Entrepreneurial Mindset: Design Thinking

A key aspect of an Entrepreneurial Mindset is the process of Design Thinking. So, what is design thinking? You might have heard about it, but did you know that it is a concept or method that was followed by the legendary inventor Thomas Edison, the catalyst to electricity? He invented the first lightbulb in five phases: Empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.

Here are the steps explained:

The first step of design thinking is to “empathize.” Consult with experts in the space you are trying to solve the problem and talk to prospective users to understand and observe issues through their eyes.

Next, you “define” the project. You need to be able to articulate the problem statement from the point of view of the users.

Thirdly, you “ideate,” reflect from different perspectives, and devise innovative solutions. Build on ideas and be as wild as possible in your thinking. At some point, you test your ideas and judge how to proceed.

Next, you “prototype” your project or invention. You start making the first form or edition of your solution — this will be done with minimal spending, and the intent is to get initial feedback so you can decide if you want to expand the project.

Finally, when you think the prototype is booming and is ready for the official launch, you “test” it another time; in other words, double-check. Get feedback from your initial customers and if everything is good, prepare to launch.

I recently used design thinking during a high school business plan competition. I founded “Fan Nirvana’’ as a potential business project. It is a sports tech company that improves fan experience in a stadium to ease game attendees of typical hassles they face during a game. We spoke with two stadium directors–one from SoFi Stadium and one from Heinz Field–and got feedback from their respective perspectives. We initially thought we would provide a technology solution that would merge the living room experience with the stadium experience — that fans would get to hear the play-by-play commentary while watching the actual game in the stadium. We also got customer survey feedback from 30 individuals on this potential app. We then discovered that the real problem is that fans spend too much time away from their seats either because they cannot find their seats or spend too much time in queues to buy food and miss a significant part of the game.

We brainstormed solutions and envisioned a mobile app that would provide a way finder and food delivery service to minimize time away from the seat. We created wireframe designs on how the app would work on the phone. We hope to develop the app, test it with some fans at the stadium and get feedback. We are currently on hiatus but will resume Fan Nirvana work soon.