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Design Thinking
Conceptualizing designs is one main factor towards creating robots. Stanford’s Design Thinking Process is extensively applied to every robot we create. Using the design thinking process, we build robots and tools that are both efficient and safe.What is Stanford’s Design Thinking Process?
Stanford’s Design Thinking Process is used to create a products that suited for public use. There are five steps to Design Thinking.
- The first step is empathy; we see how others feel towards a specific item. Interviews are used to gain insight to human nature.
- The second step is to define. In this step, we use the information gathered from interviews to find the user’s real problem.
- Ideate, the third step in design thinking, is where the group finds solutions to the problem.
- The fourth step is to prototype. Once an idea is decided upon, groups work together using random materials to construct examples of their product and explain how their product works.
- Testing is the final step. Groups rebuild their prototypes and create a working product. Once built, testing begins. Testing identifies problems with the item, so the product can be modified to better suit the user.
Once all steps are completed, the cycle repeats to enhance the product.
Why is Stanford Design Thinking important?
Design Thinking was invented to save build time and use that extra time to test the product. This is especially helpful in robotics competitions such as FRC. A six week time period to build and test your robot is difficult. Design Thinking creates a calmer work period and quicker building session.
How do we use it?
How do we introduce Design Thinking to our community?
We want our school to use the process of design thinking to make learning easier and faster. We have created a teach a teacher day at school to teach teachers the steps of Design Thinking so that they may use the steps at work or at home. We hope to spread the Design Thinking Process across the state of Hawaii.