12 days of design thinking

See what we did there? Design thinking in the real world is all about overcoming problems by looking at them in a different way.

We designers look at things from two points of view: The end goal or objectives, and the humans involved in the process. Along the way we pull in as much research as possible, use strategic diagrams to help and use a lot of sticky notes. Many generated ideas – dare we say 12 – come down to a few good ones. Then we test the best with prototypes and compare the end result with those original goals. We are agnostic about the problem – you are the expert in your field, we are here to soak it up.

Every problem can be solved with design thinking:

Rule #12: Everyone needs a designer

p.s. We know the 12 days of Christmas should start on 25th December, but you should not be on LinkedIn then. Instead this is the 12 working days of Christmas. Consider this an early gift x.

Design thinking rule #11: Look at things as your outside audience does

What has AI got to do with design thinking? I would argue everything. An alien intelligence* is great for automation, for augmentation of work and for matching patterns. Use AI to get there faster, but it should never take the place of a human. Design thinking allows you to critically evaluate the results and editing. Just because you could does not mean you should.

* Yuval Noah Harari’s phrase

See the work of Obsolete.com – Work the Future

Design thinking rule #10: Use AI but humans need to check everything

Understanding your audience(s), their motivations, fears, needs is the most important part of design thinking.

Design thinking rule #9: How do your users see you?

Design thinking rule #8: Set up landing pages for different personas

Design thinking rule #7: Keep it Simple Stupid

Design thinking rule #6: Words are powerful

We design thinkers love a good diagram – these are our golden pillars.

The biggest one that I use is MOIST. To me this is pillar #1 and is used on pretty much every project. Its great way to interrogate a brief, to make or define a brief.

Another is the business graph for use when you need to know the flow of a business.

View a vast selection of diagrams for your life and work.

Design thinking rule #5: Diagrams help you think like a designer

It would amaze you how many times we have fixed a conversion issue with the addition of a button or two. People need a “click here” button to act, otherwise they don’t.

Web and digital users are busy, distracted and generally impatient with any barriers that are put in their place. They are not stupid, just distracted. Make it simple for these people.

Design thinking rule #4: Cut to the chase

Digital design is nothing without its analogue thinking, which is why a sketch book is a valuable tool.

Design thinking rule #3: Paper and pens are always best for thinking

Actually its just the one double diamond. A cornerstone of design language:

Discover > Define > Develop > Deliver

Crucially the diamond encourages you to go back and rediscover and redifine rather than getting from A-B. Something not working? It could be that the design or product is not the fault (or perhaps it was). Perhaps the brief was wrong or the research missed something.

Read more here

Design thinking rule #2: Don’t be afraid to go back

This one is about me. I am a creative technologist meaning some of you, LinkedIn folk, know me as a techie “the web guy”. Others as a designer who makes things pretty. Yet more as a project manager. Hopefully you all know me as an ideas guy who likes to get stuff done.

All of it is powered by a design way of thinking fostered at college way back in the 90’s, but evolved over 27 years in the industry. Everyone needs a designer, but not just for designs!

Design thinking rule #1: All problems can be solved with design thinking.