Understanding the Importance of “Design Thinking” When Starting a Startup

What is Design Thinking?
Design thinking is a design methodology that provides a solution-based approach to problem solving. This design thinking is very useful in overcoming complex problems by understanding the human needs involved, by reframing problems, in a human-centered way, by creating many ideas in brainstorming sessions, and by adopting a direct approach in making prototype ideas and testing.

Design thinking has several important elements, namely:

1. People centered: in this method, it is important to emphasize that every action taken is centered on what the user wants and needs.
2. Very creative: in using this method, creativity can be used freely, no need for rules that are too rigid and standard.
3. Practice: the design process requires direct testing by the design team, not just theory making or illustration on paper.
4. Iterative: the design process is a process with stages that are carried out repeatedly to improvise and produce a good product or application.

Process design thinking will produce products that can not only be sold or use the most sophisticated technology. This method combines the needs of the user or the user, with the appropriate technological capabilities, and still makes something that can succeed as a business.

In making a product or application with design thinking method, the following steps will be repeated as many times as needed to produce the appropriate product:

1. Empathize

When you already know the user or users to be addressed, then a designer needs to know the experience, emotions, and situation of the user. Trying to position yourself as a user so that you can truly understand user needs. This can be done by conducting interviews, observing the user’s life, and other ways.

2. Define

After the designer understands user needs, then the designer needs to describe an idea or view of the user that will be the basis of the product or application to be made. This can be done by making a list of user needs and using knowledge about the conditions that are happening.

3. Ideate

With existing needs, the designer needs to describe the solutions that are needed. This can be done by evaluating with the design team by combining the creativity of each designer.

4. Prototype

Pre-existing ideas need to be directly implemented in an application or trial product. A real product needs to be produced and possible usage scenarios.

5. Test

From the product or trial application that has been made, an experiment will be conducted with the user. From the user experience in using a trial product, input will be obtained to make a better product and make improvements to existing products.

Attention:
at these five stages if there is a failure at one stage can return to the stage that allows it can be repaired. Examples at the Ideate stage do not result in problem solving, so they can return to the Emphasis stage.