1. Design Thinking Action Lab
Take It Home: Apply Design Thinking
Assignment 9
Stanford University
Student: Andy Hemsley

2. Reflection – key learning
• Process – to be most effective in solving problems, it is more productive to follow a systematic process and
leverage from informed decisions before implementing a final solution. First understand the real issues,
user motives and influencing factors, then create a horizon for creative thinking and engage direct
feedback on simple test solutions, accommodate early stage failure and allow subsequent iteration
without wasting effort.
• Empathy – this was the foremost takeaway for me in this course. While it’s important to build a quality
solution with useful features, it is vital to develop solutions via direct feedback from the people that will
use them. The outcome should add tangible value and enrich the lives of its users, based on their actual
needs.
• Iteration – I confirmed that prototyping is most effective when kept simple, using readily available
resources and materials. Prototypes should be easily accessible, handled, played with or visualised by
‘testers’ that are emotionally connected to the problem that the solution is being designed for. Prototypes
don’t need to be perfect representations of the potential solution. A ‘minimal viable product’ enables
quicker changes to be made as testers feedback on what does and doesn’t work for them;
Aim-Fire-Adjust-Repeat….. until the most effective solution can be implemented.

3. The Process map
Empathise
Ask leading
questions.
Listen, observe and
document feedback
 Build a picture of
the problem scenario
 Understand the
emotive experience of
the user
 Understand the
influencing
factors, environment
and apparent
roadblocks
Define
 Create a statement
that reflects examples
of the problem and
the users experiencing
it
 Present an open
question about the
core problem that
motivates creative
responses and avoids
a narrow horizon to
potential solutions
Ideate
 Cultivate as many
plausible, bold and
disruptive ideas
 Don’t avoid what is
seemingly impossible
 Allow for ideas to
influence multiple
directions and
approaches
 Identify the top
three potential
solutions
Prototype
 Don’t aim for
perfection
 Create simple
representations of
potential solutions
(minimal viable
products)
 Accommodate
hands on, user
interactions
 Be creative but
allow for rapid
iteration based on
user feedback
Test
 Engage multiple
testers
 Capture the
physical and
emotional responses
of the tester
 Gather user
feedback on features
that work, don’t work
or are missing
 Be prepared to
make changes to the
prototype
 Iterate –
add, remove features
and re-test

4. Moving forward
• At work – Rather than focus on implementing changes to operational processes based on my
assumptions about what should work, I will employ the ‘design thinking’ process and engage
my process users to understand how changes could affect them. My team will then be able
to make informed decision on improvements through a co-creation approach that results in a
productive outcome for all stakeholders.
• At home – The ‘design thinking’ process will engage emotive buy-in from all members of my
family and create an environment where everyone is given stewardship of how we make
changes to our household, the activities we share and create harmony.
• In life – The ‘design thinking’ process has taught me that everybody has a unique take on
their surroundings and how they navigate problems that affect them. Taking time to
understand how problems impact people and leveraging from their interactions and feedback
will help me to add value now that I have the capability to help them find solutions.
How will I use ‘Design Thinking’ in the future?