Designing and executing a complicated research study definitely takes skill! But when you’re designing research that includes an “innovation” component, a whole host of additional tools and skills are required. April Bell unveils how she uses an integrated approach of Design Thinking + Montessori principles to tackle even the most complex innovation research project. During the session, April unpacks the Design-Thinking framework (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype & Test) using a real world example. Then she shares how integrating Montessori-based principles (Flexible Structure, Pull Don’t Push, Concrete Before Abstract, Observe Before Acting) throughout the Design-Thinking process not only creates a conducive environment to help clients thoroughly engage but also keeps them coming back for more!

1. A Framework that Works:
Design-Thinking +
Montessori principles
to elevate your practice
1

2. DESIGN THINKING HELPS Guide
2

3. MONTESSORI CREATES: Learning to love to learn
3

4. WHY BOTH? 4

5. Learn the Design
Thinking framework
Uncover 4 Key
Montessori mindsets
1 2
Understand how to use
both principles in a “real
world” project
3
5

6. We have an exci0ng project coming up we would love your help with! We’d
like to dive into some interes0ng opportunity areas we’ve iden0fied, although
we have not decided which ones. Below are some details:
Research… Can you help?
To: April Bell
6
Are you available?
Your Favorite Client
We don’t know what the methodology looks like yet, but need to learn
percep0ons, behaviors related to decision-making and prepara0on of snacks at
home. At the comple0on of the project, I would like to have concepts that are
ready to test quan0ta0vely.
We want to do 2 phases between Thanksgiving and Christmas and we are not
sure which markets yet.
Hi April,

7. http://dschool.stanford.edu/
7

8. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
3. IDEATE
4. PROTOTYPe
5. TEST
DESIGN THINKING
8

9. EXERCISE
9
1. Find a partner
2. Decide who is
PARNTER A and who
is Partner B

10. 10
Design a
useful and
meaningful
Toiletry Bag
for your
Partner.
Exercise Objective:

11. 01: Interview your partner
about what’s in their
toiletry bag/doc kit.
§ What are frustrations?
§ What would give them a
better system?
§ Take notes and probe for
deeper insight!
§ Switch after 4 minutes.
Empathize: engage to understand
11

12. 02: Review your findings
§ Synthesize learnings into
2 groups:
§ Goals & Wishes
§ Insights
Define: Reframe the Problem
12

13. 03: Craft a Problem
Statement
§ Select the most
compelling need & most
interesting insight.
§ Make it something worth
tackling.
Define: Reframe the Problem
Needs a way to…
Partner’s name
Because... but…
Surprisingly...
Insight 13
Janice
feel she has access to all her
stuff and is ready to act
carrying her toiletry bag makes her
feel less ready to act, not more

14. 04: Sketch 4 Solutions
Ideate: Generate Alternatives
to Test
§ Generate ideas.
§ Don’t evaluate.
§ You have 4 minutes.
14

15. 05: Build a prototype of
your solution
§ Choose the idea you feel
best solves the need.
§ Create an experience
your partner can
engage with.
Prototype: Build it
15

16. 06: Observe & Interview
the User
Test: SHARE TO GET FEEDBACK
§ Briefly describe your
prototype, then
observe and question
your partner as they
used.
§ Don’t defend. Let go.
§ You have 3 minutes
each. 16

17. REFLECTION & TAKEAWAYS
17

18. Show Don’t
Tell
Design Thinking
mindsets Craft Clarity
Be Mindful of
Process
Embrace
Experimentation
Bias Towards
Action 18

19. Moving Montessori from Classroom to Clients19

20. Pull Don’t Push
Observe
Before
acting
Concrete
Before Abstract
Structure
That's
Flexible
MONTESSORI Mindsets
From the classroom
To the client

21. Constructive Collaboration!
Design Thinking
IS THE
WHAT!
Montessori
IS THE
HOW!
21

22. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
3. IDEATE
4. PROTOTYPe
5. TEST
DESIGN THINKING >>>
22
meets MONTESSORI Mindsets

23. EXAMPLE PROJECT
23

24. Hi April,
We have an exci0ng project coming up we would love your help with! We’d
like to dive into some interes0ng opportunity areas we’ve iden0fied, although
we have not decided which ones. Below are some details:
We want to do 2 phases between Thanksgiving and Christmas and we are not
sure which markets yet.
We don’t know what the methodology looks like yet, but need to learn
percep0ons, behaviors related to decision-making and prepara0on of snacks at
home. At the comple0on of the project, I would like to have concepts that are
ready to test quan0ta0vely.
Are you available?
Your Favorite Client
Research… Can you help?
To: April Bell
24

25. Hi April,
We have an exci0ng project coming up we would love your help with! We’d
like to dive into some interes0ng opportunity areas we’ve iden0fied, although
we have not decided which ones. Below are some details:
We want to do 2 phases between Thanksgiving and Christmas and we are not
sure which markets yet.
We don’t know what the methodology looks like yet, but need to learn
percep0ons, behaviors related to decision-making and prepara0on of snacks at
home. At the comple0on of the project, I would like to have concepts that are
ready to test quan0ta0vely.
Are you available?
Your Favorite Client
Research… Can you help?
To: April Bell
25

26. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
3. IDEATE
4. PROTOTYPe
5. TEST
DESIGN THINKING
26

27. 1. EmpaTHize
DESIGN THINKING
27

28. Phase 1: Empathize VIA ONLINE EXPLORATION
28

29. COMPANYLOGO
LEARNING REMOTELY CAN BE A CHALLENGE:

30. 30
Pull Don’t Push

31. 31
Pull Don’t Push

32. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
DESIGN THINKING
32

33. How: DEFINEPHASE 2: DEFINE
33

34. PHASE 2: DEFINE BY creating “dig sites”
Making old
new again
New
Health
SocializationGamification
Mash-ups
Customization
34

35. 35
Concrete Before
Abstract

36. Example “dig sites”
Making old
new again
Health
trends
Emerging
trendsGamification
Mash-ups
Customi-
zation
36

37. Created “Visual Stories”
Concrete Before
Abstract

38. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
3. IDEATE
DESIGN THINKING
38

39. Phase 3: Ideate
39

40. 40
Structure That's Flexible

41. 41
Structure That's Flexible

42. 42
Structure That's Flexible
Agenda:
1. Ideate
2. Converge
3. Write
Concepts

43. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
3. IDEATE
4. PROTOTYPe
DESIGN THINKING
43

44. Phase 4: Prototype
44

45. prototyping tips
5. Create artificial deadlines 45
1. Keep it Simple
2. Think about what you want to learn
3. Ensure attributes are differentiated
4. Build it to Think

46. 1. EmpaTHize
2. DeFINE
3. IDEATE
4. PROTOTYPe
5. TEST
DESIGN THINKING
46

47. Phase 5: Test
Concept Group 1 Concept Group 2 Concept Group 3 FINAL CONCEPT GROUP
IMPROVe
ideas
IMPROVe
ideas
IMPROVe
ideas
47

48. 48
Observe Before acting
“follow the child does not mean
let the child do what he wants.
it is simply an acknowledgement
that the child has his or her own
pattern – we need to take into
account where the child is, rather
than impose our idea of what the
child should learn now.”

49. 49
Observe Before acting

50. Golden Rule of Creativity
Treat other people’s creativity the way
you would like them to treat yours.
50

51. 51