Design Thinking Issues - Case Study Example

DESIGN THINKING Student’s Name Course Professor’s Name University City (State) Date Design Thinking Introduction In the past, the word design was associated with the structure and aesthetic appearances of objects. However, in the current world, design does not only refer to the structures and appearances, but also the way of thinking , creating, learning from techniques , innovativeness among other improved processes in an organization. As a result, there is the creation and construction of structures and even writings such as cathedrals, stadiums, songs, and poems that seek to empower the lives of individuals. The notion design represents the critical thinking that is undertaken through observation, understanding and later reflection of the final output (Huq et al. 2017, p. 155). While design thinking can be based from several theoretical designations, there two explanations that seem to bring it out well. Brown (2016) considers that any design approach integrates the possibilities of technology, people’s needs and a business necessity to succeed while Curedale (2013, p. 1) thinks that a design is a focus that aims at ensuring that the business improves the framework and complexity of the situation. While all the theoretical considerations are effective at describing design thinking, each seeks to show that there is a creative process that solves undesired situations. The essay seeks to explore and provide some of the design thinking that have been used in the business context internationally in technology, architecture among other areas. Visual examples will be provided to help understand the innovative processes and contexts. My Own Definition of Design Thinking Design thinking is an empathetic and analytical process in which the business seeks to create comprehensive and sustainable circumstances for the society and its consumers. Additionally, it is an experimental process in which a business continuously tries the unconventional ideas about a situation, thereby enabling it to solve long-term issues and benefiting the community. Examples of Design Thinking In Business Modeling In simple terms design thinking is associated with decisions and actions geared towards enlightening the consumers as the main focus through innovation. The need to find out what the consumers want through empathy gives the organizations an opportunity to come up with a design process truth creates the desirable product. Design thinking is implemented in any part or type of the business since it is significant when it comes to the success of the business. Companies implement the design thinking for various reasons such as concepts improvement and at other times for innovation (Huq et al. 2017, p. 158). Some examples of design thinking in business include Example 1: Tele2 Arena in Stockholm The Tele2 Arena (Figure1) is a design that shows how different cities approach momenta building of areas such as stadiums that are word class (Tele2 Arena, 2017). Such building is a product of design thinking and enables maximization of the urban area. Definitely, before building such an area, the Stockholm city had considered how to integrate all the sustainable aspects of the city so as to improve the infrastructure and the social surroundings. The design is not only innovative, but has enabled connections of the different parts of the environment. Figure 1. Tele2 Arena –Source Tele2 Arena 2017 The Tele2 Arena design thinking is accompanied by the following design thinking model in Figure 2. The figure shows that any competent designer must be able to utilize feasibility, desirability, and viability to come up with a designed innovated. In short, the competent designer must be able to create a harmonious balance of the three aspects in Figure 2 (Brown 2016). Figure 2. Design thinking model- Source Brown 2016 Evidently, the Tele2 Arena creates value to the community because it is environmental, economically, and socially sound. The efficiency of the area is supported by the fact that it is surrounded by other structures that are for commercial services such as the Globen as shown in Figure 3 (Friends Arena 2017). The White Ratchets that were involved in the project worked with other long-term developers in Stockholm City. For feasibility issue the main challenge was to come up with a design that would allow technological enhancements on the other areas around the arena. The stadium needed Technological advancements that would also allow the gaming activities in the stadium such as the Cisco Connected Stadium. In the end, the innovators achieved the most astonishing results since they were able to connect more than 3000 spectators to live replays. Notably, the stadium is placed among the most ecologically advanced stadiums on earth. On the viability part, all business operates at levels that they can produce profits and for them to be successful people need to make reasonable projects. Evidently, a stadium that works only for one purpose works at a loss, and therefore, needs to serve other purposes. As a result, in the current world a stadium needs to have multi-purposes. The Tele2 Arena was developed with such mindset and therefore it offers various activities such as the motor, ice, and equestrian sports. Finally, on the desirability aspect, the Arena is able to make people to come closer and watch whichever sports they are watching together. The stadium has observed environmental aspects such as the green energy that makes it appreciated and accepted by the consumers (Brown 2016). For instance, there are many biking activities that are seen around and in the arena. Figure 3. Tele2 Arena- Source Friends Arena, 2017 Example 2: The Embrace Baby Warmer Students at Stanford University used the design thinking and come up with a simple portable bag (Figure 4) that would help newborns that were born with low-weight (Soule 2013). These students identified a social problem that needed to be taken care of and therefore did not stop until they were able to give a solution. Evidently, children that are born with less weight end up experiencing problems such as fatal hypothermia that require full time electricity. The students visited Nepal and realized that these were a problem to the people who lived in this area. As a result, they sought to help them with whichever method that seemed applicable. When they went back to class they had a quest to find out a way that the babies would be kept warm so as to allow low-weight babies to survive. The students resulted to design thinking which a popular approach in the corporate world is for a decade now. Many companies such as Apple Inc. have used design thinking in developing their products such as the Apple’s iPod for social interaction. According to Soule (2013) the process was successful because at that time, the device had helped about 22,000 low-birth weight babies across the world to stay warm. In short, the Stanford University students combined technology together with design thinking to come up with a project that helped the community to solve a health problem. The process has been able to save the lives of babies who maybe could have contracted one of the deadly diseases and died. Figure 4. The Embrace Baby Warmer As described in the Figure 5 design thinking has principles that are later translated into actions. The Stanford University students were emphasizing with the Nepal community and that is why their design was human-centered (Morris and Warman 2015). Also, Morris and Warman (2015) notes that the best designs are achieved when the innovators put the human beings first since this not only helps them to maintain humanity but also helps people to move from a certain problem. However, coming up with the foundation of what to design is the biggest challenge. An innovator must have the right question. For instance, Soule (2013) stated that the students had the following question “How might we create a baby-warming device that helps parents in the remote villages give their dying infants a chance to survive?” consequently, a solution or an innovation is preceded by many ideas and thus, a business must be able to transform the ideas achieved to fit into the context of what they want. Notably, there is no way that any transformative solution just comes from one idea or a person. Additionally, an experiment must be done so as to find the most illuminating and engaging outcome rather than advising people about a strategy that nobody is sure about it. Interestingly, there are so many creative people out there, however, the majority is unable to put their ideas into action and that is what separates creativity from innovation. A creative person must bring innovations to life by testing them. Figure 5. Design thinking model – Source Morris and Warman 2015 Example 3: Bus CerO2 Considering the necessity of having vehicles that produce less or no CO2 to the environment, the Graz-based advisory network Automotive enabled Spirit Design to come up with an energy-independent bus, Bus CerO2 (Figure 6) (Spirit Design 2017). The bus completely is able to communicate speed, vitality, and progressiveness. Evidently, the bus is an innovative design of its form since all the other vehicles release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The design of this bus resembles the buses of the 1950s. First of all, it is worthwhile to note that Spirit Design was able to develop this vehicle a better favorable footprint in the environment by use of CerO2. Normally, a bus has less energy consumption per passenger than a car and therefore better while used for transportation. Additionally, the buses have a large surface area that is left and can be used by the innovators to implement whichever technology that they feel applicable. As a result, the Spirit Design had just one goal in mind when they made the carbon dioxide-free drive which was commercially applicable especially for the large vehicles in the public transportation sector. The Bus CerO2 utilizes a Passive Car Technology © by implementing the latest technology advancements such as the energy recovery systems so as to developed and evolve the automotive propulsion (Spirit Design 2017). Figure 6. The Bus CerO2 The Bus CerO2 relates to the Evolution Design Process Model (Figure 7) where the designers in automotive industry realize the need to change the transport industry in a way that is more environmentally friendly (Evolution 6 model, 2017). In this case, they are able to empathize, experiment, elaborate, expose, and extend to the environmental problem that arises from carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere (Kolko 2015, p. 69). Bus CerO2­ is an example of how the traditional vehicles should be made so that they use less energy and therefore reduce the effects that they cause to the environment. Carbon dioxide cause dire consequences to the environment, and therefore, the producers of vehicles need ways in which they can make models that are suitable for better environment. The analysis of the model is presented as follows Figure 7. Evolution Design Process Model Emerge: the automotive designers began their research by asking themselves of how they could develop a bus that utilized less energy and carbon dioxide emission free. The idea was found viable when they discovered that CerO2 would enable them achieve that position. Empathy: the designers are aware of the impact of carbon dioxide to the environment and there are aware of the necessity of transport systems that reduce its missions. As a result, during developing the bus, they utilized the humanity. Experimentation: already, it is evident that the busses have extra-large space areas that can be used for technology implementation. Additionally, the buses less energy consumption than the cars which increases chances of regulating carbon emission. Elaboration: the buses are built in an eco-friendly manner that is suitable for the living of human beings. Considering the tough environmental laws, the buses are going to create sustainable environments. Exposition: Figure shows a complete Bus CerO2 design which communicates the solution to environmental pollution and a business model for the Spirit Design. This is a unique concept and therefore will give the innovators profits. Extension: The Bus CerO2 is a world opening to solve one of the environmental problems that are associated with carbon dioxide emissions. Conclusion Throughout the essay, it is evident that design thinking is an empathetic and analytical approach that enables the businesses to develop products that are better and change the social living standards. In the case of the first example in Tele2 Arena, the stadium is built with the ability to hold multi-purposes and at the same near other buildings that increases the activities. Additionally, the stadium has modern technologies that enable it to realize diversified and sustainable income for the owner. The embrace baby warmer enables the community to have a chance to save lives and is innovated from an empathetic framework. Finally, the Bus CerO2 is an evolutionary project that seeks to upgrade the lives of the people and at the same time to improve the environmental conditions. References Curedale, R, 2013, Design thinking. Topanga, CA: Design Community College.Pg.13-60 Brown, T, 2016, About | IDEO. [Online] Ideo.com. Available at: https://www.ideo.com/about/ [Accessed 17 Apr. 2016]. Huq, A., Huq, A., Gilbert, D. and Gilbert, D, 2017, All the world’sa stage: transforming entrepreneurship education through design thinking. Education+ Training, 59(2), pp.155-170. Kolko, J, 2015, Design thinking comes of age. Harvard Business Review, 93(9), pp.66-71. Morris, H. and Warman, G, 2015, Using Design Thinking in Higher Education. [online] Educause Review. Available at: http://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/1/using-design-thinking-in-higher-education [Accessed 11 May 2017]. Sidlaurea.com, 2017, Evolution 6 model | Service Innovation & Design. [online] Available at: https://sidlaurea.com/tag/evolution-6-model/ [Accessed 11 May 2017]. Soule, S, 2013, Sarah Soule: How Design Thinking Can Help Social Entrepreneurs. [online] Stanford Graduate School of Business. Available at: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/sarah-soule-how-design-thinking-can-help-social-entrepreneurs [Accessed 11 May 2017]. Spiritdesign.com, 2017, CerO2 - Innovation Projects - Work - spirit design - innovation and brand - thinking the future. [online] Available at: http://www.spiritdesign.com/en/work/innovation-projects/cero2 [Accessed 11 May 2017]. Tele2arena.se, 2017, Tele2 Arena. [online] Available at: http://www.tele2arena.se/ [Accessed 11 May 2017]. Totally Stockholm, 2017, Friends Arena. [online] Available at: http://totallystockholm.se/more/vaskning-that-sinking-feeling-3/ [Accessed 11 May 2017]. APPENDICES Appendix 1: Theoretical Readings The theoretical statements by Brown (2016) and Curedale (2013) greatly influenced my work in this essay. I generally sought to show that a design is made from a need, which was facilitated by the presence of the technology. Additionally, it is evident that all innovations seek to improve the lives of the people involved. All my focus, therefore, had to bring out human-centered business that was as a result of design thinking. I consider design thinking as a tool for ensuring that the society solves the problems that they are facing. In short, all creativity should be geared towards not only to making profits, but also to create a conducive environment. Appendix 2: Seminar Tasks The design thinking seminars I attended have contributed much for the issues that I have talked about in this report. In the seminar we discussed about various parts and forms of business modelling that are as a result of the design thinking. In one of the seminar classes, we discussed about the environmental issues and how innovators should seek projects that can help in reducing environmental pollution. It really gave me a challenge of innovating something that has never been innovated in the past. As a result, I even researched about design projects that have been done to ensure reduced environmental pollution. As a result, I understood why finding solutions are one of the major drivers of design thinking. Read More