Design Thinking Resources
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Design Thinking Frameworks
Desirability, Feasibility, Viability
Design thinking brings together what is desirable from a human point of view with what is technologically feasible and economically viable.
- Desirability—What makes sense to people and for people?
- Feasibility—What is functionally possible within the foreseeable future?
- Viability—What is likely to become part of a sustainable business model?
The Creative Process
The Creative Process contains multiple cycles of iteration—with each phase, you move closer to a refined solution.
- In Divergence—teams go wide to find insights and generate new ideas.
- In Convergence—teams narrow their focus by refining ideas and synthesizing information.
Empathy Maps
Empathy mapping can help you take what you learn from observing human behavior and come away with actionable insights.
- Place observations about what people DO in the lower-left quadrant. (Use one post-it per idea.)
- Add observations of what people SAY in the upper-left quadrant.
- When you run out of observations on the left side, fill in the right side by inferring what people THINK and what they FEEL.
- Try to draw some insights or conclusions from what you have written down and shared.
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Articles on Each Phase of Design Thinking
- Frame a Question
Why Leadership is Not About Having All the Answers
A conversation with chair of IDEO Tim Brown on his evolving thoughts on creative leadership and his focus on asking better questions.
- Gather Inspiration
6 Tips From IDEO Designers on How to Unlock Insightful Conversations
Interviewing techniques from IDEO design researchers.
- Generate Ideas
10 Activities to Generate Better Ideas
Creative and inclusive exercises to help you and your team practice a divergent mindset and generate lots of great new ideas.
- Make Ideas Tangible
Why Everyone Should Prototype (Not Just Designers)
A conversation with IDEO U instructor Chris Nyffeler on the value of prototyping, how to create low-fidelity prototypes for digital products and services, and the role of technology in design.
- Test to Learn
Build Confidence in Your Strategy with Small Tests
An interview with IDEO's global director of strategy Jennifer Riel on three types of strategic tests and advice for choosing the right test.
- Share the Story
How to Be a Better Presenter
A conversation with IDEO Portfolio Director Dav Rauch on how to tap into “the storytelling reflex,” and why it’s so important to prepare your audience before diving into a presentation.
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More Guides
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Design Thinking Overview
Learn how we define design thinking, why it’s valuable, and our design thinking framework.
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Innovation Resources
Learn why creativity is essential for innovation and better understand the business case for building a creative and innovative team and organization.
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Brainstorming Resources
Steps for how to plan a brainstorming session, ideation activities, common brainstorming challenges, and a brainstorming resource library.
