The 5 Stages of the Design Thinking Process

Design thinking is more than just a buzzword—it’s a powerful approach that has transformed the way companies tackle complex problems. In a rapidly evolving business landscape, innovation and creativity are essential, but finding effective solutions to ill-defined or ambiguous challenges can feel overwhelming. That’s where the Design Thinking Process comes in. By focusing on empathy, collaboration, and iteration, this five-stage process helps businesses uncover insights, generate innovative ideas, and implement user-centered solutions. In this blog, we’ll break down each stage of design thinking, from empathizing with users to testing prototypes, and explore how this framework can help you drive meaningful innovation. Whether you’re a designer, developer, or entrepreneur, mastering design thinking will equip you with the tools to solve problems and propel your career forward.

What Is the Design Thinking Process?

The Design Thinking Process is a five-step approach that involves taking a point of view and developing an idea or outcome from it. It’s important to note that this isn’t always a linear process, and can vary depending on the circumstances of the situation you’re looking at.

While there are five distinct stages to it, the idea or outcome you’re looking for could be found at any stage. In many cases, this leads to the repetition of a previous stage, hence making it non-linear.

The Origin of the Design Thinking Process

The term “Design Thinking Process” was coined in the 1990s, but this innovation methodology has been in practice since the mid-1900s. It stemmed from studies that were based on the development and methods of creativity.

In the 1970s, the term “wicked problem” emerged. It regarded problems that were difficult to define and unsolvable using standard methods. Such problems require alternative solutions like design thinking.

In the last couple of decades, design thinking has become very prominent. Universities offer courses covering it, and it’s now a popular methodology that a lot of huge companies like Samsung and Nike make use of.

The Five Stages of Design Thinking

Design thinking is all about creative problem-solving. While the process isn’t set in stone, there are five standard design process steps that are used to solve complex problems. Let’s take a closer look at each step.

Stage 1: Empathize

The whole process of design thinking starts with empathy. At this point, the design team needs to ignore any biases or differences and work together.

This helps them understand the users they’re targeting along with their needs. They can often do this through observation and engagement.

It’s easy to underestimate the importance of this step as it doesn’t actually involve solving a problem. In reality, however, it’s one of the most important stages. This is because it’s almost impossible to solve a problem users have without understanding what they want.

Empathy helps create a connection between designers and users. There are several research strategies that help identify and define problems. For example, in fields like cybersecurity, understanding user behavior is critical to design systems that protect against potential threats.

Interviews are a useful approach, as designers can ask users questions directly. This helps them understand users’ challenges and points of view.

Questionnaires and surveys are also useful here. You can better determine what people think of your current solutions as well as their own needs.

Observation allows you to see how users interact with the current product and their environment. This will let you get a view of their thoughts and feelings in action.

An empathy map is a visual tool that design teams often use. It creates a summary of users’ thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Color psychology is another visual tool that involves using different color patterns to invoke certain psychological effects. This can impact the branding colors that you implement.

Stage 2: Define

After the empathy stage, you should have a good understanding of users’ wants and needs. From here, you can define the problem.

Analyze the data collected in the first stage to determine the issue. It’s important to specify a clear and concise product statement. This will dictate the rest of the process.

Data analytics is often one of the most complicated parts of design thinking. You can train through Coding Temple and learn how to effectively analyze all kinds of data.

Problem statements are crucial as they give a clear outline of the audience’s challenges. With this, it becomes much easier to resolve the problem.

It also helps ensure the user’s perspective remains the central focus of the approach. Without this, it can be easy to look at things more from the company’s perspective, and this can lead to worse results. User-centered design is a key element of the design thinking process, so this viewpoint should remain throughout.

During this phase, there are a few methods that are commonplace.

Data analysis is crucial. By understanding the data in the empathy stage, it becomes much easier to define the problem.

The “5 Why’s” method is an iterative, interrogative technique. It helps find the root cause of a certain problem.

Building user personas is also vital here. It helps build an archetype based on users’ needs.

Stage 3: Ideate

The ideation stage is all about exploring potential solutions. The ideas that are found here will serve as the foundation for prototypes that will be tested later on.

One of the most crucial things that will help this stage run smoothly is that judgments should be left behind. Design teams shouldn’t consider potential barriers like feasibility or budgetary constraints.

It’s all about being creative and thinking outside the box to come up with as many innovative solutions as possible. Not all solutions will be suitable, but there are no wrong answers here. Design teams use several common techniques to generate ideas.

Brainwriting involves writing ideas down on a sheet of paper and passing it along throughout a design team. Each person will add to the ideas on the paper until a certain time limit is reached. The team will then gather the ideas and review them.

Sketching is used to visualize ideas. It’s a great way to communicate ideas clearly and it’s time-efficient.

Round-robin brainstorming is a classic approach that starts with the “How Might We” prompt. Designers can put forward their ideas, and the team can then work together to further develop them.

Mind maps and flow charts work well as visual approaches. Not only do they involve building ideas, but showing how they connect with one another. From this, a team can often classify ideas and identify any patterns that occur.

SWOT analysis takes a look at ideas and helps a team determine how good they are. It observes the strengths, weaknesses, external opportunities, and threats that may be present.

Stage 4: Prototype

Now that a team has some ideas generated, they can start testing them out. The ideas don’t need to be finalized at this point; they’re simply presenting possible solutions. These prototypes are typically scaled-down versions of some of the products found in the ideation stage.

Through software engineering, for example, you can develop platforms that allow you to test features and functions so you can see how it performs. This isn’t just in terms of it solving a problem, but also in making sure it’s feasible and determining if there are any challenges in the way. There are a few prototyping techniques that businesses commonly use.

Wireframes are low-fidelity prototypes that give the basic layout of an interface or product. They’re clear and easy to understand.

Low-fidelity prototypes are cost- and time-efficient solutions. You can use them to express broad concepts and ideas. It’s possible to produce them with little design work, so you can test them quickly.

High-fidelity prototypes are more involved. They’re realistic and are close to what the final product will be. This takes more time and money but gives a more accurate representation of the final product.

Stage 5: Test

This is the final stage and involves real users. Prototypes are given to participants, who can then give feedback on their experience. Gathering this feedback and analyzing it allows a team to determine how suitable a solution is.

They can observe what works well and what doesn’t, allowing them to make further refinements. As this is a part of the whole non-linear process, it often results in a team going back to a previous step. After testing, it may become clear that a product needs certain changes to make it more suitable.

Quality assurance is key here as it allows a team to ensure a product is as good as it can be. The Coding Temple can help train you to become a QA professional.

Usability testing is a common tool used here. It determines how usable a product is after allowing a group of target users to test it.

Beta launching is another technique that involves releasing a prototype to a certain group for them to try. They can see how usable it is, identify bugs, and determine how well it meets their needs.

Design Thinking Exercises

Design thinking exercises are activities that teams use to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving throughout the process. These exercises help groups generate ideas, refine concepts, and test solutions effectively. Here are some popular exercises used during different stages of design thinking:

• Empathy Mapping: In the Empathize stage, teams can use empathy maps to better understand user needs and emotions. This involves filling out sections on what users say, think, do, and feel about a particular problem.
• Crazy 8s: During the Ideate phase, this exercise encourages rapid idea generation. Participants fold a sheet of paper into eight sections and draw eight distinct ideas in just eight minutes, pushing for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Dot Voting: To prioritize ideas in the Ideate stage, team members can use dot voting, where each participant is given a set number of dots (stickers) to vote on the ideas they find most promising.
• Role-Playing: Teams can simulate real-life scenarios to see how a user might interact with a product. This exercise is particularly useful in the Prototype and Test stages to gain a better understanding of the user experience.
• “How Might We” Questions: This technique is used in the Define stage to reframe problem statements as opportunities for innovative solutions. The phrase “How might we…” opens the door for brainstorming ways to address user needs creatively.

These exercises foster a deeper understanding of the problem and facilitate finding the most impactful solutions.

Benefits of Design Thinking

Design thinking offers several advantages for teams and organizations, especially when dealing with complex or “wicked” problems:

• User-Centric Approach: Design thinking keeps the user’s needs at the forefront, ensuring that the final solution is not only functional but also meaningful and relevant to the target audience.
• Encourages Innovation: By focusing on empathy, creativity, and collaboration, design thinking encourages teams to think outside the box and explore novel approaches that traditional problem-solving methods may overlook.
• Reduces Risk: The iterative nature of design thinking allows for continuous testing and refinement. This minimizes the risk of failure by identifying and addressing issues early in the process.
• Promotes Collaboration: The process brings together diverse perspectives, encouraging cross-functional teamwork. Different insights and expertise lead to more comprehensive solutions.
• Adaptable Framework: Design thinking can be applied to various fields such as technology, healthcare, education, and business, making it a versatile problem-solving tool.

The benefits of adopting design thinking extend beyond solving individual problems; it creates a culture of innovation that can propel an organization forward.

Design Thinking in the Real World

Numerous organizations have successfully applied design thinking to address complex challenges and drive innovation. Here are some real-world examples:

• Airbnb: Facing stagnant growth in its early years, Airbnb used design thinking to reimagine the user experience. By empathizing with users, the company redesigned its website, focusing on high-quality photos and storytelling. This shift contributed significantly to its rapid growth.
• IBM: IBM has embraced design thinking across its teams to enhance collaboration and creativity. The approach has helped the company develop user-focused solutions, improve customer satisfaction, and increase productivity.
• GE Healthcare: GE used design thinking to redesign its MRI machines for pediatric patients. By creating a more kid-friendly environment with themes like “pirate adventure,” they reduced anxiety in children undergoing MRI scans and improved the overall patient experience.
• Nike: Known for its innovative products, Nike applies design thinking to create footwear that meets both performance and aesthetic needs. The Nike Flyknit, a lightweight shoe designed with sustainability in mind, is an example of a product developed through this approach.
• Government Services: Some public sector agencies have applied design thinking to improve services, such as simplifying processes for citizens or enhancing emergency response systems.

These examples demonstrate how design thinking helps organizations across industries solve problems creatively and deliver more effective solutions.

Tips for Successful Design Thinking

To maximize the benefits of design thinking, consider these practical tips:

• Embrace a Growth Mindset: Approach problems with an open mind and a willingness to learn. View challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.
• Iterate Often: Don’t be afraid to revisit earlier stages. The design thinking process is non-linear, and looping back to redefine the problem or generate new ideas is part of the journey.
• Involve Diverse Perspectives: Teams should consist of people with varied backgrounds and skills. This diversity leads to richer insights and more innovative solutions.
• Encourage a Bias Toward Action: Prototype and test ideas quickly to gather feedback. Waiting for perfection can delay progress; instead, aim for learning as you build.
• Foster Empathy: Keep the user’s needs at the core. Continuously seek to understand their experiences, preferences, and pain points, even during the later stages.
• Document the Process: Keep track of each step, from insights gathered during empathy exercises to feedback from testing. This helps refine the solution and provides a roadmap for future projects.

These tips can help ensure a more effective design thinking experience and lead to better outcomes.

Design Thinking Tools and Resources

There are various tools and resources available to support teams in each stage of the design thinking process:

• Tools:
  • Empathy Mapping Templates: Use tools like Miro or Lucidchart to create digital empathy maps that the team can easily access and edit.
  • Mind Mapping Software: Tools like XMind or MindMeister help organize ideas visually during the Ideate stage.
  • Prototyping Software: Use software like Figma, Sketch, or InVision to create high-fidelity prototypes for testing.
  • User Testing Platforms: Services like UserTesting or Lookback allow teams to gather feedback from real users during the Test stage.
• Books:
  • Change by Design by Tim Brown: Provides insights into how design thinking can transform organizations.
  • Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley: Explores how individuals can unleash their creativity through design thinking.
  • The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman: Offers a look at the principles of user-centered design.
• Online Courses:
  • IDEO U: Provides a variety of courses on design thinking and innovation.
  • Coursera: Offers design thinking courses from leading universities like Stanford.
  • Coding Temple: Coding Temple’s programs include elements of design thinking, such as user-centered design in technology projects.
• Podcasts and Blogs:
  • The Design Better Podcast: Features interviews with design leaders discussing the application of design thinking.
  • IDEO Blog: Provides stories, tips, and case studies about design thinking.

Utilizing these tools and resources will help teams navigate the design thinking process more effectively, ultimately leading to better solutions.

Are You Ready to Experience The Design Thinking Process?

Coding Temple can help you develop the skills needed to effectively implement the Design Thinking process. You can get certified through our coding bootcamp and become an expert in data analytics. If you’re ready to get started, apply today!