Hey there! design thinkers! C-SQUAD is here again.

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Today we're talking about a fancy-sounding topic - the human-centered approach in design thinking. But don't worry, we'll break it down and make it easy to understand.

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Design thinking is all about problem-solving, and the human-centered approach is one of the key principles.
Basically, it means that when you're designing a product or service or a new business, you need to put the end-user at the center of everything you do. After all, what good is a product, service, or experience if it doesn't meet the needs and expectations of the people who will be using it?

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So, how do you do that?
It all starts with empathy. You need to understand the end-user's pains, needs, wants, and limitations, and use those insights (understanding) to guide the design process. This is different from other approaches, which might focus more on what the designer thinks is best, or what the technology allows for.

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Once you have that empathy, it's time to co-create. This means working closely with the end-users to generate ideas and test out solutions. By involving the users in the design process, you can ensure that the final product is something that actually solves their problems and meets their needs.

Of course, you're not going to get it right on the first try. That's where iteration comes in. You need to keep testing and refining your ideas until you get it just right. And throughout that process, you need to keep the end-user's perspective front and center.

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So, let's put all of this into practice.

Imagine you're designing a new public transportation system for a city. You're going to start by talking to potential riders and really understanding their needs and pain points. Then, you'll use that information to define the problem you're trying to solve - maybe the current system is too confusing or unreliable.

From there, you'll brainstorm a bunch of ideas, making sure to get input from a diverse range of perspectives. You'll build prototypes of the most promising ideas and test them out with users, gathering feedback and making adjustments until you have a final solution that really meets their needs.

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Throughout the entire design thinking process, you'll keep the end-user at the center of everything you do. By doing that, you can be sure that the final product is something that they'll actually want to use.

So, there you have it, the human-centered approach in design thinking. It's all about empathy, co-creation, iteration, and keeping the end-user in mind. Enjoy designing!