How Can I Identify a Problem or Innovation?

An essential part of the Design Thinking (DT) procedure can be a definition of an actionable and meaningful problem statement, which the design thinker needs to focus on solving it. Probably it can be the most challenging part of the DT procedure, since the problem’s definition will require to synthesize the observations about customers from the first step in DT procedure named the Empathise phase.

Once as a design thinker you realize that how to master the problem’s definition or problem statement, it can significantly develop your DT process and its outcomes. Indeed,  a perfect definition of problem statement can lead you to the right direction of IDEA procedure. It can result in simplicity and attention to the design space. In contrast, insufficient attention to defining the problem can increase the level of vagueness and uncertainty in your work and process.

One of the things that I’ve learnt in during the DT course is about the importance of appropriate problem statement to project, as it helps me provide a more attention on a particular need which I have discovered and let me to improve the new ways of thinking in order to design and find the better solutions for specific problems.

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

                                                                                                                                            _ Albert Einstein

In my idea, Albert Einstein was definitely right and thinking out of the box, no matter how cliche, can be often an imperative and exceedingly operative way to tackle the problems and come up with new ideas. However, for arriving at an effective problem statement we need follow some important principles including:

Human-centred which needs you to structure your problem statement based on particular consumers, their needs and the visions that your team has achieved in the Empathise stage.

Broad enough for creative freedom which means that the definition of problem should not concentrate too narrowly on a particular technique about the operation of the solution.

Narrow enough to make it manageable which means your problem statements should have enough restraints to make the project controllable.

These traits can help us to make our problem be more action-oriented and solve our design challenge in an innovative way.