Design

Thinking in
Exercise
Prescription
Did You Know?
 The format for the DT exercise
was designed and distributed by
the Stanford University d.school
(Design School). We are using it
with their full permission.
Credits
Prototyping materials were
funded by the UAB Quality
Enhancement Plan (QEP) grant.
 Brief overview of design thinking process

Mindset warm-ups

Agenda
Design exercise

Debriefing/takeaways
Caveats

Pace Openness Trust

Fast pace Stay open! Trust the process.

Avoid censorship.
What is
design
thinking?
A Step-by-Step Process for
Innovation
The Design Thinking Process
Some
SomeDesign
DesignThinking
ThinkingGurus
Gurus

Photo credits: Goodreads, Book Depository, Groom Talent, IDEO, Stanford dSchool
Mindset Warm-Ups
Yes, and…
 Alternate between partners

1-2-3…
Listen carefully for instructions!
Design Experience
Dr. Ponder wants to lose weight and get healthy in 2020!
Empathize

• Human-centered design process

• Who are users? What is important to them?
• To empathize:
1. Observe: View users and their behavior in the context of their lives
2. Engage: Interview and interact with users
3. Immerse: Experience what your user experiences
• Dig deeper!
Four-Minute
Interview
with Dr.
Ponder: What do you
Make Notes need to know?
on Initial
Impressions
 Discuss interview
results with your
Two-Minute team.
Interview:
Dig Deeper!
What else do you
need to know?
Reflect to Reframe

• What does Dr. Ponder

need?
NEEDS • What is she trying to do?
• Use verbs
Reflect to Reframe

• What did you learn about Dr.

Ponder’s feelings?
INSIGHT • What insight did you gain about
S Dr. Ponder’s values, perspectives,
or worldviews?
Define

• Define a specific and meaningful problem

• Unpack and synthesize empathy findings into compelling needs and
insights
• Develop an actionable problem statement: Your point of view
Define the
problem
Ideate

• Explore a wide variety of solutions in quantity and diversity of ideas

• Go beyond the obvious
• Harness the collective perspectives and strengths of your team
• Uncover unexpected areas to explore
 Ideate
https://youtu.be/cmoWCSyujPY
 Capture feedback
Share your solutions with your team and get feedback.
 Reflect,
iterate,
generate
What is the best solution to the
problem?
Prototype

• Getting ideas out of your head into a physical form

• With prototyping, you can:
1. Gain empathy: deepen your understanding of the user
2. Explore: build to think, develop multiple solutions
3. Inspire: by showing your vision
Prototype!
Testing

• Refine solutions and make them better

• Let your user experience your prototype
• Have users talk through their experience
• Actively observe
• Follow up with questions
• Use a feedback capture grid
Test your
solution!

Get feedback!

Refine!
 Final Thoughts

• “Fail” is not a four letter word – it’s how you try things
• Fail quickly and cheaply
• Faster is better than perfect
• Your idea is not your baby
• Your idea is perfect when your user loves it