The “Define” stage in design thinking is the second step of the process. It involves synthesizing the information gathered during the “Empathize” stage to clearly articulate the core problem you want to address. This stage focuses on defining a problem statement that is user-centered and based on the insights and findings from the empathize phase.
Key activities in the Define stage include:
- Synthesizing Insights: Analyzing and organizing the data collected during the empathize stage to identify key themes, patterns, and insights about the users’ needs and challenges.
- Problem Statement: Crafting a clear and concise problem statement that describes the specific issue you are aiming to solve. This statement should focus on the users’ needs rather than the designer’s assumptions or solutions.
- Point of View (POV): Creating a point of view that captures the user, their need, and the insights gathered. It often follows a format like “User (X) needs a way to (Y) because (Z).”
The goal of the Define stage is to frame the challenge in a way that is actionable and provides a foundation for ideating and generating potential solutions in the next stage.
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