Design Thinking – A human-centered approach to innovation

Design Thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation. The method integrates user needs, technological capabilities, and business success. It is important to build interdisciplinary teams that complement their strengths, talents and skills. This way you can create synergy.

You can create innovative products and services that are based on deep understanding of user needs.

The method connects intuition, ideation, emotions with rational and analytical mind.

What you will find in this article?

• Phases of Design Thinking process
• How to apply Design Thinking in Yacht Design
• Summary and Main Principles

Phases of the Design Thinking process

Empathize

Step into the user’s shoes. Empathy leads to understanding and recognizing intuitive and hidden motives of behavior and making choices. The key is to understand the human context and the challenges users face.

Techniques : empathy maps, surveys, interviews, and observation with analysis of the environment in terms of functionality.

Define

Synthesize information gathered from the research. Define the problem, and look for solutions. Go beyond usual thinking patterns.

Techniques: customer journey maps, service blueprint, personas, etc.

Ideate

Generate as many ideas as possible, be flexible, and get the necessary substantive support. The stage ends with a democratic choice of the best solution

Techniques: brainstorming

Prototype

Build a physical prototype. It should be simplified so that you can quickly run tests, gather feedback, and validate earlier phases. Test for problems with the whole product or a part of it. Experiment with different scenarios.

Techniques: mockups, paper, plasticine, and other materials.

Test

Test with several users. Gather feedback, and iterate. Improve your design based on feedback.

Techniques: prepare a script and ask users to use it.

Implement

Implement your solution and share your vision with the world.

Techniques: document the final version, refine the product.

How you can apply Design Thinking in Yacht Design

A yacht design is an interdisciplinary project.

In the design process, you may encounter many complex problems that don’t have one obvious solution. They need an approach that integrates design, ergonomic, economy, technology and business, etc.

In the phase of generating ideas, you can invite for a brainstorming team members with diverse background to exchange and explore different perspectives.

The prototype building phase works well for small components or parts of a yacht. You can develop a mock-up e.g. of a cockpit or cabin interior to check whether the elements have been adapted to be operated by one sailor and everything is easily accessible

For large objects, instead of building a prototype as a real object, it is possible to develop a 3D model in CAD/CAM programs and then print its fragment or miniature on 3D printers.

The participation of the user, e.g., the skipper, and his cooperation with the designer are important in the process, so you can test your solutions and iterate on their feedback.  

In the history of the IMOCA 60 class, some sailors had many innovative ideas, e.g., Michel Desjoyeaux tested the semicircular main sheet guidance, a tilting keel, a “broken” rudder that folded on impact, etc.

Summary and Main Principles

• Focus on people and their needs.
• Have the courage to explore.
• Redefine the problem, and confront it with different target groups, materials, or scales.
• Experiment – innovation always begins with the exploration of new territories.
• “beginner’s mind” – be open and curious.

Design Thinking method is universal and can be used in many industries that need original and unconventional solutions to create and implement new products, services, or business models.

You can use it as a guide to create innovation and to achieve desired results.

References:

• Tim Brown, Change by design: how design thinking transforms organizations and inspires innovation, Publishing House Libron, Wroclaw 2013
• Designthinking.pl, Co to jest Design Thinking? (access 2018)
• Paterek P., Vendée Globe: Sekrety jachtów klasy IMOCA 60, Żagle 2012 (access 2018)

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