Innovation and Design Thinking — Part 03
Innovation and Design Thinking, turning ideas into tangible
When we talk about innovation and Design Thinking as a process that allows the development of creativity and disruptive thinking, one of the steps to take care is about what usually we call “Rapid Prototyping” as a method that allows us to shape our ideas in a way that makes them easier to understand to others.
Create visuals closer to your idea
Definitely all the text we write to describe an idea falls short when we can replace it with an image that will carry a much stronger emotional charge. Therefore, Rapid Prototyping helps to better understand the idea that you want to share
“Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.”
- Arthur Brisbane
Innovation and Design Thinking: Saving lives through simplicity
The problem
Usually, we want to test an idea and if its valid or not once we have developed a bulletproof concept, in a few words “when we feel that our arguments have covered all possible edges” is the perfect timing to test its validity.
However, waiting for all the answers to test the idea will only make the questions change.
What’s the advantage of making room to test rudimentary versions of your idea?
The advantage of testing initial versions within a process of innovation and Design Thinking is that it allows us to take corrections earlier, and thus favor the development of creative thinking so that we seek effective solutions to the situation that is being faced.
The solution
Prototypes help you learn from failure early and inexpensively, and invite others to react to your idea.
When we talk about innovation and Design Thinking, we mean to think in a disruptive way, from the earliest stages when we carry out Due Diligence to the execution or development of the new product or service.
That is why having prototypes becomes a matter subject, since they help us very quickly to solve problems.
What is Rapid Prototyping?
You can make anything tangible through Rapid Prototyping, a prototype that can be done in a few minutes and that will bring a clearer idea to your users than a script written on paper.
Think in prototype as accelerator within the innovation and Design Thinking process that invites others to experience your idea and helps them transform an abstract concept into a meaningful product or service.
Drawing is a foundational prototyping skill and one of the many ways you can make your ideas tangible. However, you are not required to be an expert illustrator to do a prototype. The important thing about Rapid Prototyping is that you can make simple graphics through lines and circles.
Sketch for thinking: take a pen and next to a piece of paper, start drawing.
Drawing is one of the many ways you can make your ideas tangible. The problem is that people think they are good at drawing or not. Actually, it is like any skill; It improves with practice.
However, the really important thing you must do to learn to draw is to start with a few light strokes.
Raising the pen is half the battle, and you’re already winning it.
Don’t worry about the quality. Focus on what you learn along the way. And have fun with it! At first, you are only drawing for yourself, and always seek to share an idea at a high level, do not pursue perfection
Include people in your sketches
Often in innovation and Design Thinking processes I see students or clients outlining what their idea looks like and how it works, which is fine. But it’s also important to visualize how other people will interact with your product or service. That nuance will help you consider your idea from a more human-centered lens.
Always remember that we design for people and we are human centered.
