Online Marketing Amsterdam

Design thinking is a human-centered approach that solves complex problems and creates innovative solutions through an iterative process.

About design thinking

Design thinking is an approach that creatively and human-centered solves complex problems and accelerates innovation. Instead of thinking directly in terms of solutions, design thinking starts from the end user. Design thinking allows organizations and teams to gain deeper insights, improve user experiences and develop innovative solutions to a variety of challenges.

Through careful observation, experimentation and continuous testing, solutions are created that add real value. Design thinking is broadly applicable in a variety of contexts, including education, project management and professional development, where participants can actively apply skills and methodologies to solve problems in creative ways. It is a powerful approach for brands, teams and organizations that want to innovate with impact. In practice, design thinking leads to concrete results by developing, testing and implementing solutions in real situations.

What is design thinking?

Design thinking is an iterative process consisting of five phases: empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping and testing. The first phase, which focuses on empathy, is all about understanding the user and taking the end user’s perspective. During this phase, information is gathered to identify the user’s need. In the second phase, it is important to clearly define the problem; the right problem must be defined for the next steps to be effective. Formulating the problem definition helps to get the user’s core need in focus.

Design thinking method online marketing amsterdam

Design thinking uses a variety of methods and principles, applying theories from psychology, creativity and innovation. The theory behind design thinking emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach and the iterative design of solutions. During the process, participants develop skills such as problem definition, brainstorming, prototyping and recognizing their own thinking patterns. Anyone can be a designer; designers play a central role in generating ideas, creating solutions and designing products or services. The process encourages creating innovative concepts and generating ideas (generate ideas) to solve complex problems and arrive at appropriate solutions.

During prototype testing, it is important to recognize limitations and analyze what did not work in previous iterations. In the final phase of the process, user feedback is gathered to further improve the design, after which the next phase may be to implement the solution in practice. The iterative nature of design ensures that solutions are continually refined.

Within design thinking, it is essential to initially assemble a multidisciplinary project team so that different perspectives contribute to developing creative solutions. Students and education professionals play an important role in applying design thinking within education, encouraging a changing way of thinking. Formulating the right problem, designing solutions and implementing them are crucial steps in the process.

What to expect

Customized workshops and sessions (physical or remote)
Practical application of the five-step model
Customer interviews, audience analysis and persona mapping
Customer journey mapping and service blueprinting
Idea generation with creative techniques
Prototyping and validation of concepts
Develop skills that are immediately applicable in practice
Working with different methods and principles within design thinking
Applying theory in the sessions to inform the design process
Engaging students and applying design thinking in education
Collaborate in a multidisciplinary project team for innovative solutions

Sample applications

Development of new propositions or services: A project team made up of various disciplines is initially assembled to formulate the right problem from different perspectives and find out the user’s need. By working together and generating ideas, they create a design for a new product or service. While designing and testing prototypes, they recognize limitations and analyze what did not work so that in the next phase they can come up with creative solutions and implement them in practice.
Brand positioning or rebranding processes: By applying design thinking methods and principles, a new way of thinking is encouraged within the team. Students or employees are actively involved in generating ideas and creating a new design for the brand identity. In practice, the new brand is then implemented and tested, using feedback from the final phase to further refine the design.
Optimization of customer journey and digital touchpoints: By analyzing the customer journey from the user’s perspective, bottlenecks and needs are initially identified. The project team generates ideas and develops prototypes, recognizing constraints during testing and creating solutions that can be implemented immediately in practice.
Innovation in Healthcare or Public Sector: Education involves students in solving complex problems by working with professionals to develop creative solutions. By applying design thinking theory and methods, they develop skills that can be directly applied in practice, such as formulating the right problem, creating prototypes and implementing solutions in healthcare.
Strategy development for scale-ups: By using design thinking principles and involving a multidisciplinary project team, innovative strategies are designed. In the next phase after prototyping, the best solutions are tested and further developed so that they can be effectively implemented and contribute to the growth of the organization.
Validation of business models or MVPs: By applying design thinking methods and involving students or users in the process, new ideas are generated and prototypes are created. During the final phase, these prototypes are tested, limitations are recognized and what did not work is analyzed so that the design can be further improved and successfully implemented in practice.

Our working method

Empathy & research – The first phase is all about taking the user’s perspective; through interviews, data and observation, you gain insight into their needs and experiences.
Problem definition – Define the right problem by sharply identifying needs, frictions and opportunities; a well-defined problem is essential to achieving effective solutions.
Idea generation – Generate ideas in creative sessions with input from brand, market and user; creating creative solutions is central to finding innovative answers.
Prototyping – Design and create prototypes by developing ideas into testable concepts or wireframes; recognize and evaluate constraints to improve the design.
Testing & Validation – In the final phase, learn from feedback and adjust based on real users; implement the solutions and prepare for the next phase of the process.

While going through these steps, skills, methods and principles of design thinking are indispensable, and working in a multidisciplinary project team is crucial for success. Involve students actively in the process and apply design thinking in teaching to enrich the learning process. By developing a new way of thinking and recognizing what didn’t work initially, designers and design teams can create better and better solutions.

Why is design thinking important?

Design thinking helps you approach complex issues with fresh eyes. By thinking from the user’s perspective and making ideas tangible quickly, you avoid assumptions and internal tunnel vision. It is ideally suited for developing new propositions, validating product-market fit and optimizing the customer journey. Design thinking connects strategy, creativity and human behavior in one approach – and makes innovation concrete, fast and carried.

Design thinking offers a human-centered approach that focuses on recognizing the right need and the user’s perspective. By applying methods, principles and theory in practice, you will develop skills to create creative solutions and solve complex problems. Working with a multidisciplinary project team, involving students and implementing design thinking in education provides diverse perspectives and strengthens the design process. Through this approach, you learn to recognize constraints, generate ideas and create innovative designs that meet defined needs. Developing a new way of thinking and implementing solutions in the final phase and next phase of the process are essential to achieve sustainable results.

Collaboration and teamwork in design thinking

Collaboration and teamwork are the beating heart of the design thinking method. In an iterative process, multidisciplinary teams work together to approach complex problems and social issues from different angles. By joining forces and bringing together diverse expertise, innovative solutions emerge that truly meet user needs. The design thinking process is all about putting people first, where understanding the actual needs and desires of the end user is always the starting point.

During the ideate phase, when ideas are generated, the power of collaboration is evident. Through brainstorming sessions and creative techniques such as SCAMPER or the 6 thinking hats, team members are encouraged to come up with new ideas freely. In this phase, it is important to put all possible solutions on the table, without immediate judgment. This creates space for creativity and innovation, and increases the likelihood that the team will find the best possible solution to the issue.

But collaboration is not limited to idea generation. In every phase of the design thinking method – from understanding the user to testing prototypes – co-creation is essential. In the empathy phase, team members collaborate on interviews and observations to understand the needs of the target audience. While defining the problem, they pool their insights to sharply formulate the actual problem. In the prototype phase, ideas are collectively transformed into tangible prototypes, which are evaluated with the end user in the test phase. This iterative approach ensures that the final product optimally meets the user’s needs.

The benefits of this type of collaboration are great. It stimulates creativity, provides diverse perspectives and increases the chances of finding innovative solutions to complex issues. Moreover, it contributes to an open mindset within the team, in which thinking from the user’s perspective is central. By working together and continuously learning from each other and from the end user, design thinking offers a powerful approach to solving complex problems and social issues and arriving at solutions that really make a difference.

Frequently asked questions about design thinking

What does a design thinking process cost?

Programmes start at €6,500, depending on the duration, number of sessions and complexity of the challenge.

How long will it take?

A compact programme can be completed in two weeks, while larger programmes can take four to six weeks or longer.

Who is design thinking suitable for?

UX research, wireframes, prototyping, user flows and optimisation proposals. We work closely with your team or developers.

Is it only for digital products?

No. Design thinking also works for services, business models and internal processes. It is precisely its broad scope that makes it so valuable. Solutions are actually implemented in practice and participants develop directly applicable skills..

How do methods and principles work within design thinking?

Design thinking uses various methods and principles that structure the process. These methods help generate ideas, test prototypes and solve problems, while the principles ensure an effective and repeatable approach in practice.

Reviews

Delano Sookha

The guys at OMA, Michael and Jasper, are a dedicated and hardworking team.

Becky's Bootcamp

Ontzettend blij met Michael en Jasper. Ze zijn ontzettend vriendelijk, meedenkend, enthousiast en willen je ook echt helpen groeien. Wat ik persoonlijk heel fijn vind is dat ze bij een ''startende onderneming'' budgetwijs meedenken. Michael en Jasper voelen heel vertrouwd, en dat is heel fijn samenwerken. (Ow en.. wij zijn pas een maand of 3 bezig, en ik ben al zo hard gegroeid! Op naar meeeeer!!)

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