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It is increasingly evident that Companies must focus on customer satisfaction to achieve success in a world that is increasingly competitive. To stand out from the rest, it is necessary to invest in understanding the needs and desires of consumers, looking for different and creative ways to capture their attention. Companies that do it manage to stand out, obtaining a competitive advantage in a saturated industry.
What is Design Thinking?
It is a methodology that proposes an innovative way to address complex problems in different fields, such as design, technology and education.. Its approach focuses on the user's perspective as the main axis to encourage creativity and find effective solutions. It is an essential tool for companies to think “outside the box” and find new ways to solve problems.
Stages of Design Thinking or Design Thinking
This design methodology has 5 stages that must be applied for the development of products and services:
- Empathize: this stage focuses on knowing the target audience, investigating not only their relationship with the product but also the lifestyle they lead. It is essential to carry out a deep analysis to correctly understand the client.
- Define: once the analysis results are obtained, it is possible to list customer problems, defining which ones to prioritize and solve.
- Ideate: in this stage, the team must open its mind by thinking of creative ways to solve the problems raised in the previous stage.
- Prototype: Once ideas are selected, prototypes are made. These can be digital or physical, and you usually have a fixed budget to do it.
- Evaluate: finally, clients test the prototype by making criticisms and corrections. This allows us to improve and perfect the prototype.
Benefits of Design Thinking
This innovative technique allows companies to have a deep knowledge of their customers, which translates into designs more adapted to your needs and preferences, reducing errors and costs. In addition, teamwork encourages creativity and lateral thinking, which is reflected in innovative ideas and solutions.
Examples of Design Thinking
Design Thinking has established itself as an effective problem-solving technique in different areas. From clothing companies like Nike to hospitals, there are many examples that show its incredible versatility. One of the most notable cases was the campaign “Share a Coke” from Coca-Cola, in which the bottles were personalized with different names, encouraging consumers to carry the one with their name. Through empathy towards the consumer and creativity, the company managed to capture a latent desire for a personalized experience, generating an emotional bond.
What is User Experience (UX) or User Experience?
It refers to the set of perceptions, interactions and emotions that users have when interacting with a product, service or system, that is, it is the user experience with the product from the beginning until the end of its use.
What is User Experience for? Know its advantages
It is a key tool to improve user satisfaction, which in turn can increase their loyalty and likelihood that they recommend the product or service.. Additionally, a good user experience can reduce support and training costs by making customers need less help to understand them.
UX can also be a favorable competitive advantage for businesses as it can make you stand out from your competitors. A good user experience generates a positive perception in their minds, and can improve the brand image and its positioning in the market.. Finally, in many cases UX facilitates the design process and decision making by focusing on the need and wants of the users.
Where is User Experience applied?
UX can be applied in a wide variety of areas and contexts in which products or services intended to be used by end users are designed and developed. In other words, it is a methodology that is applied in any design of a product or service that must focus on the needs and desires of the user, to improve their efficiency, satisfaction and overall experience. Some examples of areas in which UX can be applied are web page design, final products such as household appliances, and the design of physical spaces, among others.
UX Benefits
Implementing UX in businesses can provide a wide variety of benefits. Some of them include improving the user experience, increasing efficiency, reducing costs and increasing profitability and encouraging innovation. Additionally, it can reduce user churn and improve brand reputation. More and more companies are choosing to have a sector dedicated to user experience to take advantage of these benefits.
UX Examples
In order to understand what the user experience area does, examples can be provided such as the ease of navigation of a web page, the accessibility of a mobile application or the speed and efficiency of an online shopping service, among others. . That is When you are loading the product you want in the cart and starting your purchase, UX has designed the entire interface so that it is an agile and visually attractive process.
How do UX and Design Thinking complement each other?
These methodologies complement each other perfectly for the design and development of user-centered products or services. When they are combined, a process is followed that focuses on understanding the user's needs by designing innovative and effective solutions for them. Once the solution is generated, UX is responsible for evaluating usability and user satisfaction.
Differences between UX and Design Thinking
People can often confuse the concepts of UX and Design Thinking because of their relationship to design and creation. However, these concepts have focuses and objectives that are significantly different. UX focuses on the user's experience when interacting with a product or service, while Design Thinking is a methodology to solve complex problems in a different way, always thinking about the user.
Why are Design Thinking and UX important for companies?
Both Design Thinking and UX are essential for companies, as they allow them to create products and services focusing on the user, significantly improving customer experience and satisfaction. By applying these methodologies, companies can achieve greater efficiency, which is often reflected in cost reduction and increased profitability. Furthermore, the focus on innovation and creativity in the design process can lead to more effective and attractive solutions for users.
How is Design Thinking applied in UX?
In the context of user experience (UX) design, Design Thinking focuses on understanding the user's needs and wants, finding a solution to satisfy them. The application of this methodology allows designers to create effective solutions for users, while promoting creativity and teamwork. By focusing and drilling down on users, designers can create more effective and meaningful experiences.
More and more companies are looking for profiles that can effectively capture and solve the problems their consumers have. If you are interested in acquiring the tools to achieve this, do not hesitate to sign up for our Master in Design Thinking & Innovation.
