7 quotes that prove your business needs design thinking

It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of design thinking.

In fact, we’re firm believers that every product or service should incorporate it within the design process. It just doesn’t make sense to us to take a linear approach when it comes to creating something innovative! Instead, we believe that the user should be put at the centre of what you do. Not only will this give you a fresh perspective on your business, but a real sense of empathy with the people that matter: Your customers!

However, we’re not the only ones that believe in the huge power of design thinking. There are a tonne of design professionals who are fans just like us. Lots of people are waving the flag for user-centric, iterative processes.

So, today we thought we would share some of our favourite quotes from those design thinking-lovers, to convince you that you need to start using it in your business!

“We must design for the way people behave, not for how we would wish them to behave.” — Donald A. Norman, Living with Complexity

This brilliant quote from Donald A. Norman highlights the danger of making assumptions about your users! Design thinking encourages you to truly get into your customer’s shoes through brilliant research. That way, you can ensure that you are creating products that are actually wanted and needed, not that you think are wanted and needed.

That means saving your all important resources from being wasted on an unwanted design.

“It’s not ‘us versus them’ or even ‘us on behalf of them.’ For a design thinker it has to be ‘us with them’” — Tim Brown, CEO and President of IDEO

Tim Brown, one of the biggest figures in the design thinking world, believes that designing good products and services is all about creating an empathetic relationship with your users. You should want to help them solve their problem!

“We spend a lot of time designing the bridge, but not enough time thinking about the people who are crossing it.” – Dr. Prabhjot Singh, Director of Systems Design at the Earth Institute

Another brilliant one showing the power of knowing your users, Dr Prabhjot Singh here shows that we often get stuck in our ways when it comes to designing. That’s why being user-centric can allow you to create something truly innovative.

“The main tenet of design thinking is empathy for the people you’re trying to design for. Leadership is exactly the same thing — building empathy for the people that you’re entrusted to help.” — David Kelley, Founder of IDEO

Another key figure within the world of design thinking, David Kelley shows the transferable skills that understanding design thinking creates. Not only will you be able to create brilliant products, but you’ll be a great leader, too!

“Human-centered design is a philosophy, not a precise set of methods, but one that assumes that innovation should start by getting close to users and observing their activities.” — Donald A. Norman, Co — founder of Nielsen Norman Group

Design Thinking is an iterative process, not a set of steps that can be followed to the letter. As Donald Norman points out, it’s more about embracing an understanding of your users, than having a set of rules to work from.

“Entrepreneur, design thinking is the ability to create, portray and deliver tomorrow’s distinction, today.” ― Onyi Anyado

Onyi Anyado suggests that design thinking gives you the key to future success. And we couldn’t agree more!

“Reflection is an underlining theme of Design Thinking.” — Pearl Zhu

Finally, design thinking isn’t just about building empathy with your users: It’s about implementing those insights. Throughout the process, don’t be afraid to make changes to your products or services based on what you learn.

Now that’s the key to success!