Design Thinking Process

A human-centered framework for solving fuzzy problems. Not a linear sequence — a set of modes you move between as you learn.

"Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer's toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success." — Tim Brown, IDEO

The 5 Phases

1. Empathize — Understand the Human Need

Goal: Deep, emotional understanding of users' context, needs, and pain points.

Activities:

• User interviews (open-ended, 5-8 per segment)
• Contextual inquiry (observe in their environment)
• Diary studies (longitudinal, self-reported)
• Competitive analysis (how are they solving this now?)