Reflective Report On Design Thinking: Key Learnings And Action Plan

Design Thinking Process

Design thinking process: 

Innovation of the products as well as process have always been important things for the successful business of the companies. The more they innovate, the more they gain competitive advantage (Brenner, Uebernickel & Abrell, 2016). With an aim to realize this concept of innovation, design thinking has been found to be the most important aspect as without imaginative ideas, no innovation can take place. According to the scholars like Brenner, Uebernickel and Abrell (2016), the mindset of design thinking is one of the most important matter in attaining innovation in the current business setting. The companies entail specific designers in their projects so that they can improve their existing products by incorporating different and user-friendly features or produce new items (Liedtka, 2015). These products may have good success in the competitive market but does not amaze the customers which factor actually differentiates the companies from the other competitors. In this regard, our mentor had referred to the company like IDEO which is well reputed for its innovative products and worked with even Apple Inc. in some projects.

Design theory:

In the creative design course, we have gone through some of the activities which were presented perfectly in my blogs. During this course, I have gained an intense knowledge about the theoretical background of the design thinking process. Design theories involve the fundamentals as well as principles that help the designers to create a visual communication (Schippers, West & Dawson, 2015). This mainly deals with the process of our own point of view in perceiving the changed visual information. The theories in one hand assisted to intensify the knowledge and on the other hand supported the reasons why different companies are designing products and launching them in different manners (Prokhorov & Chernov, 2015). From the course study I have gained knowledge about the design theories such as convergent and divergent thinking, logical reasoning, philosophical worldview, action research, creative learning spiral and co-creation or co-design.

From these design theories I have understood these are the mainstay that manipulate the ideas of style, trend and demand for necessities of the markets (Liedtka, 2015). These are the originating factors of different types of innovation models as well as technologies which the current companies are applying for gaining competitive advantage. I have understood that the designers in the real-world business actually use these design theories to define wicked problems and find solution of them. as mentioned I the blog 1, I have increased my analytical power and started to indulge in logical reasoning process in defining issues and understand any matter in the practical world. Moreover, the activities have helped me to change my mindset and understanding about the creative thinking process. I gained immense confidence after studying this activity and will effectively used my thinking capability in facing challenges. This have assisted me to develop my core values like managing uncertainty, value observation, open mindedness, attentiveness and intention to learn.

Design Theory

Design problems:

During the design thinking process course the mentor had identified that the designers in the real-world business context face different types of problems. These problems can be related to mainly the infrastructure of the company and support of technological advancement to design or redesign the products (Prokhorov & Chernov, 2015). This may also include the ideas related with the culture of the organization, power structures, demand of the consumers in the industry, trends, time assigned and investment to design a product properly (Peschl & Fundneider, 2014). As mentioned in the blog 2, I have need to develop obvious visualization to initiate the design thinking process. There are some very important steps as mentioned in the course study, which include setting a beginner’s mindset, solving wicked problems, human centered and empathetic, observation, experimentation and active learning, visualization, prototyping and finally presenting the design ultimately. According to Gundry, Ofstein and Kickul (2014), for producing any new service or product, the designers need to transform their ideas into action but the differentiation in the mindset of the people associated and their perspectives create issues in the successful designing of the products.

In this course I have learnt the fact that in order to eliminate the problems in the design thinking process I need to breakdown the designing tools so that I as a designer of a product can be aware of the factors bothering the successful creation of the products. This will be clarifying the whole process to me starting from the understanding of the demand of the product to the launch of it (Peschl & Fundneider, 2014). During this course, we were given a certain activity regarding basket for identifying the problems with that object. In this activity to worked in a group and practically identified the problems in the matter. To our mentor, if I can identify the problems in details it will be easy for me to solve the issues more effectively. These understanding has helped me a create deal to be more attentive and critical to observe things in detail (Gundry, Ofstein & Kickul, 2014). I have realized the importance of the observation stage in the design thinking process so that I effectively use the different equipment needed to fix the problems and transform the creative ideas into action (Kocielnik et al., 2018).

As mentioned in the blog 3, I have developed skills regarding the subtle identification of problems and solving them effective by understanding the iterative nature of design thinking tools (Howard, Senova & Melles, 2015). In this course of creative design thinking, I have learnt about the method of redesigning the products by bringing changes based on the customer feedback. This mainly related to improve the product or service in terms of its utility and acceptance among the users (Peschl & Fundneider, 2014). I think that the demand of the customers partially helps the designers to produce an object but their reviews on the thing is more valuable as this gives the scope to bring small changes and increase the efficacy of the product (Schweitzer, Groeger & Sobel, 2016). The brainstorming activities in the class we had done, helped me to widen my understanding of personal strengths. These activities have also increased my personal development in thinking unconventionally. As mentioned by Schippers, West and Dawson (2015), this is the self-judgment procedure in which I can clearly see what lacks in me and effectively work on that matter. This particular activity about which I have mentioned in the blog 3, have helped me to gain knowledge through group discussion. We were judging different aspects of the progress of a singular design. Through group discussion, the perspectives of different individuals could be understood which compelled me to think more critically and analytically about the design (Geissdoerfer, Bocken & Hultink, 2016).

Design Problems

Design prototype:

In the blog 5, I have mentioned about my knowledge about the importance of design prototyping. It is the sample product to extend the issues related to the design in one hand and find out the way to incorporate needed changes. This is the method of studying the process as well as concept of the design in so much detail that no further issue can evolve once the design is presented (Schweitzer, Groeger & Sobel, 2016). From the activities in this course I have identified that the prototyping process may help the designers to increase experiments and find the solution of the main problems. It is the scope to manage the flaws of the design in first chance and judge its functionality, appearance software and material. In this regard I have gained in depth knowledge about different types of prototyping methods as well as techniques. The prototyping can be done before the design or after it. The fast prototyping process help the designers to be inventive in one hand and do the work faster. However, the study has also made me realize that the fast method of prototyping can be effective but not effort free.

The outcome of this type of prototyping, are rough and unrefined. In case of later prototyping method on the other hand, there are numerous composes that include building designs with more retrieved and more retailed manner. I think, this method is conceivable in developing the design thinking process. According to Lehoux et al. (2014), the chief aim I have found that prototyping is the perfect way to expand the human acumen as well as increase the human ability for illuminate all the complex problems. Based on the prototyping process, I have indulged in an extensive research process which led me to learn about different techniques like sketching, story boarding, paper prototyping, physical prototyping and wire framing for prototyping (Joyce & Paquin, 2016). These knowledge about prototyping have helped me to increase my understanding about critical aspects of design prototyping. It helped me to utilize the possible avenues to attain knowledge development (Brenner, Uebernickel & Abrell, 2016).

Design presentation and co-creation:

As I have mentioned in the blogs 6 and 7 the design presentation and cocreation are two important factors that increase the values of the design. This is the process of increasing collaboration among the stakeholders who will create, define, realize and clarify the visions of the designer (Joyce & Paquin, 2016). Co-creation has different levels which amalgamate the needs and efforts of the various departments of the companies, among the teams, among the agents and among the stakeholders associated with the design process (Schippers, West & Dawson, 2015). Design co-creation is the process of maintain a relation among the business, technology and human efforts so that the presentation of the design can be successful to gain competitive advantage in the market. Through proper design co-creation, the companies, especially the designers can evolve their products and present them effectively in the market. In this particular as I need to think about the internal and external barriers of presenting design (Martins, Rindova & Greenbaum, 2015). This can be the financial or administrative problem within the company or it can be the demand of the customers to use the design in getting all-inclusive service form one particular design. This is the reason why cocreation and presentation method have to match the desire of the stakeholders.

Design Prototype

Design research:

During this course I have gained ability to indulge in the extensive research without which no successful design can be made. The research-oriented design thinking process nullify most of the problems into their origin and increase the rate of success of the design more effectively. the mentor of the course asked us to think like a child and get into the depth of the design. In this research process the factors like mind mapping, concept development, value chain analysis and journey mapping are included which led me to test the assumption of the design along with customer co-creation so that the impact of the design presentation or improvement process can be more effective (Schweitzer, Groeger & Sobel, 2016). As mentioned in the blog 8, I have increased my knowledge about exploration, research methodologies, information composes and morals associated with the design thinking process (Schippers, West & Dawson, 2015). This activity has increased my thinking power and learnt how to capture different point of views in the ethical design thinking process.

Action plan:

Improvement factors	Actions	Time
Learning to identify opportunities of innovation	* I shall be increasing my research work about the products and method of improving design thinking process * I will make sure that I will have scopes to find out what aspects of the product needs change * I will identify the leading-edge clients giving scope for the innovation in specific circumstances.	Within three months
Learning to build effective empathizing element	* Empathizing means feeling the need of the customers so that I can have the zeal to solve problems through innovative design * I will increase the amount of knowledge about the product and demand of the market * Gaining knowledge what products are Offred to the customers both by the company I am working with as well as the rival companies	Within three months
Learning to work in a group	* In design thinking process, group discussion and analysis is important so that I can see the matter from different perspectives * Increasing my ability to work in a cross-cultural group * Communicating my ideas effective so that other can listen to me and underset my points	Within two months
Defining the researches for design thinking process	* Having a SMART goal to achieve in any design thinking project * Effectively gaining knowledge about the product I desire to create * Learning to detail various aspects of the design	Within four months
Learning to ideate and synthesizing	* Indulging more in the brainstorming processes * Asking the right questions to find needs thus gain insight * Bringing together all the perceptions   * Indulging in the team discussion to get and avoid most obvious solutions	Within four months
Learning to prototype and test the design for launching	* Learning proper method of mixing design as well as implementation of different skills * Gaining an in-depth knowledge about needed prototyping and testing methods * Learning to be prepared in having the most unexpected outcomes or feedback * Getting prepared for launching the design effectively so that there is no scope for rejecting the design	Within six months
Judging different barriers and risks regarding design	* Increasing learning about the product failure reasons and their effect * Gaining information about the barriers present in the market as well as internal environment of the organization.	Within six months

Conclusion:

Therefore, it can be concluded that in the highly competitive market, higher dependence on the design thinking process need to be increased. Proper evaluation of various real-world business innovations and involve the opinion of scholars have helped to indulge in the process of detailed analysis of creative designing activities in the course. For product, process and management innovation, design thinking process is mandatory hence theories, problems research, and prototyping process have been judged.  Through this particular course, the essences of personal development through creative thinking leading to design thinking process has been supported. The action plan has aimed to increase the efficiency and find proper way to gain knowledge.

The aim of this report is to discuss the importance of design thinking process in the current business context. Throughout the course of creative designing, the essentiality of having creativity and idealization for supporting innovation has been discussed based on which the recent business is ensuring their position in the highly competitive market (Prokhorov & Chernov, 2015). Based on a detailed analysis on eight creative designing activities, this report will critically evaluate various real-world business innovations and involve the opinion of some eminent scholars. This report will be discussing the design thinking process, design theory, design problems, design research, design prototype, launch and presentation of the design. This report will be concluded with the action plan so that one can first indulge in the self-analysis and find out the weaknesses then overcome them within a desired period of time.

References:

Brenner, W., Uebernickel, F., & Abrell, T. (2016). Design thinking as mindset, process, and toolbox: Experiences from research and teaching at the university of st.gallen. () doi:10.1007/978-3-319-26100-3_1

Daniel, A. D. (2016). Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset by using a design thinking approach in entrepreneurship education. Industry and Higher Education, 30(3), 215-223. doi:10.1177/0950422216653195

Geissdoerfer, M., Bocken, N. M., & Hultink, E. J. (2016). Design thinking to enhance the sustainable business modelling process–A workshop based on a value mapping process. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, 1218-1232.

Gobble, M. M. (2014). Design thinking. Research Technology Management, 57(3), 59-61. doi:10.5437/08956308X5703005

Gundry, L. K., Ofstein, L. F., & Kickul, J. R. (2014). Seeing around corners: How creativity skills in entrepreneurship education influence innovation in business. The International Journal of Management Education, 12(3), 529-538.

Howard, Z., Senova, M., & Melles, G. (2015). Exploring the role of mindset in design thinking: Implications for capability development and practice. Journal of Design, Business & Society, 1(2), 183-202. doi:10.1386/dbs.1.2.183_1

Joyce, A., & Paquin, R. L. (2016). The triple layered business model canvas: A tool to design more sustainable business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, 1474-1486.

Kocielnik, R., Xiao, L., Avrahami, D., & Hsieh, G. (2018). Reflection Companion: A Conversational System for Engaging Users in Reflection on Physical Activity. Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies, 2(2), 70.

Lehoux, P., Daudelin, G., Williams-Jones, B., Denis, J. L., & Longo, C. (2014). How do business model and health technology design influence each other? Insights from a longitudinal case study of three academic spin-offs. Research Policy, 43(6), 1025-1038.

Liedtka, J. (2015). Perspective: Linking design thinking with innovation outcomes through cognitive bias reduction. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 32(6), 925-938.

Martins, L. L., Rindova, V. P., & Greenbaum, B. E. (2015). Unlocking the hidden value of concepts: a cognitive approach to business model innovation. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 9(1), 99-117.

Peschl, M. F., & Fundneider, T. (2014). Designing and enabling spaces for collaborative knowledge creation and innovation: From managing to enabling innovation as socio-epistemological technology. Computers in Human Behavior, 37, 346-359.

Prokhorov, A. O., & Chernov, A. V. (2015). Self-reflection control of mental states during academic activity. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(3 S2), 277.

Schippers, M.C., West, M.A. &Dawson, J.F., 2015. Team reflexivity and innovation: The moderating role of team context. Journal of Management, 41(3), pp.769-788.

Schweitzer, J., Groeger, L., & Sobel, L. (2016). The design thinking mindset: An assessment of what we know and what we see in practice. Journal of Design, Business & Society, 2(1), 71-94. doi:10.1386/dbs.2.1.71_1