Why Design Thinking?
What happens when technical excellence meets true customer understanding? A field report from a hands-on coaching session inside a highly skilled – yet siloed – industrial team.
From Silos to Synergy
Many organizations are full of smart people – but stuck in departmental silos. My coaching aimed to break down those walls and reconnect everyone to the ‘Why’ behind their work.
The 5 Phases
- Empathize: We begin not with tech, but with people. Who are your users? What context are they in? What challenges do they face?
- Define: These insights lead us to *relevant problem statements* – not technical features.
- Ideate: Diverse teams create bold ideas – no hierarchy, no job titles.
- Prototype: Simple prototypes (sketches, storyboards, click dummies) are enough to validate assumptions.
- Test: With real user feedback you can see what works and what doesn't click immediately. The key is: test, learn, iterate.
The Team’s Aha Moments
A fresh perspective on user needs: More alignment and trust in the team. Courage to start small and think big. One participant said: I never expected this much clarity in just one day.
My Take as a Coach
Design Thinking is not a fluffy feel-good tool – it’s user-first, adaptable and highly effective. I love seeing skepticism turn into motivation. Because: you don’t need a degree – you just need to try it.
Design Thinking quote
Want to learn more?
Curious what Design Thinking could unlock in your team?