Design Thinking for Geeks

Design Thinking for Geeks
Nina Khosla & Doug Tarlow
www.youngandbrilliant.net & www.dougtarlow.com
Understand
The Design Process
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype Test
(It’s not that different from what you do, but let’s
figure out what we’re talking about anyways.)
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
“Deep dive.”
Understand.
Build Knowledge.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
“Deep dive” is a fancy term for doing research.
(lots of it)
Understand
Observe
Define

Ideate
Prototype
Test
Look with a blank slate.
Look for related and
analogous examples.
Stay as open as possible and
embrace uncertainty.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Watching.
Interviewing.
Learning.
Stalking.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Ethnography.
Developed to
study tribes
like these
Understand
Observe

Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Ethnography.
and adapted
to study tribes
like these.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
How do I do it?
Observations: It’s not stalking, but it’s close.
The Ethnographic Interview: It’s not about you (or your
product), its about them.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
How do I do it?
Observations: It’s not stalking, but it’s close.
The Ethnographic Interview: It’s not about you (or your
product), its about them.
In the digital space?
Usability +

tracking tools
Observing in
“public” spaces
User interviews +
walkthroughs
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Needfinding.
What are needs?
Needs != Solutions
(VERBS) (nouns)
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Needfinding.
What are needs?
Various levels of needs:
Common
Context
Activity
Qualifier
Need for social connection.
Need to make new connections.

Need to meet people on Meetup.
Need to join the TechNY Meetup.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Develop a point of view.
Articulate insights.
Define the problem.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Design is a convergent and divergent process.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Design is a convergent and divergent process.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype

Test
Design is a convergent and divergent process.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Design is a convergent and divergent process.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Two popular ways to create a point of view:
(User) needs (verb phrase) in a way that (way).
How might we (verb phrase)?
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Two popular ways to create a point of view:
Daniel, who uses clothes as an art form, needs
to explore the Zappos site in a way that makes
online shopping a creative experience.
Understand
Observe

Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Two popular ways to create a point of view:
Daniel, who uses clothes as an art form, needs
to explore the Zappos site in a way that makes
online shopping a creative experience.
How might we create exciting exercise
experiences for those who don’t normally
exercise?
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Two popular ways to create a point of view:
Daniel, who uses clothes as an art form, needs
to explore the Zappos site in a way that makes
online shopping a creative experience.
How might we create exciting exercise
experiences for those who don’t normally
exercise?
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test

Brainstorming.
Mindmaps.
Post it notes.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Brainstorming
(the quintessential design thinking activity).
1. Provide focus.
2. Defer Judgement.
3. Build on the ideas of others.
4. Encourage wild ideas.
5. Visualize it.
6. One conversation at a time.
7. Go for quantity not quality.
Understand
Observe
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test
Build.
Visualize.
Test.
Understand
Observe
Define

Ideate
Prototype
Test
Prototypes can be
simplified if built
to test one thing
at a time.
Form prototypes for the original Apple
mouse sitting in the Ideo offices.