TIM HAMPTON

RepeatableGenius.com

FOR SMALL BUSINESS ANDENTREPRENEURS

DESIGN THINKING

DesignThinking

Design thinking focuses on empathy and

experimentation to create innovative

solutions.

It allows decisions to be based on what

users really want without relying on gut

instincts or evidence from the past.

From design but for allIt is called Design Thinking because it emerged from the design

community, but it can be applied to any creative endeavour.

Design Thinking is not design.

It is a way of thinking designers use, to ensure that their designs are not

just creative, but actually useful

Human Centered

Design thinking is human centered, which means the

goals of the innovation are framed from the user’s

perspective, not a set of technical specifications.

Identify who your real user is.

Hint: usually not your boss!

Who is being

served?

Don’t focus on specs. Focus on what it does for the end

user.

Focus on outcomes

What do

they want?It doesn’t matter how many cubic fortnights per nanometer your device

can create - what matters is how well it meets a human need.

Observe by walking around

You may know a lot already about what your users need. You may

learn a lot by Googling.

To get a truly novel understanding of what your users' needs are, you

need to leave your desk and visit them.

What is theproblem weare solving?You've put the time in and observed your users

and their needs.

Now frame their needs in a way that lets you

take action. What is the target you are shooting

for?

The best problem statement gives direction

but doesn't presuppose a solution.

"Users need a phone with a bigger

keyboard."

Bad problem statement:

Good problem statement:

"Users need an easier way to

communicate with a phone."

What areour ideas?

Gather as a group so that a variety of expertise

and perspectives is assembled.

Try to generate as many ideas as possible - not

only because each one may be the best

solution - but because each idea may inspire

the next better idea.

The goal is divergent thinking - producing lots

of different ideas. Avoid narrowing your focus

in this step.

This is the fun part!

What's ourbest idea?

Time to filter!

The divergent thinking step will present you with -

hopefully - many different ideas.

Now you need to narrow down to a winner -

a candidate for prototyping. This is

convergent thinking.

This is a best guess and you can

always return to your other

candidate ideas if the reaction

to your prototype isn't

great.

How can we(cheaply) showour idea?

If you go to a new restaurant and order a pizza, chances are the pizza you

get won't exactly match what you had in mind. It's the same with any

prototype.

Since neither you nor your user are mind readers, seeing the idea - and

seeing the reaction - is vital.

The more you can show your idea physically and gather feedback on it

the clearer your shared understanding with your user will be.

Tesla didn't build an entirely new car to gauge demand for high

performance electric sedans. They first stuffed an electric drivetrain into

a Mercedes CLS and covered it with body panels - some held on with

magnets!

The point was to get feedback on the car before going to the expense of

ramping up manufacturing.

Show don't tell

Are we thereyet?

Back to the drawing board?

If the reaction to your prototype wasn't enthusiastic,

don't despair.

If you planned your prototype correctly you learned

which assumptions were invalid and have enough

information for your next round of ideas and another

prototype.

With each round you are getting closer to

understanding what your user wants, and what you can

create.

This can take a while, so keep each prototype as

inexpensive as possible while still testing assumptions.

Just ship already?

or

Congratulations! The feedback was positive and you are

ready to sell your product. This opens up a whole new

avenue of feedback from paying customers.

You're not done - but you are in business. Use the

feedback to inspire your repeatable genius.

My name is Tim Hampton and my mission is to learn and share

techniques for innovation that you can apply in your work -

either as a solo entrepreneur or as a change leader in your

organization.

My belief is that we all possess genius - the ability to produce

something new and innovative.

My mission

Hi, I'm Tim Hampton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetimhampton/

2019 Copyright Repeatable Genius