Reflective Report on Design Thinking Lessons

Running head: REFLECTIVE REPORT 1
Reflective Report on Design Thinking Lessons
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation

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Reflective Report on Design Thinking Lessons
Some of the main reasons why people go to school include the fact that school equips
a student with the skills that help unlock various opportunities necessary for improving the
living standards. The lessons students go through in school, whatever the level of education,
are aimed at making the student be a responsible member of the society when he or she grows
into adulthood (Bennett, Agostinho, & Lockyer, 2016). Different subjects instil different
skills in learners and help them achieve varying steps in life even though skills from some
parallel areas of studies overlap. Proper application of such skills enable learners become
professionals in related fields and industries. With such skills, a learner makes huge steps
towards improving his or her living standard and those of people who depend on him or her
(Ding, 2018). Design Thinking is one of the popular concepts learned in schools and its
application in real life situation helps in finding solutions to various problems and challenges
we face in daily operations.
The skills and knowledge acquired from a given subject are obtained gradually along
the course of the learning process. As in my case, the concepts I have acquired from the
Design Thinking lessons, discussions and workshops have been gained over a gradual
continuous process covering the weeks in term (Bhardwaj, Crocker, Sims, & Wang, 2018).
The activities covered during the period introduced new and life changing skills and
knowledge that have improved my perception on the process of finding a solution to
challenges I face at personal level and in the society. For instance, the first three weeks
included the introduction of the concept of Design Thinking (Bower, 2016). Discussions that
were held in the workshop changed how I view the concept of finding solution; that we
should always subject a situation to some questions such what, why, when, and how? Having
such kind of Cartesian Doubt mind helps in helps in broadening the way we understand

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problems. The questioning makes we think and the conversion of our thoughts into action
breaks a barrio and helps us achieve a practical real life result. The concept breaks down
various aspects of life that may seem complicated into simple skills that help achieve a
successful process. The various stages of Design Thinking include empathizing, ideating,
defining, prototype, and test, and these stages illustrate that every process needs to be handled
with a creative mindset.
Interesting discussion in the workshop about What is? What if? What wows? What
works? Made my thinking out of my box and have a very broad way of understanding things.
This gave a clear idea what creativity is which made me understand Creativity is something
what no one else had ever thought (Ding, 2018). Research in any field can be conducted by
questioning oneself What is, What if, What wows, What works which will find the solution
of the Research. The pictorial thinking of the words leads to the realistic solution. Conversion
of words into pictures breaks down the barrier and achieves a practical real life outcome.
Design process leads to the next step of innovation in a constructed manner. It breaks
down various aspects to a successful process with Empathize, Define, Prototype, and Test.
Form this I understood that every process should be constructed along with the creative
mindset. Before class I had no idea how to convert what we think in mind into action. But
after these three weeks class I understood a good design is a clear thinking made visual. This
was quite interesting and challenging in the beginning. Actions lead to result, then thinking
and action leads to a better result. I understood that this is a loop which shifts the way we
think. Furthermore thinking how we see ourselves and implementing the actions will lead to
creative and innovative results more than the expectations.
During the activities in class I had the opportunity to involve with the other members
of the class which has given me ideas and thoughts from their point of view and thinking. I

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had a feel that I developed my thinking skills to a next step which I have never experienced in
my past. I started to think more and more expecting a better outcome. After the activity I felt
so new that my mind was thinking a way beyond my capabilities. This feel gave me a
confidence to do more and think more eventually. From this activity I have learnt to develop
my critical thinking and spontaneous thinking a little better more than before. Design the
thoughts with several researches to get a good outcome with minimum risks.
I have to be honest that before attending the classes I had no idea that how to convert
my thoughts into action, but I later on understood that a good design is made of clear
thoughts brought into action. The lessons made me learn that it is only actions that lead to
results and that to realize good results one needs to think then put the thoughts into action.
The knowledge was a game changer that shifted how I see myself and my thoughts before the
implementation (Bennett, Agostinho, & Lockyer, 2016). Another vital lesson that I learned
was the fact that interacting with other people help in gaining more information as they will
tell their views how they see and perceive the situation. The events helped me gain
confidence in myself and increased the urge to think more before making any decision; this
would lead me into making rational decisions.
Learning the five stages of Design Thinking in details boosted my knowledge on how
to seek solutions to problems. Empathizing and defining the problem gave me a clear way to
approach a given challenge I face. The concept that one needs to first identify the problem
Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test in a business perspective. This was entirely
dependent on time. This teaches the various stages of the product lifecycle. It is also meant to
be for a problem where it has to be identified, defined, create ideas, examine and then bring it
into action. All these are a factor of time.