Design Thinking Workshop Module: A Detailed Reflective Report

This reflective report provides an overview of the student's learning journey throughout a Design Thinking workshop module. It covers weekly activities, key concepts, and the application of design thinking principles. The report details the student's initial understanding of design thinking, the deep dive methodology, and the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship. It further explores divergent and convergent thinking, problem-solving techniques, prototyping, and the learning launch process. The student reflects on their experiences, including a presentation where they overcame stage fear, and emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and creativity in business idea implementation. The report concludes with a summary of the module's key takeaways, practical applications, and personal reflections.

Running Head: REFLECTIVE REPORT 0
Reflective Report
Design Thinking
(Student Details:)
10/3/2018

Reflective Report 1
Reflective Report
This reflective report will provide an overview of reflective writing through
application of new ideas, past experiences and knowledge. It is a summary of all my weekly
reflections and learning throughout my journey in design it workshop module. In the very
first class of this workshop, I got an outline of design thinking (here in after referred as DT)
process about which I was completely unknown. I read introduction about DT workshop in
the Moodle and also main concepts within this unit.
After overview part, we all were given a short break for tea and refreshment and then
workshop continued. After break we all members of the workshop got divided into groups
containing 3-4 members. Total around 10 groups were formed in this group making event.
Moreover, I was assigned a duty to distribute blank white papers to all of the groups and take
them back. Those blank sheets were given to write outline and key concepts and design it
unit’s basic definition. What I wrote on that paper was the design it definition in my own
words. According to me it was an execution of a requisite design fulfilling a specified
purpose. After writing definition exercise, we all were instructed to draw a design following
the written definition on that paper (Liedtka, Ogilvie, & Brozenske, 2014). Now, in this
drawing activity, I wriggled to draw it, because I was not having any prior idea regarding
design it drawing, then my professor gave me a hint about the same. After getting superficial
idea, I drew a rough design after thinking about design definition. Additionally, when all
groups were successfully completed in sketching rough designs of their thinking definition
then interactive session about sharing those ideas and sketching took place. We all were
suggested to give feedback on all available opinions. During the end of the class, I myself
concluded the session for my self-learning. The session was comprised of main five steps
containing in the design thinking process, those are: Empathizing, Defining, Ideate,
Prototyping and Testing (Hobcraft, 2017).
During my second week of the module, I learnt DT as a Deep dive methodology.
According to me DT is someone’s own creative thoughts aiming to solve complex problems
with a group of people through application of deep dive method. Additionally, deep dive
methodology helps critical role in thinking creatively. When we see DT as a Deep dive
method, then it is a team work process and it assists in refining the product’s quality
accurately. The team persons should belong to diverse departments so that new as well as

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innovative ideas can be clubbed together (Dunne & Martin, 2006). A query regarding deep
dive approach was raised during an activity that it is a linear or non-linear process. DT is a
simple and linear process as all interacted people are real facing real situations. I learnt that
base of DT is innovation and entrepreneurship (Drucker, 2014). It is a managerial decision
making tool applied to produce best business oriented results within the market. According to
DT process, the very first and important step in solving a problem is correct finding of the
problem. Moreover, I concluded that each problem solving comprises of three major parts of
Thinking about it, Acting on it and sensing it. As the visualization plays key role in defining
what exactly need to be done (Kimbell, 2011). Moreover, after testing of the product,
assumption testing is needed to execute services and products in a broader context.
During my third workshop of design it and I learnt DT theories, tools and concepts. I
got to know that DT can be re-defined as understanding the problem and situation for a
desired value by using design it tools and resources for the end result. I also learnt the theory
of divergent thinking and convergent thinking (Kirzner, 2015). In DT process, the solution or
desired value can be obtained by resolving the main problem which contains what and how of
the situation. According to my acquired learning from second week of DT workshop, we can
achieve success if we will not constraint our mind-set into business minded comfort zone and
will have an open minded attitude towards learning (Lundvall, 2010). My design it workshop
was having three assessments include: assessment-I: Poster making, assessment-II: Research
report and presentation making, assessment-III: self-assessment and reflective report writing.
I also learnt that designers’ mind-set and main values comprise of qualities like, peripheral
vision, open-mindedness and clear communication (Dorst, 2011).
During the week-5, topic is about identification of the problems in the DT and solving
them using the correct datasets and path. I got know that for solving problem through DT, the
research data ought to be collected in a way that it is never contradictory (de Andrés
Martínez, 2012). Additionally, after collecting of data it should not be changed until solution
is obtained. Moreover, the problem is possible to be solved after finding the actual problem
(Brown & Wyatt, 2010). One more aspect of problem solving is that it should be empathized
first so that better solution in the favour of human being or the user can be obtained ( Fanguy,
2018). The topic of that workshop was design problems; with the outline include problem
solving and problem finding, visualization as a DT tool and Persona DT tool. I got a detailed
knowledge about DT principles like human centric viewpoint, observation, prototyping,
active learning through experimentation, visualization, and mind-set of a beginner (Kuratko,

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2005). I learnt one more thing that DT more than solving business problems as we can use
this tool to find actual problems and their innovative solutions. Thus, my knowledge base
after week-5 about design thinking was that if I need to solve a DT problem then I can
consider each and everything as a DT problem and while doing that I must try to grab the
obvious things and issues. I found a link from the tutor to solve a DT problem within our
group’s assessment-2. Later then, I got to know some knowledge about persona as a DT tool,
through visualising any persona activity (Martin, 2009).
After spending some weeks in the classes of DT workshop, I came to know that there
is always a solution for each and every problem, which was needed to be resolved. My built
up definition for the problem solving was that firstly we need to define and find the problem
and handle it according to the situation and secondly we need to analyse the whole problem
thoroughly and then find out appropriate resources so that the perfect solution of the problem
can be acquired (Nelson, 2013). Additionally, I learnt that when dataset is not complete,
contradictory or fluctuating then it will become difficult or the problem even cannot be
resolved. At the end proper execution will play a major role in DT problem-solving. Later
then the above process will be done, brainstorming and reverse brainstorming must be done
in order to remove or avoid flaws. As we were already divided into groups for conducting
activities purpose so an activity proceeded. In that activity, a set of circles was given to each
of the group and we all were asked to solve it. Thus, for an example in 1-group, we got one
circle as a balloon while others got a car wheel. Another group got football and coconut, and
we asked to combine all of the group’s innovative ideas into a sole idea through analysing the
given situation (Ortlipp, 2008).
Now that it was my ninth week of design it workshop, I learnt prototyping which was
subdivided into two kinds of it as early prototyping and later prototyping. I got to know that
Prototypes helps in increasing the efficiency, value and quality of any business idea.
According to our business ides, we should select the correct prototyping tool. Because there
were many types of prototypes such as 2-D and 3-D and their techniques like story boarding,
sketching, wire framing, paper prototyping (Shamah, 2013). I understood that after creating
that prototype, our group need to test it with the help of assumption testing in order to
improve our visualization and approach towards the business idea ( Reynolds, 2018). By
doing this step-by-step process one can execute his or her novel business idea effectively and
improve it before real launching of the product according to the customer needs and wants. If
I will summarize my experience for prototyping class then in my thinking, company build

Reflective Report 4
these to attract customers for buying the product but for doing so there are a lot of directional
efforts needed ( Rosenø, 2018).
Later then, completing prototyping, I learnt Learning Launch which is a pre-step of
the Real Launch. In my way, it is a way to effectively and timely connected with the
customers by the company. Whenever an organization launches their product in the market
during its initial phase of real launching, it is called learning launch ( Naiman, 2017).
Learning launch’s purpose was very clear to all of us that a company need to sure about if
their products and services are fulfilling the consumer’s needs and giving full satisfaction to
them or not. For learning launch, concrete preparation, full proof planning and invitees
participation is very much essential (Shamah, 2013).
After completing class about assumption testing and learning launch, our tutor
suggested to all of us abut preparing presentation as well as a research report on the DT
problem which we had chosen (Scarborough, 2016). He also told us the importance of the
report writing and good presentation skills. I got to know that during the next week, we all
will be presenting our business idea with our group members and queries related to our idea
will be asked to all of us (Nelson, 2013).
During next week in DT workshop module, there were presentations scheduled by the
tutor. Our group was one of them, and my team’s number was 3rd among the all scheduled
presentations. In the beginning of the class, tutor told us that there is also a process of
presentation delivering by the distance students; they will also be needed to discuss their idea
through effective presentation with the unit coordinator. I observed each and every one while
presenting their idea in the class, all teams presented very well. When I was observing them, I
was also watching their hand movements and English, communication skills and the whole
way of communicating with all of us. As our number was 3rd so we all were a bit nervous
about queries part, though we all were prepared with full strong research base formed. Our
presentation also went very smooth, all team members did well. During this week, I got to
know an important flaw of mine, as in the beginning when I was about to start the
introduction and overview part which was assigned to me I got blank because of the stage
fear and nervousness ( Dubey, 2018). Later then, when I started with flow I delivered my
presentation in a fabulous interactive way. After ours presentation all other groups presented
their DT and business idea innovation. Being an entrepreneur, one should apply open minded

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innovation and creativity in business idea implementation I order to achieve correct problem
solving and consumer’s happiness as well as long term satisfaction (Scarborough, 2016).
Moreover, after presentations got completed we all instructed to assess our own
presentations as well as we were supposed to give feedbacks on others presentations.
Additionally, tutor told us that now the assessment-III, will going to be submitted in the next
two weeks so we all need to submit reflective report as well as self and peer-review
assignment.
At the end of the week of the design workshop, the last module was containing
designing of the designer’s views and thinking. Summary, application, practical aspects,
feedbacks and reflection, above all about the workshop were discussed in the closing session
of DT workshop (Drucker, 2014). Moreover, applicability of Design thinking process, growth
design, design consistency, industry re-designing, strategies designing, tools like mind-set
mapping, journey mapping and deep-dive thinking these all tools were covered within the
workshop module ( Claes, 2017).
Thus, my interpretation abut whole DT workshop module was that without innovation
there cannot be any business survived (Becker, Kugeler, & Rosemann, 2013). If any
company need to sustain in the market and also want to build good image within the
marketplace while struggling with competitors then innovation and business need to be
combined through Design thinking process, tools and techniques. This approach is customer
oriented as well as innovation based rather than completely business and revenue oriented
(Asheim, 2007). I got to know that interactions with consumers is perfect way of doing great
business as it tells about the changes company should amend in their services to attract
maximum good customers in the market. I learnt the significance of ethical approach in each
and every activity of our life. Ethics are very much important in daily, personal as well as
professional life. If our approach for the business will be ethical then there will be no barriers
in the path of achieving success in the marketplace. Journey mapping and empathy mapping
are not only helpful in the management field but also they have a wider application in daily
life. Journey mapping is helpful in each and every activity of our regular schedule, it is away
through which we can manage any task and problem in set-by-step easy process. On the other
hand, empathy mapping will allow me to know other feelings, ideas and viewpoints about me
and my work ( Claes, 2017).

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As the Design thinking workshop module is so useful in management field as well as
business processes yet it is not bounded within the business area. This concept can be applied
to any real-life problem solving, analytical processes and practical problem solving. Thus, I
will further utilize this concept in my project management task within the next six months.
Additionally, I will practice a real-time survey in any FMCG company to apply these above
tools of DT and see their real applicability. Self and peer-assessment, that is a part of
assessment-III, will help in improving my social skills and enhancing self-practice. This will
be my future action plan in next six months in order to learn best knowledge and develop my
personality through design thinking process. I will also apply reflective learning method for
future personal development as well as professional development.

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References
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