Some people think that to design, one has to be an artist. Or that design comes as a flash in the minds of certain privileged people.
Which means we don't know much about the design. Design thinking is certainly not taught in most instructional design programs, if any.
I have researched, analyzed and tested the design process for the past few years. Here are ten things I want to share with you about design and design thinking.
1. Design is a process
Design thinking is a creative process of thinking backwards from humans, leading to the design of a service, a product or something else, based on the conclusions of the knowledge gathered in the process.
Design is an approach to problem solving that applies the cognitive activities of design thinking. These are the process designers leverage to idealize and create solutions.
2. Messy Design
In the design process, there is no straight path from point A to point B. Instead, think of scribbles that lead to the final destination after many detours.
3. Design requires empathy
Design involves putting yourself in the shoes of the user, whether it be a customer or a learner. It means seeing the world through their eyes. Effective designs shift thinking from technology or objects to people. It's based on what people need to improve their situation—to make things better and easier.
4. Context-based design solutions
Effective designs involve thinking about the context in which they will be used. Good design observes people in context. It requires thinking, "How will people use this object?" or "In what environment would people use this course?"
5. Design requires prototype
Good design practice quickly translates to prototyping for colleagues and users to test it out. In industrial design, this can be a prototype of a device. In eLearning, it can be part of a game or some interaction.
6. Design begs for collaboration
Great design is not possible in a vacuum environment. Design thinking is enhanced through collaboration, especially with teams from different backgrounds and fields. It makes sense that working in diverse teams will generate more ideas, provide more creative solutions to choose from or integrate.
7. Design starts with a wide range of possibilities
If we want to foster innovation and new thinking, we must start with the question "What if?" Thinking. This approach allows us to visualize solutions unhindered. Then we can deal with challenges, difficulties and obstacles later.
8. Design takes time
It is very difficult to be creative on demand. Some solutions take time to simmer and brew. Considering that design involves iterative prototypes, it takes time for the solution to be implemented.
9. Design impacts business
Design thinking impacts the bottom line. It transforms the approach to business and product or service development from one of numbers to a people-centred approach. Which one do you think is more likely to meet the needs of customers, users, and learners?
10. Design Can Change Society
Design can be more powerful than you think. Consider that every object in your home and office has been designed. How many of them are powerful enough to change the way the world works? Think of every life-changing social program and every business or service that delights its customers. They are designed through hard thinking, feedback, and iteration.
In the world of learning, we can think about what we want to change… about new approaches to helping people get the information and skills they want. Then we can use design thinking to make a difference.
