Experience on Design Thinking Workshop

Amit Gupta
PGP2015004
Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur
Key Takeaways
The Design Thinking workshop conducted by Tinker Labs was definitely a thought
provoking exercise. Traditionally the courses so far conducted have been
primarily knowledge driven. However, this workshop was a completely an idea
driven exercise.
Very often we look at problems, and do an analysis and number crunching based
on the data that is available. However, such process generally tends to give
results which are often mundane and cannot really bring about insights which
can actually solve a problem.
The design thinking course helped me realise the very essence of the Journey
Map.
The journey map approach is altogether a unique approach to solving problems.
The Journey map approach is a real example of connecting the dots. Any process
that occurs, is a sequence of events. A journey map approach is really useful
when there is a gap lying between sequences leading to an event making the
results not upto the desired levels.
My major takeaway from the workshop was look at any process through its
journey. This is something I had never thought of. And although sceptical in the
beginning, the approach was found to be very useful. It not only helps one find
the weak points, but also the specific areas where one needs to work upon.
After finding the areas that need to be strengthened one can actually get
additional help from the sequences preceding and following it.
Another important takeaway from the course was the Incremental
Improvement Process. Although the IDEO video had been shown to us earlier,
revisiting the Video was very useful. The toothbrush example demonstrated by
the Tinderlabs Team was very useful. Looking at the development of a product
through a journey map was not only useful, it also emphasised the value of
incremental improvements.
Incremental improvements may look very minimal in the beginning but there
effect is similar to the multiplier effect observed in the economy. An incremental
improvement can help set the platform for the next awaiting incremental

improvement. When added on top of the other they lead to significant

improvement in the product.

Thoughts and
Workshop

Emotions

during

the

The workshop divided the classroom into groups. Each group was assigned a
specific problem which the campus was facing. Our group was given the task to
solve the problem of the low turnaround of the sports events and issues with
respect to the lack of infrastructure.
This was a problem which our group had a consensus that it could not be solved
at the beginning of the task. However, our view point changed as the workshop
progressed.
The work shop was intensive. It was covered over a period of 2 days. Ususally,
when we tend to work in groups of 5 or 6, the tendencies such as group think
and dominance by a few group members generally tends to happen. However, to
my surprise this didnt happen during this workshop. The approach of looking at
a problem through a journey map breaks down a problem in to various parts,
which are clearly discrete and unambiguous.
When a process is a broken down to a journey map, we generally tend to think
very specifically at a particular area at one point of time. This approach is helpful
as it helps in generating ideas which are unique and complementary.
Another very important aspect the workshop focussed on was on generating
ideas in different situations. When we tend to think conventionally we tend to
generate ideas in the mundane manner. However, we were made to think
creatively and asked to come up with ideas that keeping those situations in
mind.
The workshop helped us to think creatively as individuals and in teams. Also we
came across some surprising facts about the situation that existed and our
perception of the situation that we thought existed.
As part of the exercise we met various stake holders that were presently involved
and also potential stakeholders such as the students of the SIT.
To our surprise we were surprised that the student body was eager to actually
have joint events with us. The only issue was that they were shy to approach us.
And we had never thought of approaching them. So collaboration was clearly a
solution that could solve the problem related to low participation in events as SIT
students could be invited to compete. Since, they already have the available
infrastructure, we could share the resources with them for the mutual benefit for
both the campuses.

Where I can apply Design Thinking

The workshop has led me to a conviction that Design Thinking is a tool which can
be applied to solve any problem. It can find important application in business
application. I intend to apply the approach of design thinking during my summer
internship. The problem can clearly be applied to market research. Its objective
approach can help in defining the questionnaire for a qualitative framework. The
journey map approach can help find the loopholes and be useful in framing
questions for evaluating responses of the respondents.
The workshop was truly an experience that would be remembered for a long time
and I would look forward for more sessions on the approach in future.