Section 1 · Design Thinking

Define

Definition

Synthesizing what you learned while empathizing into a single, clear problem statement — a point of view that frames the actual need to be met, often phrased as a “How might we…” question.

Why it matters

A vague problem produces scattered solutions. Define converts raw observations into one specific, actionable challenge the rest of the process can aim at. Without it, ideation has no target.

Example

Turning scattered interview notes into one statement: “First-year students need a way to orient themselves at a building’s entrance, because current signage assumes you already know the building’s layout.”

Teaching note

Students write problem statements that smuggle in a solution — “students need a bigger map.” A good statement names the need and its cause, not the fix. Rewriting a solution-shaped statement into a need-shaped one is the exercise worth running until it is second nature.