Reflective Report On Learning And Personal Development Through Design Thinking

Importance of Design Thinking in Solving Customer Problems

Design thinking is widely considered as a method which is developed on the basis of the evaluation of the problems that are generally faced by the customers. The method has significant importance in providing viable solutions in order to solve these issues with the association of the pre-planned processes. Utilization of empathy, definition, testing, ideation and prototyping provide strong base to the implementation of the activities which are undertaken by the designers. The reason behind terming them the base of the design thinking concept is that it provides valuable insights to the designers in order assess the problems that are faced by the customers and it also helps to define, ideate, prototyping and testing of the plans for the solution of those problems according to the assessment of the problems.

The paper will be summarizing the activities carried out by an individual in the course in order to assess the different personal and knowledge development characteristics. The paper also formulates an action plan in order to answer the gaps which are recognised during the process. The main objective of the reflective assessment is to assess the gaps and the speciality of an individual in designing with a precise focus on the customer requirements and the design making skills.

I am able to evaluate the different challenges which were supposed to be faced by me in performing according to the customer preferences and he course significantly helped me in this case. I observed that my communication skills were not up to the mark in dealing with the customers. According to the study of Köppen and Meinel  (2015), empathy was considered to be one of the key features in the effective identification of the customer’s concern by positioning someone in the role of an entrepreneur. The maintenance of the effectiveness of the designs by the designers was significantly influenced by the assessment of the problems or issues that were faced by the entrepreneur.

The need of the innovative practices and the factors which are significantly influential for the innovation are recognised by the course. It was significantly influential for me in producing the assumptions regarding the requirements of the entrepreneurs. The assessment is significantly helpful in prescribing the method in which the application of the technology based design tools will be able to solve the concern of the business management. The designing characteristics are significantly improved by the introduction of the divergent and convergent methods of thinking. The restructuring of the organizational framework in order to improve the functionality of the designers in aligning their work with the customer preferences was much needed and the central attributes were focused in supporting the different aspects of the necessary restructuring. Along with that, the identification of the major issues will be having significant importance in the process of the amendments for the reduction of them.

Summary of Personal and Knowledge Development Characteristics

I observed that the course had major significance in my establishment of the emphatic approach. The establishment of the approach was highly influential for me in the assessment of the situation faced by the entrepreneurs and it was able to portray the most feasible model with the analytic description of their business offerings. The general actions in the application of the emphatic approach and the brainstorming were significant in encouraging the various roles within the designers for the purpose of effective functioning. It is significantly helpful for me in the recognition of the various gaps generated due to the absence of effective understanding of the customers’ requirements. Hence it is highly helpful for me in the consideration of initiating appropriate personality development policies in order to increase the effectiveness of the functions. I was significantly helped by the course in the production of evaluation of the problems that were faced by the entrepreneurs and that evaluation helped me to outline different frameworks in order to solve the mentioned issues.

I was exposed to a case of a day spending in the beach during the course. The brainstorming methods were the main focus as the application of the methods was significantly influential in the assumption of the possible problems which will be faced by the individuals and the various applicable modification strategies. It is highly benefitting for the designers in the assessment of the method in which the issues will be evaluated and executed. The module is highly prominent in the demonstration of the different paths which will be used for the undertaking of the logical reasoning after the perfect evaluation of the position of the business (Carlgren,   Elmquist  & Rauth,  2014). Along with this, the module has significant importance in the portrayal of the methods in which the fundamental values of the designers might be generated. In addition to this, the module is instrumental in specifying methods which the designers must undertake in order to improve their operations. The maintenance of the effectiveness of the functions are observed to be significantly benefitted from the non-linear nature of the business process.

The effectiveness of the design propositions are observed to be getting significant help from the list of the DT procedures and the roles which are in need to be played by the designers in accordance to the assessment of the customers’ concerns. The lessons of the week summed up the variety of the approaches which are needed to be undertaken by the designers. The improvement of the circumstances that the entrepreneurs faced, is triggered by outlining the chief purpose for the designers along with the week’s learning of the evaluation of the roles and responsibilities of the designers (Beverland,   Wilner  & Micheli,  2015). Along with this, the week’s learning also consists of the various range procedures that are in need to be undertaken by the designers. This was significant in the assessment of the responsibility of the designers in maintaining the organizational innovation approaches. The effectiveness of the functions will be significantly improved with the proper assessment of the customer’s requirements and the creation of the innovative ideas in accordance to those customer’s needs. The week’s assessment was significant in involving us to the blogging practices which will be highly effective in reflecting our actions so that the better understanding of the different theories related to the designing is achieved.

Action Plan to Improve Skills and Behaviors

The easy functioning of the business system will be significantly influential in ideation of a theory and the decision making in order to implement the plan on the business model. According to the statement of Fischer (2015), the production of the definition of the “persona” is considered to be one of the most important task for the designers in order to develop the pathway in accordance to the concern of the entrepreneur. The course was significantly benefitting for me in understanding the impact of the persona in the best design following the concern of the entrepreneurs. The spirit of innovation is one of the major concern which is significantly faced by the organizations. The insights of the designers in making sure the concept or the idea get more innovative is significant for the organization in the achievement of the competitive advantage even when they are conducting in a diverse market (Kim  & Ryu,  2014).       

According to Liedtka (2015), the correct utilization of the DT tools is important in a proper manner. The knowledge of how to utilize the tools have been assisted through the pre framed course schedule.  I have been privileged with the studies in the course because it has helped me to understand the application procedures of the tools, the methods of understanding the different situations and adapting to the changes. The correct adaptation to the changes are important because it helps to cater to the different requirements and tastes of the clients (Elsbach & Stigliani, 2018). I have learnt that the customer concerns must be known in order to bring innovation according to that. The planning process must be based on the empathy because empath lucidly reveals the concerns of the clients and constructing strategies in order to mitigate the issues support Glen, Suciu & Baughn, (2014).  The course has also enriched me with the knowledge of avoiding biased behavior regarding the solution of various concerns.  The course is helpful for lodging on the correct decision in the business operations in order to respond satisfactorily to the clients ‘concerns.

 According to Keyte & Locher (2016), if the designer becomes judgmental in his approach to empathize with the customer or in simple words, to put his feet on the customers’ shoes, the customer concerns cannot be known completely.  The designing process can also be affected by the personal assumption or judgement of the designer (Kolko, 2015). Hence, by the help of the course study I have learnt how to identify such prejudiced approaches and work in a manner so that all of it is eliminated. I have received deep insight into the decision making proponents and how to undertake competent designing functions. Now, I can recognize the various lines of contact incorporate necessary changes considering the variety of requirements of the customers.

 The students were given assignments after the course study which aske the to mitigate different situational issues that might come up from the designs created by them. The identification of the issues plays a major role in the entire process because it determines the entire system as per the view of Geissdoerfer, Bocken & Hultink, (2016). The logical reasoning power of the designer determines how the whole matter will be resolved strategically using accurate methodologies.  The modules exemplified such aspects in an order. We have also become familiar with the specific ley factors that contribute to bring innovation in the organization. According to Hernández-Ramírez, (2018) the designer can adopt an extensive range of approaches which has been described in a detailed manner in the module. I have known which approaches must be considered more in order to sick to the requirements of then customers.

According to the view of Stephens & Boland (2015), the proficiency of the functions can be heightened by the application of correct methodology. When the clients’ concerns are understood properly, the mind mapping elements are facilitated to a greater level. The lessons in the course study also specified the aspects of communication and aesthetics.  My communication skills have been accentuated and improved by the help of the lessons. During the interviews with the customers’ perfect communication skills are highly required in order to find out their root concern (Lake, Ricco & Whipps, 2018).  The course was also enriching as it contained suitable approaches and models according to the business requirements. The appropriate designing will be adopted by considering the requirements and concerns of the clients.

 The customer concerns can be addressed more dynamically by improving in the adaptive nature of the designer to the unknown and strange circumstances. The course is helpful for recognizing the variety of vulnerabilities during the execution of specific operations. The various designing aspects can be elaborated by the adaptive nature of the designer.  The efficiency in the operational level can be maintained by the innovativeness of the designing approaches.  The application and the utilization of the DT tools have been taught through the course lessons.  I have also known the reason behind the organization needing to undertake the innovative practices.  The market demand must be updated with by the designer in order to deal with the operations under diverse markets.

 As per the view of Andrews (2015), the designer first needs to explore and discover the need of the organization so that the design can be framed suitably in accordance with it. The identification of the need of the organization for innovation demands proper communication, otherwise it cannot be known properly. Since the course has improved my communication skills, it has become easy for me as a designer to identify the issue of the organization and work on it. The activities are delineated in a suitable framework so that the optimal performance can be achieved.  The way the designer designs the framework, the change in the organizational key elements occur according to that (Sewchurran et al.,2016).  The course made the students go through certain situational chief challenges. The students were asked to identify the issue and design a suitable framework. I have become facilitated by the various mitigation strategies for brainstorming the customer issues.

Aims	Activities	Timeline	Rationale
Establishing communication	· Preparing a written document off customer queries by conducting short questionnaire · Interacting with them freely · Using empathetic approach for understanding the issues · Recording the conversation for future help	4-5 months	The communication between the customer and the designer will help the designer to know what the client actually want and he can frame the design in accordance with the customer demand and needs. The issues can be resolved in a better way by this.
Appropriate mind mapping	·  recognizing the root cause of the issues · Using prototyping for resolving the matter in a proper manner · Relating the scope of the solution method with the identified issue	3-7 months	The mind mapping will help the designer to frame the different tasks that are to be accomplished in order to comply with the organizational innovativeness.  The use of potential mid mapping technology will support the designer to retain the proficiency of the organization by defining the schedules and costs.
Developing an adaptive nature	· Proper recognition of the issues that are being faced by the organization so that a suitable framework can be designed to resolve the issue. · Being familiar with the different circumstances	9-12 months	The more adaptive the designer will be in nature, the more he will easily operate even in diverse situations having better understood the perspectives of the clients and their positions. The innovative approach is brought together by the flexibility of operations caused by the designer.

Conclusion: 

Therefore, it can be said from the above discussion that the functioning of the business enterprises is closely linked with the designs the designers create fir them. The designer’s approach towards the customer issue helps to understand and frame the perfect design for the organization. The designer must conduct an empathetic approach towards the customer concerns, only then the customer needs can be realized properly. The paper has highlighted the variety of methods which can increase the designer’s ability to understand the issue and resolve the matter keeping in mind the organization’ s success and well –being.  The reflection part in the report focuses on the personal knowledge and skill developments of by the help of the course lessons. The report has also provided an action plan with a proper set of activities which are required to be addressed with special care by the designer.  These are empathizing, define, ideate, prototype and test. A true designer will design in such a manner keeping in terms with all the activities, that the operational approaches in different situations will be resolve and elevated.

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