Design thinking for every endeavour | Robyn Richardson | TEDxCreativeCoast

Summary

The speaker, a former teacher turned designer, shares her journey of discovering design thinking and its transformative impact on her approach to problem-solving. She emphasizes the importance of representing ideas, arranging them to find connections, and reframing problems with a critical yet open mindset. The speaker encourages embracing design thinking as a collaborative, team-based practice to foster innovation, urging the audience to apply these principles to their own thinking processes.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker began as a teacher with a BA in English, using teaching as a day job to support their passion for music.
• 🎤 They discovered their ability to connect with and influence students' thinking, which was also reflected in their music performances.
• 🤔 The speaker was intrigued by design thinking and its potential to change people's perspectives, leading them to pursue further education in the field.
• 📚 Upon entering graduate school, the speaker was frustrated by the lack of a unified definition or framework for design thinking, which varied among educators and practitioners.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of representing ideas visually on a blank surface, as a way to externalize and organize thoughts.
• 👧👦 The act of representing ideas is likened to the natural creativity of children, who use various mediums to express their understanding of the world.
• 🧩 Arranging ideas helps in identifying patterns, anomalies, and connections that may not be apparent when ideas remain internal.
• 🤓 The process of design thinking involves stepping back, reframing the problem, and being cautious of personal biases that could cloud judgment.
• 👥 Collaboration and including diverse perspectives are crucial for innovation, as different viewpoints can offer new insights and solutions.
• 💡 Design thinking is presented as a team sport, where the inclusion of people with varying opinions can lead to more successful outcomes.
• 📈 The speaker encourages the audience to practice design thinking by representing, arranging, and reframing their ideas, and to reach out with their experiences.

Q & A

What was the speaker's profession before becoming a designer?

The speaker was a high school English teacher in Orlando, Florida.

Why did the speaker initially become a teacher?

The speaker became a teacher because they needed a day job while pursuing their passion for playing music.

What was the speaker's reaction when their supervising principal asked about their teaching success?

The speaker did not have a pedagogical answer but admitted to treating teaching like a gig, needing to connect with the students.

How did the students respond to the speaker's teaching style?

Students appreciated the speaker's approach, stating they learned a lot from the speaker's talks without even looking at the textbook.

What did people call the speaker after their music shows?

People called the speaker 'Purple Guitar Girl' due to the speaker's purple guitar.

What aspect of teaching did the speaker find they had a knack for?

The speaker found they had a knack for affecting the way people thought.

Why did the speaker decide to study design thinking?

The speaker wanted to change the way people think in a big, revolutionary way and saw design thinking as a means to innovate in various disciplines.

How did the speaker feel about the lack of a unified definition for design thinking?

The speaker felt frustrated and confused because everyone had a different framework or language for design thinking.

What is the first step in design thinking according to the speaker?

The first step is to have a blank surface to represent ideas, getting them out of one's head.

What does the speaker suggest doing with the ideas once they are represented?

The speaker suggests rearranging the ideas to see how they fit together and identify patterns, anomalies, and consistencies.

What is the final step in the design thinking process mentioned by the speaker?

The final step is to step back, reframe the problem with the new understanding, and be cautious of biases.

Why is it important to involve others in the design thinking process according to the speaker?

Involving others, especially those with different perspectives, is crucial for innovation and can help identify aspects that might have been missed.

What does the speaker suggest doing to ensure a well-rounded approach to design thinking?

The speaker suggests making thinking a practice and a team sport, inviting diverse opinions to enhance the process.

What advice does the speaker give for implementing design thinking?

The speaker advises to go home, try representing ideas, arranging them, and reframing the problem, and to reach out if it works or doesn't work.

What does the speaker believe about the nature of thinking in relation to design thinking?

The speaker believes that thinking is not magic but a practice that can be improved through design thinking.