How Design Thinking Solves Problems

“The purpose of design thinking is not to create solutions, but to create successful innovations.” 💡 Design has always been more than aesthetics, it is about writing change. ✍️ As early as Bahaus in 1930, design was described as something that should serve society and the common good. 🌍 However, society’s biggest challenges are not simple. They are what Rittel (1973) and Buchanan (1992) called wicked problems: problems with no clear definition, no single solution, and where every attempt at solving them creates new consequences. 👉 This is why design thinking exists. ✅ First: Let’s build clarity Design thinking often feels confusing because we mix up key terms. ~ Theory is how we understand a situation. ~ Methodology is how we structure our work. ~ Model is how we intervene. ~ Method is the tool we actually use. Once this is clear, everything else starts to make sense. ✨ 🧭 Models (how we intervene) ~ Stanford Model ~ Double Diamond ~ ZURB These guide the way we move through a challenge. 🧰 Methods (what we use to act) ~ IBM Design Thinking ~ IDEO ~ Google Design Sprint These are practical toolkits that help us make progress. 🔄 Processes (how we move through time) What is → Understand reality What if → Imagine possibilities What wows → Find desirability What works → Test and validate Design is not linear, it evolves through insight and iteration. 💭 SCAMPER (expanding ideas) S - Substitute C - Combine A - Adapt M - Modify P - Put to another use E - Eliminate R - Reduce Creativity is not accidental inspiration, it is structured imagination. 🎨 🌟 Ultimately… Possibility is the ability to see something in your imagination and materialize it in real life. Design thinking helps us make possibilities happen intentionally, not accidentally. 🚀 🎯 In the end Design thinking is not just theory, models or methods. It is a mindset, a process and a set of human values working together to innovate for people and the common good. We do not just design solutions. We design successful Innovations. ✨

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, “𝐖𝐨𝐰, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞”? That feeling doesn’t come from luck. It comes from process. Behind every seamless experience is a designer who listened, tested, and refined, over and over again. Because real design isn’t just what people see… it’s what they feel when everything works effortlessly. Here are 3 parts of the design process you should never skip, no matter how tempting it gets to “just start designing.” 👇 1️⃣ User Research, Talk to real people. Ask questions. Watch how they interact. You’ll be surprised how often the problem you think you’re solving isn’t the real one. 2️⃣ Prototyping, Don’t wait until everything is “perfect.” Build small, test fast, and fail quietly. Every iteration saves you time and frustration later. 3️⃣ Feedback & Iteration, Design is a living thing. The moment you launch, you start learning again. That’s where growth (and good design) really happens. Design isn’t a sprint to perfection, it’s a journey of discovery. The best designers aren’t the ones who get it right the first time, but the ones humble enough to test, learn, and evolve with their users. So next time you see a “simple” product that just flows… remember, simplicity is the reward of process. 🧠✨

Day 6/20 📅: 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐈 Picking up where we left off yesterday! On Day 5, I introduced Design Thinking and its five core processes — Empathy, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test. I spoke about Empathy on Day 4 and its importance. Today, I want to take a deeper look at the remaining stages. 1️⃣ 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞: This is the critical stage where PMs translate insights from the empathy stage into a clear, actionable problem statement. It’s about turning what was learned into a precise framing of the problem from the user’s perspective. A great format for framing problem statements is: ”[User] needs [need] to [goal].” 2️⃣ 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞: This is where creativity takes flight! With a well-defined problem, PMs, alongside cross-functional team members, brainstorm a wide range of potential solutions. It’s about thinking broadly and unconventionally. Some templates used in this stage are: 🔹 SCAMPER: A powerful framework for generating innovative ideas by challenging existing product features (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse). 🔹 Crazy-8s: A rapid brainstorming technique where each team member sketches 8 distinct ideas in 8 minutes, prioritising quantity over perfection. 3️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞: Ideas begin to take tangible form here. A prototype is a simplified, testable version of your solution—from paper sketches to digital mock-ups (Low Fidelity or High Fidelity). This stage minimises risk by allowing concepts to be validated early and feedback to be gathered before significant resources are invested. 4️⃣ 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭: This final stage involves putting prototypes in front of real users. It’s an opportunity to observe, listen, and learn what works and what doesn’t. Testing helps identify flaws, validate assumptions, and refine the solution—ensuring the product truly resonates. Design Thinking is not a linear path; it's an iterative loop. Each stage informs the next, and insights from testing can often send you back to empathise or redefine.

The best design doesn’t tell you what to do. It makes you feel like you already know. When people say “it just works,” it’s not magic. It’s empathy translated into product. That’s the real challenge in design, not pixels, not polish, but aligning with how humans actually move, feel, and decide.

Could 'Done is Better Than Perfect' be the ultimate mantra for designers? 🎨 As creators, there’s an eternal hunt for perfection. We tweak, alter, and reimagine our designs endlessly. But at what cost? • The Perfection Trap Steve Jobs was known for his relentless pursuit of perfection. However, even Jobs knew when to ship. Becoming obsessively laser-focused can stifle creativity and lead to burnout. The Wake-up Call: Leverage your time effectively. Launch projects early and adapt based on feedback. Just like a tech startup, iterating leads to innovation. • Actionable Insight 1: Set Specific Deadlines The Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. Utilize this to your advantage. How to Apply: - Set shorter, realistic deadlines for yourself. - Break your project into phases with a time cap for each. - Review and refine without losing track of your timeline. • Actionable Insight 2: Embrace MVP (Minimum Viable Product) In design, focusing on MVP can be transformative. It emphasizes delivering core functionality and real value quickly. How to Apply: - Identify essential elements needed for your design to function. - Deliver these elements first. - Gather user feedback, iterate, and improve. Accept that perfection is a journey, not a destination. Value feedback as part of your evolution. Empower your creativity by giving ‘good enough’ a fair chance. What steps do you take to balance quality and deadlines in your work? #GraphicDesign #Creativity #DesignThinking #Innovate #PerfectionVsProgress

Design Thinking: More Than a Process—A Mindset 💡 Design Thinking isn’t just for designers—it’s a way of solving problems by putting people first. The process flows through 5 key stages: 1️⃣ Empathize – Understand the people you’re designing for. 2️⃣ Define – Identify their needs and the real problem. 3️⃣ Ideate – Brainstorm and explore creative solutions. 4️⃣ Prototype – Build quick, tangible models of ideas. 5️⃣ Test – Gather feedback, refine, and improve. What makes it powerful? It’s human-centered, iterative, and collaborative. Instead of guessing what might work, we listen, learn, and design with empathy—creating solutions that truly matter. In today’s world, the Design Thinking process is more than a framework—it’s a bridge between creativity and impact.

💡 Design at scale: the quietest — yet most transformative — kind of work. Not every great design needs to be flashy. Often, real impact comes from the work happening behind the scenes: systems that run smoothly, experiences that stay consistent, and decisions made for millions of different users. This It's Nice That That article about Grammarly’s design approach brings an inspiring reflection on how designing at scale requires balance between consistency, adaptability, and empathy. At Novatics, we believe design is a strategic pillar, a driving force behind digital products that grow, evolve, and continue to make sense as they scale. If you’re also interested in how great product teams tackle these challenges, this read is worth your time. 🔗 Design at scale isn’t flashy – but it’s the most interesting work in the room: https://lnkd.in/dAj4W-Xd

Great design doesn’t always lead to great experiences. You don't know if an experience will be great until people start using your product or service. This is the challenge all designers face. This is why prototyping is so important. It gives you the ability to do micro-tests on what the experience may be. Here's the truth about design: 1. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 → Users create their own paths → Expectations differ from plans → Reality trumps theory 2. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 → Don't assume you know what people want → Watch real users in action → Listen to unfiltered feedback 3. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 → Talk to actual users → Document unexpected behaviors → Challenge your assumptions The best products aren't designed in isolation; they're shaped by real-world usage and honest feedback. Don't design in a box. Get out there and talk to users and customers. Your next breakthrough may depend on what you learn. --- ♻️ Share if this resonates ➕ Follow Jason Moccia for more insights on product design and innovation

The biggest challenge I see in design projects? Bridging what users truly need with what clients expect. Too often, projects tilt to one side: • Designs that look great but confuse real users. • Or solutions that check business boxes but don’t connect emotionally with people. I’ve been on both ends of that spectrum. Early in my career, I once designed a stunning dashboard that the client loved, until their users tested it and struggled with the basics. That moment taught me: design isn’t successful until it works for both sides. Here’s what I’ve found works better: 👉 Co-create early: Bring clients into the discovery process so they see how user insights shape decisions. 👉 Frame feedback around outcomes: Instead of “this color isn’t nice,” we ask, “does this help users complete their tasks faster?” 👉 Show, don’t just tell: Use prototypes, not just mockups, so everyone can feel the flow before it’s built. For instance: Instead of saying “let’s change the navigation layout,” I say: “Users took 3x longer to find this feature. What if we simplified the menu so they get there in one click?” That way, it’s not a debate of taste. It’s a conversation about results. The real secret? ✨ When users win, clients win too. Engagement goes up, frustration drops, and the business achieves its goals faster. So here’s my question to you: Founders and clients, are you looking for design that feels beautiful and performs beautifully for your users? Let’s talk. 🚀

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 (𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁) 🎯 It's not that designers don't want to validate their work. It's that they don't have the luxury to. Designers KNOW they should validate. They WANT to run user tests. They WANT to measure impact. But then reality hits: "We need this shipped by Friday." "We don't have budget for user testing." "The CEO wants to see it live ASAP." So designers ship without certainty. They hope it works. This isn't a designer problem. It's a business problem. Stakeholders want velocity. Speed. Quick wins. What they DON'T want: "We need 2 weeks of research first." The result? Designers spend 80% designing and 20% validating. Backwards from what should happen. Here's what I realized: The products that actually solve user problems long-term? They're built on understanding + validation, not speed. But the entire industry is structured to reward shipping over solving. We celebrate "shipping fast." We don't celebrate "validating thoroughly." We measure: "Did we launch?" We should measure: "Did it actually work?" This is why I'm vocal about data-driven design: Because if validation becomes the EXPECTATION, not the exception, everything changes. If designers can say: "Here's the data proving this works" instead of "Trust me, it looks good", suddenly validation has VALUE. Suddenly it's business critical. So yes, designers WANT to validate their work. But first, we need to create an industry that LETS them. What's stopping validation in YOUR company? Budget? Timeline? Leadership buy-in? 👇 #ProductDesign #DesignCulture #DataDrivenDesign #UserValidation