3. Design Thinking for the Self
The Goal:
Humans can utilize design thinking techniques
to develop empathy for themselves by allowing
themselves to be open and freely discover
opportunities for self-improvement in their
creative pursuits, school projects, and life
choices
4. Design Thinking for the Self
Basis:
1. I’ve personally used this framework to treat
my own issues with self-confidence.
2. Some individuals within IBM Design have
been utilizing Design Thinking tools in order
to figure out their career progression, life
goals, relationships, et cetera.
3. Design Thinking is a framework for
problem solving and storytelling, utilizing
the power of empathy.
5. Design Thinking for the Self
Serious caveat:
Design thinking will not save your life.
If you are suicidal, or if you are spiraling, seek professional help. A therapist can do wonders.
6. Design Thinking for the Self
Why design
thinking:
Design thinking allows you to contextualize the
problems & situations you find yourself in, which
can result in a variety of solutions.
This isn’t just for building product or developing
design artifacts, it can help bring clarity to the
problems that are affecting us internally, and
enable solutions to present themselves.
7. Design Thinking for the Self
Design Thinking:
There are a ton of different design thinking
frameworks/methodologies/ideologies…you
have probably been doing one of these your
entire life.
8. Design Thinking for the Self
Observe
Reflect
Make
IBM Design Thinking methodology: The Loop
9. Design Thinking for the Self
Observing is
about immersing
yourself in your
world.
Meaningful outcomes come from an
understanding of the real problems that
exist.
10. Design Thinking for the Self
Reflecting is about
converging on a
point of view.
Good decisions begin with an understanding
of your situation, your purpose, and how you
can make a difference.
If you dissect your problems, you can discover
the true source of them.
11. Design Thinking for the Self
Making is about
giving form to ideas.
You can’t know everything but you do know
some things, so jump right in. The earlier you
make, the faster you’ll learn.
12. Design Thinking for the Self
What design thinking can accomplish:
Build stronger empathy for yourself.
Assess the situations you’re in from a non-biased point of view.
Discovering the root cause of emotionally troubling issues.
Develop big, creative solutions to resolve those issues.
Understand the feasibility to execute a solution.
Develop a roadmap to achieve the solution, and move on to the next.
13. Design Thinking for the Self
Tool Framework:
• Empathy Mapping
• As-is Scenario
• Needs Statements
• Big Ideas
• Do-Ability Chart
• Near Term/Long Term Goals
Additional tools:
Reflection moment
14. Design Thinking for the Self
To accomplish:
Post It Notes
Sharpies
Large pieces of paper
Flipchart markers
But:
You can really use anything. Notebook, Laptop,
Tablet, stone slab…the possibilities are endless.
15. Design Thinking for the Self
Empathy Map
An empathy map is a simple tool designed to
allow someone to gain empathy either for a
user, or for themselves.
In this case, you can use this to gain a better
understanding of yourself.
Use the four axis to plot stickies of what you,
feel, says, thinks, and does.
Feel free to have a close friend do this for you,
instead of yourself. Choose someone you trust,
if you can’t assess yourself without bias.
16. Design Thinking for the Self
As-Is Scenario
What is a situation where your
triggers come out?
1) Outline the scenario
2) Fill in the steps, one per column
3) Annotate what you’re doing,
corresponding thoughts, and the
emotions behind that.
4) Once the map is complete, go back through,
and group similar artifacts.
19. Design Thinking for the Self
Needs Statements
Establish the problems, group them, redefine.
1) Review & Redefine the grouped issues
2) Develop positive outcomes from the issues
3) Write these down as “needs statements”
Design Thinking for the Self
20. Design Thinking for the Self
______________ needs a way to ______________ so that ______________
do something
that addresses
their needThe user
the user
benefits
directly.
Traditional User Needs:
21. Design Thinking for the Self
______________ needs a way to ______________ so that ______________
22. Design Thinking for the Self
Needs Statements
Establish the problems, group them, redefine.
1) Review & Redefine the grouped issues
2) Develop positive outcomes from the issues
3) Write these down as “needs statements”
Design Thinking for the Self
23. Design Thinking for the Self
Big Ideation
Now that you know the issues that face you,
you’re open to ideate on ways to solve those
issues.
Draw out ideas & descriptions, as many as you
can. Share ideas, steal ideas (if you can).
Do as many as possible. Do not let feasibility
scare you.
24. Design Thinking for the Self
Big ideas are broad and conceptual
and focused on high level needs.
Tactics are focused solutions to the
problem…they are too prescriptive.
27. Design Thinking for the Self
Big Ideation
Now that you know the issues that face you,
you’re open to ideate on ways to solve those
issues.
Draw out ideas & descriptions, as many as you
can. Share ideas, steal ideas (if you can).
Do as many as possible. Do not let feasibility
scare you.
28. Design Thinking for the Self
Do-Ability Chart
You’ve developed some fantastic ideas, but can
you actually do them?
What will it take to learn the skills necessary?
How much time do you need to focus?
Is there a financial cost involved?
29. Do-Ability Chart
Considering these factors, plot your ideas on a
chart that looks like this:
The “Learnability” axis is strictly under your own
context. What is your bandwith? How much
time would you need?
Naturally, the best ideas will fall in the upper
right hand quadrant.
These are called “No Brainers.”
Design Thinking for the Self
30. Design Thinking for the Self
Planning
How will you achieve your goals?
Realistically planning them can lead you to
success…think about your goals, and break
them out into achievable steps.
31. Design Thinking for the Self
Planning
Remember to be reasonable. Think of the
timelines that you have to focus on their
goals…and if there is something extreme
going on, make sure it gets handled
immediately.
And make time for life & love too.
32. Thanks!
Want a copy? Say Hello.
rjgregor@us.ibm.com
All images come from the Flickr Library of Congress archive or my own drawings
34. Design Thinking for the Self
Reflect
Reflection Moment
Use this as a tool to “playback” the tool or
moment you just experienced.
Ask yourself questions like:
“What stood out in the previous exercise?”
“What have we learned so far?”
“What are we assuming?”