Design Thinking and Business Processes

Design thinking is a creative thinking process which enables people to generate solutions that solve problems, enhance functionality and add value to products and services. Design thinking refers to the logical, strategic and systematic processes by which creative design concepts are developed by individuals. The key to designing a design concept is the formulation of problem-solving strategies, which are based on the analysis of the needs of the customer and how best these can be addressed.


To develop and implement an idea or concept, designers must first identify a need. These needs are based on what users of the product or service want, where the problem lies and how the existing solutions can be improved.

Once these needs are identified, designers must identify the type of solution that would address each need and make the best possible use of resources. The first step in identifying the need is to define it. A need can be identified by looking at an existing problem and determining if a solution exists or not. For example, the need for an easy-to-use user interface may be easily answered by developing a simple but useful interface that would be friendly to both users and business users.

After the definition of the problem has been identified, the next step is to identify the solution by considering various options. Some options include changing existing methods of providing the product or service; improving performance of current processes; implementing new techniques; or simply improving the way a product or service works.

After narrowing down the scope of the need to its core issues, the next step is to come up with a design strategy by thinking of the potential solutions that are available. In other words, designers must develop a plan or blueprint that would describe the steps required to resolve the problems.

It is important to note that the need is not necessarily the only thing that must be considered when coming up with solutions. For example, a need for an ergonomically designed workstation can be met by creating a comfortable and well-designed workstation. A need for a user-friendly navigation system can be met by offering a simple, intuitive interface to help customers find their way around the office. This kind of prioritization is important in determining the best solutions.

Once the need and the identified solutions have been identified, it is important to prioritize them. This includes deciding how much effort is required to accomplish each requirement, and how much effort is needed to implement each solution.

For instance, the need to improve functionality could be solved by improving the way processes such as inventory control or the delivery process. In the case of the need for an easy-to-use user interface, the goal might be to develop a simple software application, which would help users find what they are looking for quickly without the need for inventory tracking or shipping management. By following these steps, a designer can develop a list of priorities and create a plan to implement each priority with appropriate resources.

The final step in determining the most effective solution is evaluating each solution against each other. In other words, by using design thinking, a designer can determine how well each solution is able to address the identified needs.

Once all identified needs are addressed, a designer can then select a potential solution. This step involves evaluating each solution against other solutions, to see which one would be better able to meet the needs that were identified. To do this, a designer must consider the level of difficulty involved in implementing each solution and the time required to develop each solution.

Finally, after determining the solution, a designer can choose the best solution based on the final step. Once the best solution is chosen, the company should make sure that it follows the best practices set forth in the design thinking process.


These four steps are essential when facing different problems in designing products and services. They will guide a company through the process of designing solutions, reducing risks, and avoiding costly mistakes that can occur due to the wrong implementation.