A Review: Design Thinking & Prototyping

Recently I read through an article from IDEO's Tim Brown in the June 2008 Harvard Business Review on how he breaks down the "art" or Design Thinking.  I refer to it as art for a few reasons, but mainly because of his use of how design thinking all surrounds a single focal point, people.  While it could be defined a science for many of the same reasons, what I read felt much like an emphasis on emotional and charismatic connections between work and designs.

For example, I was captivated by the process it describes on pages 88 and 89 where he describes a process of thinking in a metaphysical sense, which is a more cyclical and "spacial" process rather than milestone, linear processes.  This creates a radically different style of thinking when it comes to approaching issues.  If we allow ourselves to step back and approach a problem is a different way, we open ourselves to the possibility of new outcomes.

He continues by speaking about the iPod as being not the first mp3 players, but the first to "appeal to us both emotionally and functionally."  He frequently speaks to an idea of allowing for a style of thinking that juxtaposes people with solutions.  He concludes by writing "They require a human-centered, creative, iterative, and practical approach to finding the best ideas and ultimate solutions.  Design thinking is just such an approach to innovation."

I believe that this exactly where and why design firms have such an intricate part to play in the business market.  Allowing for outside thinkers to review an issue from an exterior position can help expand the view of any given situation and allow for positive growth.  Beyond that, allowing for a close relationship between the problems and the people they afflict is crucial to success.