Design Thinking

Overview

Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that integrates user needs, technological feasibility, and business viability. Its five stages are iterative, not linear — expect to loop back as understanding deepens.

Framework

IRON LAW: Empathize BEFORE Define, Define BEFORE Ideate

Jumping to solutions (Ideate) without understanding the problem (Define)
wastes effort solving the wrong problem. Defining the problem without
empathizing with users produces internally-focused problem statements.

The sequence matters: understand the human first, then frame the problem,
then generate solutions.