Our client sought to integrate design thinking into its product development process after prioritizing continuous improvement and LEAN methodologies for years. They engaged Daedalus to design a training course targeting a core group. The goal was to establish a culture of design thinking by having this group consistently apply and promote the Design Thinking mindset throughout the organization, ultimately transforming it into an organizational competency.
One simple way to describe design thinking is to describe it as the way people think when applying the design process methods. At Daedalus, we define design thinking as a way of thinking that understands, explores, simulates, and implements positive change, and working within a methodology that includes understanding, communicating, and creating tools. We designed a comprehensive 5-session training plan to facilitate the adoption of design thinking. In session one, participants were introduced to design thinking, its methods, and associated mindsets. They gained a clear understanding of the course objectives and how design thinking aligns with product development. Session two focused on equipping participants with the skills to reframe problems through effective questioning and extracting unbiased customer insights. Additionally, they learned quick sketching techniques for visualizing ideas and testing them swiftly without impeding development. In session three, participants delved into model-building techniques and collaborative processes. They learned to break down complex concepts into manageable components and integrate ideas into a cohesive whole. Session four centered around parallel innovation and idea-generation methods. Participants gained insights into addressing business, technology, and people's needs and opportunities simultaneously. Finally, in session five, participants learned how to transition from a mindset to an improvised methodology, and they identified key takeaways that could be immediately applied to their work. Throughout the course, exercises and demonstrations were employed to facilitate the shift toward a design-thinking mindset.