DEEP design thinking: a human-centered approach to LEARNING, CREATING, & BEING through Empathy.

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 E R
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 w e WHA
r e ing? the T a
a n d ir n re
H O t a eed
W ers s?
u n d

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 methods of DEEPdt
discover empathize experiment produce
launch needfind HMW... test
context empathize brainstorm feedback
frame unpack (ideate) storytell
field prep synthesize narrow hi-res
define select Ship It
reframe prototype
iterate
Launch discover
d.TEAMSs Assemble

kry
pto
HERO nit
e

SUPERPOW ER

PROMPT:
With Great Understanding, Comes Great Design
Launch Point discover
Release the Cracken
ks
r a c
s C
ew
N
t he
In
Backy
ard Cr
acks

Global Cracks

Tangible Cracks

PROMPT:
To uncover Opportunities for Design, free flow “cracks”
in your surroundings, systems, experiences... Think Glocal
Priming 4 Context discover
411 splatter

E?
R
HE
W
WHAT
?

HOW
?
?
HO
W

PROMPT:
Take a moment to splatter & chatter brain matter
around the design topic (a brain dump).
Needfinding empathize
question prompts
TEE-UPS
Tell me a time when...?
Can you recall an experience that was similar?
Can you describe your feelings around the moment?

FOLLOW-UPS
What makes you say that?
Tell me more about...?
What do you think about that?
Why was that? Why? Why?
How so?
Needfinding empathize
convo path

LEAN IN WONDER

TEE-OFF LAST THOUGHTS

SOFTBALLS

WARM-UP

PROMPT:
Be mindful of your User. Prep with an
understanding that the User leads, the designer RECEIVES & GIVES.
Needfinding empathize
Flesh the Qs

PROMPT:
To avoid “A POUND OF FLESH”, take a moment to jot down questions
you might ask someone around the design topic.
SOFTBALL IT. BUILD RAPPORT. TALK FEELINGS..
Needfinding empathize
face 2 face

•Tell me a time when...?

PROMPT:
Dive DEEP in gaining a better understanding
of Users around the design challenge.
•Can you describe your feelings
around the moment?
•What makes you say that?
•Tell me more about...?
•Can you recall an experience that
was similar?
•Why was that? Why? Why?
•How so?
Unpack empathize
Affinity Chunking quotes

bio c e s
gr o u r
ap res
hic
al
needs

PROMPT:
Jot down your Needfinding & Observations on Post-its.
Place on a team, surface and then chunk in like groupings.
Define empathize
The 4 ‘Dubyas
WHO WHAT WHO is this about?
(BE DESCRIPTIVE)

What needs have been

revealed?
(HEADLINE WHAT’S BEEN EXPRESSED)

Where is this most

impacting the User?
(SHOW THE EXPERIENCE)
WHERE WHY

Why does it matter to the

User?
(SHED LIGHT ON THE INSIGHTS)

PROMPT:
Create a Needs Statement for your User.
Synthesizing/Needfinding empathize
start with WHY

..
HY

..
Y.
W

WH
W
HY
W H Y ...
... W H Y ...

PROMPT:
As a need is uncovered, dig deeper with
your User to get to the root of the why.
Synthesizing empathize
empathy map
USER

needs & insights thinks & feels

quotes

PROMPT:
Unpack & sort needfinding (post-its R easy)
 Define empathize
Needs MadLib
Our User...
WHO is this about?
(BE DESCRIPTIVE)

needs a way to...

What needs have been revealed?
(HEADLINE WHAT’S BEEN EXPRESSED)

when/while...
Where is this most impacting the User?
(SHOW THE EXPERIENCE)

because...
Why does it matter to the User?
(SHED LIGHT ON THE INSIGHTS)

PROMPT:
Create a Needs Statement for your User.
Unpack empathize
retell
I met...( Name + a few adjectives)

He/She is... (some 411)

I learned...( interesting tidbit)

PROMPT:
Take a moment to retell who you met.
Capture the essence of your User.
Point of View How Might We...?
O V
P

i z e expe
p a th rime
e m nt
HMW...? IS
THE
BRIDGE
HMW...? experiment
the 4thWord
HMW...

HMW...

HMW...

PROMPT:
Take your POV, flip it & build different HMW...?
using the 4th Word to “invigorate” your Q.
 en
Brainstormin’ co
ur experiment
+BS Behavin’ ag
WIL e
ide D ALL
GO FOR VOLUME as Voices
GO FOR VOLUME
GO FOR VOLUME E acknowledged.
DL I N
HEA
GO FOR VOLUME

OTHERS
OF
IDEAS
ON
BUILD

PROMPT:
Let’s engage & demo postive brainstormin’ behavin’!
Prototype experiment
build 2 learn

Experiential

d o o d l e
tangible

PROMPT:
Grab materials to visualize your solution and build to
learn... Doodle! Go TANGIBLE! Create the Experience!
 Test produce
Einstein 140

A solution
statment:

Existing
solutions:

Why it
matters:

PROMPT:
“If you can't explain it simply,
you don't understand it well enough.” Albert Einstein
Storytell DAY produce
spine it . .B U T ONE
via Kenn Adams'

F THAT
Story Spine

U S E

O
BEC A
. AND
OF THAT
. AND BECAUS E

UPON A TIME. . “TILT”

... U
. .AND EVER
NTIL

NO CE
introduce

FI
NA
emotional
tension
AY SINCE

LL
ERYD
EV THA

Y
D TD
“TRANSFORMATION”
AY
...AN

“PLATFORM” hero .
establish creates

.
empathy change

PROMPT:
Craft a 1-2 minute story using “classic story transistions”
Feedback produce
RTB Please

thorn
rose

bud

PROMPT:
Like a rose, there are Brightspots (rose), Painpoints (thorns),
& Potential (buds). Describe your flower.
Feedback produce
LWW

i like... i wish... i wonder...

PROMPT:
Half the feedback is done, fill in the rest.