Here's the thing...
Creating a blog, building design, and even creating a web site, could be easy. So much of the web is user friendly at this point, ready for anyone to tap into. For students of design thinking though, it's about understanding that that is only the beginning. We have learned to be creative problem solvers. We have learned to be listeners. We have learned that we can outsmart the status quo and create our own solutions. We have a lot to be proud of.
As we have learned the principals of design thinking, we have learned that it applies to so much more than just being a designer. Every profession benefits from the study of design thinking. we are well equipped to think through big problems and small, we are ready to solve problems in ways that go right to the heart of the issue. We know that these are not just tools for better products, better packaging, or better advertising, but rather the tools of problem solvers. The tools of design thinking can outsmart poverty, energy use, global warming, racial tensions. We are the ones that will come to the table with a way to really call attention to a better way.
It's exciting, really. There are a lot of people who see the world only in black and white. I'm loving the idea that there are some who are given the tools. There is a process. Empathy is the first step. I say empathy, but what I really mean is listening. We could all use a little more practice at listening, right? How much time do we really spend listening though? Are we able to really hear, without judgement what the people around us are saying? This class, with that first step alone, could be a powerful tool for the students who leave it. The tool of listening will serve them well.
The next step is brainstorming. As we learn to think through all the different ways a problem can be solved, we are able to see that there are many unique ways to come at it. Brainstorming is a way to see in black and white all the different shades of grey.
Problem solving can come in a million different ways. In this step we can see beyond the first ideas, because you are called to go beyond that. I love the idea that the first ideas are the obvious ones. We have process here for getting beyond that.
As we built prototypes, we held in our hands our own work. We could see how we could improve on what we had done, we could see what worked and what didn't. It is fun to have that first look at the end result. It is exciting to see how it looks, and to wonder if it can be improved on. At this point, it may be that the process needs to begin again. For some, that is the hard part. So often we want to just be done with it. But if we can see with our own eyes that the object in question isn't working, the brave take the next step and start again.
By the time implementation, the fourth step, comes along, you should know that it's right. By the time you're getting it out to your audience, if you have gone through these other steps, you should have a proud smile. Because there is a process around design thinking, you can trust that the delivery is good. We can be proud that we have put out a good product. Going back to my original statements, if you were working on things that really matter, like poverty, or clean energy, that you deliver something that is thought through on this level could really have impact. I'm proud to have this in my toolbox. I'm grateful for the learning.
Design thinking is a tool all students should leave college with. They should be challenged to take the learning into whatever walk of life they choose. As the students of today are facing great challenges, they should have the tools to meet them.
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