Design Thinking for Non-Designers

Today we discuss the core concepts behind Design Thinking and how you can apply them in a non-designer career.

Components of Design Thinking

• Human Centered – having empathy for the people you are designing products and services for
• Integrative – looking at situations in a different way, thinking through the consequences of those decisions, and ultimately coming up with new solutions that go way beyond just improving the existing alternatives
• Action Oriented - Design Thinking is much less about thinking and more about discussing and working through problems. The most optimal way to do this is through prototyping and testing
• Iterative - the road to a successful solution is definitely not a straight line and requires rework, feedback, and rethinking throughout the process

We also discuss several resources during the discussion

• IDEO Design Thinking
• Why Design Thinking Works - HBR
• Natasha Jen: Design Thinking Is Bullsh*t
• George Makes a Stand / Curious George Sees the Light