Design Thinking
A human-centered problem-solving framework that moves through empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test to reach validated solutions.
Design thinking is a repeatable approach to ambiguous problems, usually framed in five modes: empathize (understand the user), define (frame the real problem), ideate (generate options), prototype (make it tangible), and test (learn from real people). The modes are non-linear — teams loop back constantly.
Its value is discipline against assumption. By forcing teams to talk to users and test cheap prototypes before committing to a build, it de-risks big bets. A design sprint is one popular, time-boxed way to run the whole loop in a week.
Related terms
User ResearchThe systematic study of users' needs, behaviors, and pain points — through interviews, surveys, and observation — to ground design in evidence.PrototypingBuilding an interactive, clickable model of a product so a flow can be experienced and tested before it is engineered.Design SprintA time-boxed process — classically five days — that runs a big product question from idea to a tested prototype with real users.Usability TestingWatching real users attempt real tasks in a product or prototype to find where they struggle, hesitate, or fail.