First steps in design development: Emphathize and define. Created for Design Thinking Action Lab at Stanford University

1. DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Re-Thinking the School-To-Work Transition | Alvalyn Lundgren
PHASE 1: EMPHATHIZE & DEFINE

2. DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Re-Thinking the School-To-Work Transition | Alvalyn Lundgren
DESCRIPTIVES
Creative, with strong organizational skills
Wants to do significant work
Is self-directed
Wants flexibility
Wants variety
Has invested in building skills
THINGS HE SAID:
I want to be a freelance designer and not just
get a job somewhere.
I want to be entrepreneurial and not be stuck
in some job.
I want to have a bunch of different types
of clients.
The help the school gives is more for those
who want to get hired into a design job.
Anyone who wants to freelance is out
of luck.
Even the internships are all about getting
hired at an agency.
I know I won’t be satisfied in a regular job.
I want the freedom to work when I want to
and where I want to, and with whom I want
to.
The Emerging Designer

3. DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Re-Thinking the School-To-Work Transition | Alvalyn Lundgren
THINGS HE DID
Seemed excited about being free
and self-determined.
Excited about being out
of school.
THINKING
Not sure how the path to freelancing is
different from getting a job.
Where to begin? Get a job first and then
freelance, or just jump in?
Are there resources for getting freelance
work? How does one find them.
Chances for success are good but he is en-
tirely responsible for his own success
or failure
What if he fails? Fail forward.
Schools should consider both sides of
the equation equally (employment and
entrepreneurship)
The Emerging Designer

4. DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Re-Thinking the School-To-Work Transition | Alvalyn Lundgren
The Problem Statement
The Emerging Designer needs to know how to establish a freelance
design practice because it is not taught in design school.
The Problem Statement identifies the who, the what and the why: the stakeholder,
the need and the insight or reason for the need.

5. DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Re-Thinking the School-To-Work Transition | Alvalyn Lundgren
My Notes From The
Interview

6. DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Re-Thinking the School-To-Work Transition | Alvalyn Lundgren
My MindMap
Sketch