How can you develop a problem-solving mindset for all aspects of design?

1 Understand the problem

The first step in any problem-solving process is to understand the problem you are trying to solve. This means asking questions, doing research, empathizing with the users, and defining the scope and criteria of the problem. By understanding the problem, you can avoid jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, or wasting time on irrelevant or unrealistic solutions. You can also clarify your goals, expectations, and constraints, and communicate them effectively to your team and clients.

2 Generate ideas

The next step is to generate as many ideas as possible to solve the problem. This is where you can unleash your creativity, brainstorm, sketch, prototype, and experiment with different approaches. The key is to avoid judging or filtering your ideas at this stage, and instead focus on quantity, diversity, and originality. You can also use various techniques, such as mind mapping, SCAMPER, or the six thinking hats, to stimulate your thinking and explore different perspectives.

3 Evaluate and select ideas

Once you have a pool of ideas, you need to evaluate and select the best ones to pursue. This is where you apply your critical thinking, logic, and reasoning skills, and test your ideas against the problem criteria and user feedback. You can also use various tools, such as SWOT analysis, feasibility matrix, or decision matrix, to compare and rank your ideas based on their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The goal is to choose the most viable, desirable, and feasible solution that meets the problem needs and expectations.

4 Implement and test the solution

The final step is to implement and test your chosen solution. This is where you refine, polish, and finalize your design, and prepare it for delivery or launch. You also need to test your solution with real users, collect data, and measure its performance and impact. You can use various methods, such as usability testing, A/B testing, or user surveys, to gather feedback and validate your solution. You also need to be ready to iterate, improve, or pivot your solution based on the results and insights.

5 Learn and reflect

The problem-solving process does not end with the solution. It also involves learning and reflecting on your experience, outcomes, and challenges. You can use various techniques, such as after-action review, post-mortem analysis, or lessons learned, to review your process, identify what worked and what didn't, and document your findings and recommendations. By learning and reflecting, you can improve your skills, knowledge, and confidence as a problem-solver, and apply your learnings to future problems.

6 Seek mentorship and coaching

One of the best ways to develop a problem-solving mindset for all aspects of design is to seek mentorship and coaching from experts, peers, or mentors. By seeking mentorship and coaching, you can gain valuable insights, feedback, and guidance from experienced problem-solvers, and learn from their best practices, tips, and tricks. You can also expand your network, exposure, and opportunities, and find support, motivation, and inspiration for your problem-solving journey.