Fail early to learn
- Test-worthy artifacts
Step 5: Test
Validate with users:
- Get feedback
- Observe reactions
- Iterate based on learning
Step 6: Generate Report
File path: 01-sources/[YYYYMMDD]-design-thinking-v0.md
Output Specifications
- File Naming:
[YYYYMMDD]-design-thinking-v0.md
- Location:
01-sources/
- Template:
references/design-thinking-template.md
Related Skills
niopd-ur-feedback: User empathyniopd-pd-wireframe: Prototypingniopd-pd-experiment: Testingniopd-st-design-sprint: Structured sprint
