How to use the Design Thinking Tools

A practical guide to make innovation happen

The Design Thinking Toolboxexplains the most important tools and methods to put Design Thinking into action. Based on the largest international survey on the use of design thinking, the most popular methods are described in four pages each by an expert from the global Design Thinking community. If you are involved in innovation, leadership, or design, these are tools you need. Simple instructions, expert tips, templates, and images help you implement each tool or method.

Quickly and comprehensively familiarize yourself with the best design thinking toolsSelect the appropriate warm-ups, tools, and methodsExplore new avenues of thinkingPlan the agenda for different design thinking workshopsGet practical application tips

The Design Thinking Toolbox help innovators master the early stages of the innovation process. Its the perfect complement to the international bestsellerThe Design Thinking Playbook.

AuthorsMichael Lewrick,Patrick Link, andLarry Leifer make use of the design thinking methods and tools presented here in their daily work. They teach design thinking at universities and practice design thinking with companies and start-ups. For all three, the design thinking mindset takes center stage in their activities, andThe Design Thinking Toolbox supplements this mindset with tools that can be adapted for various scenarios.

Preface 5

The Toolbox in a nutshell 10

The global survey 13

What is design thinking? 17

Quick start 27

The Toolbox 36

Warm-ups that fit the setting 39

Clapping game 41

Bingo 42

Stop& go 43

30 circles 44

Ninja 45

Marshmallow challenge 46

Understand 47

Problem statement 49

Design principles 53

Interview for empathy 57

Explorative interview 63

Ask 5x why 67

5W+H questions 71

Jobs to be done 75

Extreme users/lead users 79

Stakeholder map 83

Emotional response cards 87

Observe 91

Empathy map 93

Persona/user profile 97

Customer journey map 103

AEIOU 107

Analysis questions builder 111

Peers observing peers 115

Trend analysis 119

Define point of view 123

How might we... question 125

Storytelling 129

Context mapping 133

Define success 137

Vision cone 141

Critical items diagram 145

Ideate 149

Brainstorming 151

2x2 matrix 155

Dot voting 159

6-3-5 method 163

Special brainstorming 167

Analogies& benchmarking as inspiration 171

NABC 177

Blue ocean tool& buyer utility map 181

Prototype 185

Frequently used kinds of prototypes 187

Exploration map 195

Prototype to test 199

Service blueprint 203

MVP 207

Test 211

Testing sheet 213

Feedback capture grid 217

Powerful questions in experience testing 221

Solution interview 225

Structured usability testing 229

A/B testing 233

Reflect 237

I like, I wish, I wonder 239

Retrospective sailboat 243

Create a pitch 247

Lean canvas 251

Lessons learned 255

Road map for implementation 259

Problem to growth& scale innovation funnel 263

Applications 267

Universities: ME310 at Stanford University 269

Companies: Co-creation toolbox by Siemens 273

Intrapreneurship: Kickbox by Swisscom 277

Transformation: Digital transformation road map 281

Promotion of young talent: Young innovators 285

Personal change: Design thinking life 289

Closing words 293

Authors& contributors 296

Sources and index 301

Workshop Planning Canvas 309