This document outlines the design thinking process which involves observing users, reframing problems from their perspective, brainstorming creative solutions, building prototypes, testing ideas, and telling stories. It discusses how design thinking helps solve complex problems by imagining future possibilities and learning from failures. The goal is to develop solutions that meet people's needs through techniques like hard empathy, deductive and abductive thinking, chindogu, and viewing problems as having infinite solutions rather than limited ones.

1. Collaboration 2.017
Design Thinking for Partnership Builders
Thomas Debass + Ashwood Heffern | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

3. Creative vs. Artistic:
The pursuit of
creative confidence
and collaboration

4. Design thinking is a
methodology used by
designers to help them solve
complex problems and
create solutions and products
that meet people’s needs.

5. Categories
Each coder/innovator uses
different methods of tech
What methods will you use to
develop your idea?
● Hardware
● Websites
● Mobile Apps
● Games and Animations

6. Innovation is a
byproduct of
design thinking.

7. What makes a great
design thinker?

8. An observing eye
and a constant
sense of wonder.

9. It’s believing that the
best solution is yet
to be found.

10. It’s the willingness
to fail early and fail
often.

11. The D.School Design Thinking Process

12. What If
Learn about the audience
for whom you are
designing

13. “What If?”
It’s both deductive
and abductive and
is fueled by hard
empathy.

14. Predict the past:
Being deductive means
using past knowledge to
solve current problems.

15. Remember the future:
Being abductive means
imagining and visualizing a
future that should yet exist.

16. Trance with hard
empathy.

17. What?
Construct a point of view
that is based on user
needs and insights
Reframe the problem

18. 4+4=? Limited Solution

19. Infinite Solution ?+?=8

20. Brainstorm
Brainstorm and come up
with creative solutions

21. Chindogu:
Connect +
Combine

22. Pretotype
Build a representation or
pretotype* of your ideas

23. Elmo’s
Monster
Maker
App

24. Sometimes you win.
Sometimes you learn!
Discover your challenges
and correct errors

25. Don’t Pitch. Tell A Story!

26. Backpack, purse, wallet, or carry-on bag

27. Engine of Innovation

28. Samuel P. Langley vs.
The Wright Brothers

29. Entrepreneurs are not
puzzle builders, they're
quilt makers.

30. Murmuration

31. Thank you!
debasst@america.gov | @debass