Consider the last problem you tried to solve or the last idea you attempted to execute and deliver. How did you approach finding the solution or launching the concept? Maybe you trusted your gut instincts or made some assumptions about what would result in the best possible outcome or product. That's a reasonable approach. But did you take time to consider why and how the problem exists in the first place? Did you explore the multifaceted ways an end-user might engage with your idea? 

If not, you're likely not familiar with the concept of design thinking—a proven, collaborative approach to solving both everyday and organizational problems. In fact, research consistently shows that design-driven companies experience increased retention and loyalty and are 4x more profitable than companies that aren’t.

So how do you facilitate collaborative design thinking in your organization? A design thinking workshop can help you familiarize your team with the process and get the creative problem-solving juices flowing. 

What is design thinking? 

Occasionally, a new way of thinking about or approaching work leads to huge improvements in how work gets done. Enter design thinking—a structured approach to problem-solving that helps people break free of counterproductive tendencies that thwart creativity innovation. And it's not just reserved for designers or creatives. 

Design thinking centers on putting the needs of the user first. With the user always in mind, the focus shifts to challenging assumptions, redefining problems, and finding solutions that might not be readily apparent. It's a way of thinking, just as much as it's a hands-on way of working. Let's take a more in-depth look at each stage of the clearly defined process. 

The five stages of design thinking

A few variants exist in the design thinking process. However, each of them centers around the needs of the user. The following stages are part of the five-phase model proposed by the Hasso-Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford, also known as d.school. This process isn't necessarily linear. Each step can inform a truly creative approach to problem-solving.

Empathize

It's one thing to recognize that a problem exists. And it's another to put yourself in the shoes of who the problem affects. Design thinking is all about understanding the people you're designing for and developing empathy with the target user. That way, the result is a solution or product that truly serves your audience.

Define

What is the problem you're trying to solve? Why does this problem exist? How do people experience this problem? How might it be solved? Once you identify the problem and understand it from the user's perspective, you can establish some guardrails and clearly define the next steps. 

Ideate

After defining the problem, a clear solution may present itself right away. While an obvious approach is worth considering, it's not always the most effective solution. Examine the issue with a collaborative eye to challenge your assumptions about how it should be addressed. If your original conclusion is the best solution, that's great. However, taking the time to ideate and think creatively may help you develop more effective—or even game-changing—ideas.

Prototype 

The only way to know if you've found the right answer is to test your hypothesis. Start sketching, prototyping, and building. As you build, you might need to revisit the previous steps. That's okay. Trust the process and be flexible. 

Test 

A build-first, ask questions later isn't the right approach to every problem. For example, incorporating diverse viewpoints from the start may initially slow down processes but ultimately result in more inclusive products. However, the only way to create real value in the products you build is to test your ideas and then improve them. 

Benefits of conducting a design thinking workshop

Whether or not you're a designer, incorporating design thinking into your problem-solving process can help you deliver viable, user-centric solutions that speed time-to-market, improve customer retention, reduce costs, and boost ROI. Aside from those tactical, metrics-driven benefits, a design thinking approach can have a positive cultural impact on your organization. 

Lucidspark offers dozens of templates to help you stay organized during each step of the workshop, engage attendees, and document the entire process along the way.

Create a creative problem-solving culture 

Problem-solving is an essential skill, both at work and in everyday life. A design thinking approach can help your team develop those skills and apply them to any challenge they face. 

Turn initial failure into eventual success

Because a design thinking approach is inherently flexible and iterative, it allows for quick failure and learning. As a result, you can avoid the pitfall of seeing an ill-advised idea to completion only to fail thanks to an unexpected blindspot or barrier. 

Foster innovation and teamwork 

The very nature of design thinking encourages collaboration and thinking outside-the-box. The process gets everyone, regardless of seniority, to bring new, out-of-the-box ideas to the table, eliminating group-think and encouraging innovation. 

Build a competitive advantage

A design thinking workshop may deliver groundbreaking ideas or solutions that give your organization a competitive advantage. 

How to run a design thinking workshop

Now that we've covered the basics of design thinking, let's talk about the "how." What is the most effective way to pull off a design thinking workshop? There are some straightforward steps. 

Set objectives

What do you want to get out of the workshop? Clearly define and state the meeting's ideal outcomes before you add it to everyone's calendar. 

Determine and scope the problem

And be specific. A high-level goal of revamping company culture, for example, might sound like an exciting project, but if the scope is too broad, you'll have trouble locking down actionable, achievable goals. 

Create an agenda 

There's no quicker way to derail a meeting or workshop than by failing to set an agenda. Set an outline or schedule for the workshop and include it in the invite so attendees have time to prepare for each section of the workshop. Like your design thinking approach, this agenda can be flexible, but it's still important to have clear milestones that you can reference to keep the workshop on track. 

Our free meeting agenda template is an easy way to start. Or, if your meeting will be asynchronous, try this template to make an agenda for Zoom meetings.

Bring and share all of the necessary materials

Start by sharing all relevant context and information ahead of the meeting. When it comes to materials, there's no need to get too fancy. If your meeting will be held in person, you can embrace your elementary school craft days and gather a collective of colorful post-it notes, markers, and tape to encourage a fun, creative session. If you're conducting the workshop remotely, an interactive, digital whiteboard tool like Lucidspark can help encourage real-time visual collaboration, no matter where your team happens to be working.  

Start the workshop with a warm-up activity

You wouldn’t jump into a long workout without a proper warmup. The same goes when you’re prepping your team for an effective, collaborative design thinking workshop. Consider word activities, quick improv games like charades, or creative opportunities that give everyone a chance to brainstorm and present an out-of-the-box idea and solution. 

If you’re working remotely, Lucidspark offers tons of collaborative activites that can be completed asynchronously. Check out just a few of our favorites here. None of these exercises are particularly valuable on their own, and it really doesn’t matter which you choose, but the creative warm-up lap will prep your team for a creative sprint.

Keep notes throughout the workshop

Use a Lucidspark board to actively take notes and receive feedback during the workshop. Try this template to get started. This documentation will be valuable later to reference as your team recaps the meeting and incorporates design thinking into their day-to-day work.

And learn more about how to make documentation effortless with our toolkit.

Leave time for reflection

Set aside time for reflection at the end of the workshop to review the process, evaluate how far you've come, and congratulate each other on a session well done. Our meeting reflection template will guide your team through the reflective process in just a few minutes.

Once you’ve familiarized your team with the principles of design thinking, you can hold workshops whenever you run across a new business problem. The result will be a more collaborative, creative approach to problem-solving—and a highly engaged team.