This document discusses redefining design problems. It begins by noting that traditional "problems" involve doubt, uncertainty or difficulty, whereas design problems represent opportunities for positive change. The author argues that problems should be viewed as "spaces for change from the real to the ideal." Different types of problems are discussed, including closed problems with single answers, open-ended problems with multiple solutions, complex corporate problems, and "wicked" global problems. The document provides examples and encourages viewing all information as "data" to generate insights and identify opportunities when tackling complex problems. It emphasizes the need to cluster data into themes in order to articulate design problems that suggest related opportunities for change.
4. These are not design problems:
Why aren’t our customers interested
buying our new product line?
What new services should we create
to keep up with our competitors?
How can we avert disasters
caused by disease?
5. To answer these questions,
we need to redesign our notion of
what a problem represents.