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

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EMPATHIZE

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methods of DEEPdt
discover empathize experiment produce
launch
context
frame
field prep

needfind
empathize
unpack
synthesize
define
reframe

HMW...
brainstorm
(ideate)
narrow
select
prototype
iterate

test
feedback
storytell
hi-res
Ship It

pr

experiment

d
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c
u

ize
th
pa
em

discover

Launch

d.TEAMSs Assemble

kry
pto
nit
e

HERO
SUPERPOW ER

PROMPT:

discover

With Great Understanding, Comes Great Design

Launch Point

discover

Release the Cracken

C
s
w

e
N
he
t
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

k
c
a
r

Priming 4 Context

discover
W
HE

R
E?

411 splatter

WHAT

HOW

HO

PROMPT:

Take a moment to splatter & chatter brain matter

around the design topic (a brain dump).

dis

co

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empathize

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Needfinding

question prompts

empathize
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

SOFTBALLS
WARM-UP

PROMPT:

Be mindful of your User. Prep with an

understanding that the User leads, the designer RECEIVES & GIVES.

LAST THOUGHTS

Needfinding
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..

empathize

Needfinding
face 2 face

PROMPT:

Dive DEEP in gaining a better understanding

of Users around the design challenge.

empathize

Tell me a time when...?

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

Affinity Chunking
bio

gr

PROMPT:

ap

quotes

hic

al

Jot down your Needfinding & Observations on Post-its.

Place on a team, surface and then chunk in like groupings.

empathize
r
u
o
es

s
e
c

needs

Define

The 4 Dubyas

WHO

empathize
WHAT

WHO is this about?

(BE

DESCRIPTIVE)

What needs have been

revealed?
(HEADLINE

WHATS BEEN EXPRESSED)

Where is this most

impacting the User?
WHERE

WHY

(SHOW

THE EXPERIENCE)

Why does it matter to the

User?
(SHED

PROMPT:

Create a Needs Statement for your User.

LIGHT ON THE INSIGHTS)

Synthesizing/Needfinding

empathize

start with WHY

HY

...

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

WH

Y.

..

HY
.

W H Y ...

W H Y ...

Synthesizing
empathy map

empathize
USER

needs & insights

thinks & feels

quotes

PROMPT:

Unpack & sort needfinding (post-its R easy)

Define

Needs MadLib

Our User...

empathize
WHO is this about?
(BE

needs a way to...

What needs have been revealed?

(HEADLINE

when/while...

WHATS BEEN EXPRESSED)

Where is this most impacting the User?

(SHOW

because...

Create a Needs Statement for your User.

THE EXPERIENCE)

Why does it matter to the User?

(SHED

PROMPT:

DESCRIPTIVE)

LIGHT ON THE INSIGHTS)

Unpack

empathize

retell

I met...(

Name + a few

adjectives)

He/She is...

I learned...(

PROMPT:

interesting tidbit)

Take a moment to retell who you met.

Capture the essence of your User.

(some

411)

pr

experiment

od
uc
discover

em

t
a
p

e
z
hi

Point of View

V
O

How Might We...?

e
z
i
th

a
p
m

HMW...? IS
THE
BRIDGE

expe

rime

nt

HMW...?

the 4thWord

experiment
HMW...
HMW...
HMW...

PROMPT:

Take your POV, flip it & build different HMW...?

using the 4th Word to invigorate your Q.

Brainstormin
+BS Behavin
GO
GO
GO
GO

FOR
FOR
FOR
FOR

VOLUME
VOLUME
VOLUME
VOLUME

en

co

ur

WIL

ide

experiment

ag

as

ALL
Voices
acknowledged.

E
N
I
DL

HEA

OTHERS

OF

IDEAS

ON

BUILD
PROMPT:

Lets engage & demo postive brainstormin behavin!

Prototype

experiment

build 2 learn

e
l
d
o
o
d

PROMPT:

Experiential
tangible

Grab materials to visualize your solution and build to

learn... Doodle! Go TANGIBLE! Create the Experience!

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empathize

Test

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

produce

Storytell

Y
A
D
E
N
O
. .B U T

produce

F THAT

E
S
U
A
C
E
B
D
. AN
T
H
AT
F
O
. AND BECAUS E

spine it

via Kenn Adams'

Story Spine

...AN

establish
empathy

Craft a 1-2 minute story using classic story transistions

TRANSFORMATION
hero
creates
change

SINCE
THA
TD

AY

PROMPT:

PLATFORM

. .AND EVER

introduce
emotional
tension

Y
A
D
Y
R
E
V
E

L
I
T
N
... U

Y
LL
NA
FI

M
I
T
E
.
A
.
N
O
P
U
E
NO C

TILT

Feedback

produce

RTB Please

rose

thorn

bud

PROMPT:

Like a rose, there are Brightspots (rose), Painpoints (thorns),

& Potential (buds). Describe your flower.

Feedback

produce

LWW

i like...

PROMPT:

Half the feedback is done, fill in the rest.

i wish...

i wonder...