Are you trying to solve complex or multifaceted problems? Or maybe you have problems that prevail despite previous attempts to find and implement solutions? Collective Results has been guiding organizations through a Design Thinking approach to find innovative solutions that work.
Wait, what is Design Thinking?
Design thinking (DT) is a creative problem solving process or framework that aims to tackle large, messy or wicked problems, problems where past solutions haven’t worked, or where high uncertainty exists. The design thinking process seeks to find better solutions using human centered methods, a possibility driven outlook, and iterative design process. This process leads to innovation, which may lead to differentiation or a competitive advantage and more impactful outcomes.
What makes the Design Thinking process different from regular problem solving?
The Design Thinking (DT) process always starts with real people at the forefront. Deep understanding of the lives and needs of those impacted by the problem are foundational and occur before solutions are generated. People experiencing or touched by the problems are directly involved in the work. Gaining human perspectives and understanding helps project leads reframe the definition of the problem to be solved.
Design thinking is also possibility driven. Rather than being initially confined by budget, a proposed solution or other organizational constraints, DT starts more broadly, generating multiple ideas that could solve the problem at hand. It asks “what if anything were possible?” and anticipates multiple new ideas and solutions that can later be tested with real people and for feasibility. In DT, the more new ideas, the better.
Finally, what makes DT different from typical problem solving is that it is iterative. A variety of new ideas are tested at small scale in real world, real time settings so that they can be refined and altered. The expectation is that an idea won’t be 100% right from the beginning, it will be refined over time until it is successful.
Ready to start solving your complex problems?
If you’re facing challenges that traditional problem-solving methods haven’t resolved, it might be time to consider Design Thinking. At Collective Results we have been leading organizations through this human-centered process to help them find innovative, effective solutions- and we can lead you too!
Recently we have used DT to support a redesign project for an access and intake model for children and youth mental health services, and with another project aimed at the creation and implementation of a coordinated and continuous system of care for infant and child development.
Want to learn more about these phases and how we can use the Design Thinking process to help you? Connect with us to see if this, or our other services can support you!
References
Liedtka, J., Salzman, R., & Azer, D. (2017). Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Toolkit for Managers. Columbia Business School Publishing.
Nielsen Norman Group. (2016). Design Thinking 101. Accessed from: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/design-thinking/ January 9, 2025.
