Design Thinking: Solutions to Problems Large and Small
What if any problem could be solved using a series of steps?
Sometimes a problem seems so big and complicated we don’t know where to begin. We become mired in a swamp of disorganized thoughts, ideas and information and end up without a viable solution. Sometimes a very large problem requires multiple solutions to address the root causes, before the main problem can be attacked. By engaging a process called Design Thinking and being creative with solutions, those huge problems can be broken down into their elements and solved. An important element of Design Thinking is asking the right questions when determining the roots of the problem. Instead of asking “how can we fix this?” start by asking “why does this happen?” For example, if you find you frequently run out of milk on the weekends, instead of asking “how can we get milk on Sunday mornings?”, ask “why are we running out of milk before Sunday?” Then, employing Design Thinking you would follow these steps:
Define the problem
Create and consider many options
Use less milk during the week
Buy an extra gallon when grocery shopping
Schedule an extra shopping trip midweek
Restrict milk use to certain things only
Provide alternate beverage choices
Refine selected directions (and repeat these two steps if needed)
Using less milk may not be reasonable
An extra gallon may be wasted – refine to extra half gallon
An extra shopping trip is a waste of time and fuel if only purchasing milk
Restricting use may cause family conflict
Alternate beverages will work for drinking, but not for cooking or cereal – refine to adding juice to weekly shopping and encouraging family to drink juice in place of milk occasionally
Pick a winner and execute
Two solutions stand out: Purchase an extra half gallon of milk and add juice to beverage selection.
This is a very simplified example of Design Thinking, but illustrates how it works, and how it could be applied to a much larger problem. Trust your own creativity, and encourage confidence in others to be creative. To ensure that your analysis and plan remain human-centered, include the following considerations as you work through your Design Thinking steps:
Inspiration: What does the target population need and desire?
Ideation: What might possibly work in this situation? No idea is too crazy when brainstorming.
Implementation: Try out your solution, see how it works and if it addresses the need of the target population. If not, go back a step or two and redesign.
A good example of how Design Thinking techniques can be used is detailed in the story of Erzsebet Szekeres, “What Sort of a Mother Are You?” (Bornstein, 2007). Szekeres was inspired to develop better conditions for disabled people in Hungary when she discovered her son was born with microcephaly and would spend his life confined to a dismal state-run institution. The story spoke to me because I work with elderly/disabled clients and find I am frustrated and angered by the prejudices and attitudes around them. Szekeres recognized that disabled people can still work and live independently with specific assistance to address their needs, and are valuable members of the community.
As Szekeres recognized there was a problem, she developed empathy through interacting with her son as well as a group of parents and their disabled children. Her ideation was an ongoing process; as each new challenge, roadblock or opportunity presented itself she adapted and devised new processes to overcome roadblocks and take advantage of opportunities. As she implemented each growth step in her nonprofit business she remained focused on the quality of life and needs of her residents/employees.
By building a self-supporting residential workplace for disabled people and demonstrating that they could indeed be contributing members of society, Szekeres demonstrated to the Hungarian government that their laws and regulations were antiquated and harmful to members of their population. With government and community support, her program was expanded across the nation and improved the lives of hundreds of disabled citizens.
Programs modeled on Erzsebet Szekeres’ vision could be created in the United States for both our disabled population as well as the elderly. For example, our current assisted living homes cost seniors an average of $4,300.00 per month, and 7 out of 10 people will require some form of long-term facility at some point in their lives (Genworth, 2020). These costs are not covered by Medicare, so this is a devastating expense which drains hard-earned savings and taxes family resources. Many of these people only require assistance with certain tasks, but are otherwise healthy and functional. At 98 years of age, my mother’s only limiting factor was that she was blind. With a “helper”, as described in Szekeres’ program, she could have enjoyed contributing to an industry, participated in social functions, and maintained a largely independent lifestyle. Instead, her life’s savings were drained and she died alone in a tiny room, having been isolated from friends and family due to the facility’s policies. Our seniors and disabled citizens are valuable, and should be offered the opportunity to contribute and participate in their communities.
Design Thinking is an important skill in social innovation because it supports, encourages and focuses human-centered creative solutions to problems. By providing a framework of specific steps to encourage brainstorming and creativity, then dialing those ideas down into a focused solution, Design Thinking gives innovators a platform to develop their ideas and implement them as unique structures for social change.
References
Bornstein, D. (2007). How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas (Updated ed.) [E-book]. Oxford University Press. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780199779543/cfi/6/38!/4/2/4@0:0
Genworth. (2020). Cost of Long Term Care by State | Cost of Care Report Genworth. Cost of Care Survey. https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html
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