Understanding Design Thinking Concepts

This assignment delves into the concept of design thinking, examining its origins, evolution, and core principles. It encourages students to analyze various perspectives on design thinking, explore its practical applications across diverse domains, and understand its significance in fostering innovation and problem-solving. The provided references offer a foundation for research and critical analysis.

Running head: REFLECTIVE REPORT ON WEEKLY BLOGS
Reflective Report on Weekly Blogs
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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REFLECTIVE REPORT ON WEEKLY BLOGS
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Action Plan and Strengths or Weaknesses.......................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
The methodology that helps all the designers in the world to solve several difficult and
complex problems is known as design thinking (Bjögvinsson, Ehn & Hillgren, 2012). The
designers use this particular methodology for providing relevant solutions for their clients and
customers. This process of design thinking draws on the intuition, reasoning, imagination and
logic for finding the solutions or the probability of what could be found out. The client is
extremely benefitted from this particular process. I had been following my subject of Design IT
since the very first class (Howlett, 2014). My lecturer Professor Jeffery helped me a lot to
understand the basic concept of design thinking by involving me in several activities. I have
written blogs on my ten classes of Design IT and this report is a self-reflective analysis of all the
classes.
The following report outlines a brief description on the ten classes I have attended of
Design IT. The ten classes that I have described are the Design IT, various types of models in
design thinking, the art of innovation, changes made in daily life, design thinking tools, joining
the dots, ethical design research, prototyping, launch, marketing and fundraising (Melles,
Howard & Thompson-Whiteside, 2012). The self reflective report describes about my strengths
and weaknesses, that is what are my strengths and weaknesses and how can I improve myself in
any aspect. Moreover, the report further contains my action plans.
Discussion
Design IT

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In my first class, I learnt about the basic concept of design thinking. Groups were made.
We were provided with a paper and all of us wrote a sentence or two about the course. We
selected a specific topic (Razzouk & Shute, 2012). We passed our paper to other groups and
everybody approved our idea of advertising organizations. The knowledge that I gathered from
this particular class was to think out of the box and understand the basic concept of design
thinking and the benefits of design thinking.
Various types of Models in Design Thinking
After the second class, I was enjoying the subject even more. The best line that I heard in
this class was “People who make things happen, people who watch things happen, people who
wonder things happen” (Lammi, & Becker, 2013). I understood the interpretation of this line.
My professor made the class extremely interesting, that I was more active in this class. I learnt
that there were several different types of models that are involved in the design thinking. This
process is completed by following few steps. The steps are empathize, define, ideate, prototype
and test. If any one of the step is not successful, it is considered to a failure.
The Shopping Cart
We carried out in the class this small activity. We were shown a video in the class and
groups were made (Viswanathan & Linsey, 2012). We were asked to jot down few questions
from the video. It was about a shopping cart, designed and manufactured by IDEO (see photo in
blog entry 3, August 3 2017). They actually manufactured in five days. There were teams of
experts for designing this. The cart had hooks on it sides. The baskets are removable so that they
can be carried separately. A scanner even scans the product for pricing. Another advantage is
that there is a carrier for small babies. It was a prototype, however was sanctioned by

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supermarkets. The lesson I got from this activity was that how teams can work and everybody
has the right to speak about their ideas (Melles, Howard & Thompson-Whiteside, 2012).
Moreover, if a person is allowed to speak his words, he would be motivated.
Art of Innovation
The most interesting and innovative I learnt from my third class was a video of Guy
Kawasaki “The Art of Innovation” (See video in blog entry 4, August 7 2017). This was one of
the best experiences in the class (Razzouk & Shute, 2012). I got to know about many things. The
main points were to make the meaning for what one is working, not to worry much and polarize
people. Apart from this video, Professor Jeffery, descried about my next class, which would be
on posters.
Changes made in Daily Life
This class was slight different from the rest. My professor, decided to give an exercise on
“what sort of changes you can make for daily things we use” (Kolko, 2015). Precisely, he wanted
us to change our all types of daily things like office chair, ice cream cone, and coffee cups
holders and may more that we use daily. We simple had to search for the solutions. All of us
shared our views. Moreover, my lecturer even shared his personal experiences. The second
exercise was to make the process of carrying baggage to the beach easier (Plattner, Meinel &
Leifer, 2014). We were provided with ten minutes and our team came up with the best idea.
Design Thinking Tools
The fifth class focused on the tools for design thinking. I was absent in this particular
class. However, I have gone through the slides of my lecturer and understood the concept

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(Pourdehnad, Wexler & Wilson, 2012). The first design thinking tool that was discussed in the
class was mind mapping. This design thinking tool is extremely useful when working in a group.
This helps in getting an idea for the solution of a problem. The second tool was journey
mapping. It refers to the feedback of customers for a product. This is one of the most important
tool for design thinking. The third tool is the value chain analysis. This tool provides a view on
how many stages will be carried out in an organization for designing a product.
Joining the Dots
This class started with the discussion on the marks of our assignments. My lecturer
described about the mistakes made by us. We were again formed into several groups. This class
had several activities (Noweski et al., 2012). However, the activity that I loved the most was
joining the dots with only four straight lines. This is again another example of how to get out of
the problem and think rationally. The TedX videos were extremely helpful to me in this activity.
Ethical Design Research
This paragraph helps to understand the data collection, ethics and research methods in
design thinking. Ethics is the set of rules that we should follow strictly in our life and work place
(Purdy, 2014). Research is the systematic collection and interpretation of information for finding
solutions. Research has a clear motive. Data collection is of two types; the primary data and the
secondary data. The methods of collecting primary data are interviewing, preparing
questionnaires, semi structured interviews and group interviews. Whereas, the various methods
of collecting secondary data are websites, books, news and articles (Vianna, 2012). I can surely
conclude that design thinking is linked with data collection, research and ethics.

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Prototyping
This was my seventh class in the subject of design thinking. The activity that we did in
the class was to design a prototype for the problem that is mentioned in the picture (See photo in
blog 9, September 6, 2017). We were three members in our group. My group had designed a
refrigerator (Plattner, Meinel & Leifer, 2012). A simple refrigerator that has a camera on every
section of it. By installation of an application on our smart phone we can have a look of all the
ingredients in a fridge so that when we go out for buying we can have a look first of what needs
to be taken. The lesson I got from this class was to deal with problems easily. Our second
activity was to make a dessert.
Launch
This class taught us about launching a product in market. I have learnt three main things
in this class. They are the initial launch plan, the secondary launch plan and the real launch plan
(Johansson‐Sköldberg, Woodilla & Çetinkaya, 2013). The initial launch plan is basically a
research type plan on your product. The initial launch plan helps to understand about the
probable outcomes of the product. The secondary launch is generally a rough plan for your
product. This plan helps to understand the benefits of the product and also the estimated budget
of the product. The real launch plan is the actual launch plan for your product (Mootee, 2013).
This is no longer a learning plan, here you will be delivering a new innovative solution from
your product. This plan is done with proper planning.
Marketing
I have understood from my classes that any product becomes successful from its
marketing. I have learnt many things like creating personas and targeting markets. Personas are

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imaginary customers that a company creates for its products (Carlgren, 2013). I also learnt about
the 4PS of marketing, which are the product, price, promotion and place and the entrepreneurial
marketing campaigns. There are three types of competitor analysis. They are the direct, indirect
and the future competitors.
Fundraising
Fundraising is the set of actions that are carried out for a distinct time for gaining access
to the financial resources, needed for achieving the goals and objectives. These funds are
collected for several goals like cancer research, charities, starting new venture and many more
(Birkeland, 2012). There are few methods for this funding. The common examples are stock
markets, 3fs, own money and bootstrapping.
Action Plan and Strengths or Weaknesses
The ten classes that I have attended on Design Thinking have helped me to understand
the concept easily. At first, I had vague ideas on the topics. However, as I was more involved in
the classes, the concepts were clear. Moreover, the activities that Professor Jeffery arranged for
us were extremely beneficial and refreshing for both our knowledge and mind. We understood
how to work in groups and how to think out of the box. Moreover, these activities even taught us
to come up with innovative ideas and solutions to the most dangerous problems. Professor
Jeffery helped us to understand that every problem has a simple solution that can be obtained
without any kind of mental pressure. I also understood how to work on time and how to execute
any activity within time. The knowledge I have gathered from these classes would be helping me
in my future life.

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The action plan is a sequence of steps that are undertaken for achieving a distinct goal or
objective. My action plan for design thinking is as follows:
Goals Tasks Time Frame Requirements
1. Think with Creativity Understand the research
methods
Within one to two
months
Proper guidance and
education.
2. Be Patient Understand the problem
completely and then
come up with ideas.
Within one week Meditation and
relaxation.
3. To do tasks out of the
box
Create something
innovative for the
society
One to two months Think out of the box
and start
experimenting.
These classes even helped me in identifying my strengths and weaknesses. The
descriptions of my strengths and weaknesses are given below.
Strengths: From the classes I understood that I have the ability to understand a concept
easily. This is one of my strengths. Before joining the classes, I had no idea about this capability.
These classes helped me to do so. My second strength is to think out of the box. I have an
innovative and creative mind that helps me in providing innovating solutions to any problem.
Weaknesses: In spite of having some strength, I do have some weaknesses as well that I
got to know from these classes. I am little impatient regarding everything. For example, during
one of the class, I was not being able to come up with creative ideas. I became hyperactive due to
this. However, at the end of the day I was successful. I can overcome this weakness by simply
focusing on my work and worrying less.

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Conclusion
Therefore, from the self reflective report I can conclude that, the methodology, which
helps every designer for solving various complex and difficult issues is known as the process of
design thinking. Any designer utilizes this specific methodology to provide significant solutions
for their customers or clients. This procedure of design thinking normally draws on the
imagination, intuition, logic and reasoning for searching all the solutions or the possibility of
what could be searched for. The client is absolutely benefitted from this specific procedure. I
have given blogs on all of my ten classes on the subject of Design IT and this particular report is
a self-reflective analysis of all those classes. The above report clearly defines about the
description of the ten classes of Design Thinking. Moreover, the report further discusses about
the strengths and weaknesses that I have understood after attending the classes and how I can
improve myself by eradicating the weaknesses. My action plans are also provided here.

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References
Birkeland, J. (2012). Design blindness in sustainable development: from closed to open systems
design thinking. Journal of Urban Design, 17(2), 163-187.
Bjögvinsson, E., Ehn, P., & Hillgren, P. A. (2012). Design things and design thinking:
Contemporary participatory design challenges. Design Issues, 28(3), 101-116.
Carlgren, L. (2013). Design thinking as an enabler of innovation: Exploring the concept and its
relation to building innovation capabilities. Chalmers University of Technology.
Howlett, M. (2014). From the ‘old’to the ‘new’policy design: design thinking beyond markets
and collaborative governance. Policy Sciences, 47(3), 187-207.
Johansson‐Sköldberg, U., Woodilla, J., & Çetinkaya, M. (2013). Design thinking: past, present
and possible futures. Creativity and Innovation Management, 22(2), 121-146.
Kolko, J. (2015). Design thinking comes of age. Harvard Business Review, 93(9), 66-71.
Lammi, M., & Becker, K. (2013). Engineering design thinking.
Melles, G., Howard, Z., & Thompson-Whiteside, S. (2012). Teaching design thinking:
Expanding horizons in design education. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31,
162-166.
Mootee, I. (2013). Design thinking for strategic innovation: What they can't teach you at
business or design school. John Wiley & Sons.

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Noweski, C., Scheer, A., Büttner, N., von Thienen, J., Erdmann, J., & Meinel, C. (2012).
Towards a paradigm shift in education practice: Developing twenty-first century skills
with design thinking. In Design thinking research (pp. 71-94). Springer Berlin
Heidelberg.
Plattner, H., Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (2012). Design thinking research. Springer.
Plattner, H., Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (Eds.). (2014). Design Thinking Research: Building
Innovators. Springer.
Pourdehnad, J., Wexler, E. R., & Wilson, D. V. (2012). Systems & design thinking: A
conceptual framework for their integration. Проблемы управления в социальных
системах, 4(6).
Purdy, J. P. (2014). What can design thinking offer writing studies?. College composition and
communication, 65(4), 612.
Razzouk, R., & Shute, V. (2012). What is design thinking and why is it important?. Review of
Educational Research, 82(3), 330-348.
Vianna, M. (2012). Design Thinking: inovação em negócios. Design Thinking.
Viswanathan, V. K., & Linsey, J. S. (2012). Physical models and design thinking: A study of
functionality, novelty and variety of ideas. Journal of Mechanical Design, 134(9),
091004.