Why I Prefer Design Thinking + Double Diamond Over Agile for Design and Development
I’ve tried a bunch of different approaches when it comes to design and development projects, but I keep coming back to the combo of Design Thinking and the Double Diamond. It’s like my secret weapon for creating awesome stuff that people actually want to use. Here’s why I think it kicks Agile’s butt, especially for those projects that are a bit more complex:
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1. Get Inside People’s Heads (and Hearts): Design Thinking is all about putting yourself in the shoes of the people you’re designing for. It’s about understanding what makes them tick, what frustrates them, and what they secretly dream of. Agile is cool with getting feedback, but Design Thinking goes deeper. We’re talking about discovering those hidden needs that users might not even be aware of themselves. The Double Diamond’s “Discover” phase is like a magnifying glass, helping you really zoom in on those insights that lead to the kind of ideas that make you go “Aha!”
2. Explore ALL the Crazy Ideas: The Double Diamond is like a playground for ideas. It starts with this wide-open phase where you explore every wild possibility you can think of. It’s like brainstorming on steroids. Then, you gradually narrow things down until you have a few solid options to work with. This is different from Agile, where you’re often focused on getting something out the door quickly. The Double Diamond makes sure you don’t miss out on those “out-of-the-box” solutions that could be real game-changers.
3. Get Everyone on the Same Page: Ever been on a project where everyone seems to have a different idea of what you’re building? Design Thinking helps with that. It uses visual tools like sketches and prototypes to get everyone’s brains thinking in the same direction. The Double Diamond’s “Define” phase is like a team huddle, where everyone agrees on the problem you’re tackling before you start building anything. It’s like a roadmap that keeps everyone from wandering off in different directions.
4. Stay Nimble (Even When Things Get Messy): Agile is supposed to be all about flexibility, but the Double Diamond is even more adaptable. It’s built for those projects where things are constantly changing or the problem you’re solving is a bit of a mystery. You can cycle through the “Discover” and “Develop” phases over and over again, getting smarter and tweaking your solution each time. It’s like having a built-in reset button for your project.
5. Happy Users = Happy Life: At the end of the day, we all want to create stuff that people love. Design Thinking and the Double Diamond put users front and center throughout the whole process. You’re constantly getting feedback and making changes based on what real people want. Agile can sometimes get so focused on checking off boxes that it forgets who it’s all for. With Design Thinking and the Double Diamond, you’re always reminded that happy users are the ultimate goal.
The Bottom Line: Agile is great for some things, but when it comes to complex design and development challenges, I’ll always choose Design Thinking and the Double Diamond. It’s the perfect recipe for creating innovative, user-friendly solutions that leave a lasting impact.
