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Introduction
A problem statement identifies the gap between the current state (i.e., the problem) and the desired state (i.e., the goal) of a process or product. The purpose of this activity is to align the team, focus on the process, empathise with the users, and generate relevant and effective solutions.
Problem Statement
The problem statement technique is also known as Point of view, challenge statement and defining the problem.
Description
What is this technique about
The Problem statement help participants to figure out where users are having issues, fully understand the problem, clearly define it, and come up with solutions that are focused on what you need to solve.
For which purposes is it used
- Identifies what we want to achieve with the design: Problem statements allow you to identify what users need and see those needs as goals that describe solutions.
- Serves as a guide for navigating the entire design process: Problem statements should be crafted in a way that communicates what the design goal is. When you and your team understand the exact problems, it’ll be easy to tackle these ideas and use them as reference points to reduce problems that may arise along the process.
- Helps participants to explore ideas: Problem statements should allow participants to explore ideas and discover knowledge gaps to offer solutions that create value and avoid assumptions.
Limitations
How to implement these technique/tools
Make sure the students have any material to take notes. For online, any document-sharing application is good. For example, google docs or Miro board, Lucidchart etc.
Preparation, before the session:
- Prepare the materials needed for the activity, such as a whiteboard, sticky notes, markers, and any digital tools that will be used. Make sure the materials are easily accessible and organised before the activity begins. For online, use online tools such as Miro, Lucidchart.
- Define the problem or opportunity to be explored based on understanding the target audience or user group and their needs and challenges.
During the session:
- The problem statement is key for consolidating and capturing the analysis results. Often, problems, causes, and effects get all muddled together. Try to create structural clarity.
- The following questions (problem/actor/context) may help formulate the problem statement: What is the problem? Why is it a problem? Who has the problem? Who has a need? When and where does the problem occur? How is it solved today?
- Write down the questions on several A4 sheets (portrait) or similar online tools and leave enough space for answers underneath.
- Use different colours for the questions and answers; write legibly and as large as possible.
- Produce at least 10 of such problem definitions.
- If offline, attach these papers to the wall and put an A3 sheet in landscape layout underneath them. Then consolidate the problem definitions or select the most appropriate.
- Start systematically transferring the individual problem definitions into an overarching problem, for example, in the form: “How might we redesign… [what?] … [for whom?] ...so that... [his/her need] ...is satisfied?”
Follow-up after the session:
- After the activity, the next step is to use it as a guide for ideation and prototyping.
- Students can use the problem statement to generate and develop creative ideas and potential solutions that address the needs and desires of the target audience or user group.
- The teacher can provide feedback and guidance to support the students throughout the ideation and prototyping processes.
Examples and/or testimonials
Problem Statement: 'How might we reduce food waste in households?'
Link: https://www.ideo.com/blog/how-to-write-a-clear-and-concise-problem-statement
Problem Statement: 'How might we increase engagement and motivation for students in remote learning environments?'
Link: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/how-to-write-an-inspiring-vision-and-mission-statement-for-your-ux-case-study
Writing materials (such as pens and paper) and a timer to track the activity's time limits. For online: Laptop, Internet, and Problem statement template on Lucidchart or Miro.
Resources
Links:
- Miro (for template): https://miro.com/
- https://miro.com/templates/customer-problem-statement/
- Template: https://www.figma.com/community/file/1051108082184398522/Problem-Statement-%2F-Design-Thinking-%F0%9F%A7%A0%F0%9F%92%AD-(Community)
Videos:
Papers:
- From Design Thinking to Art Thinking with an Open Innovation Perspective—A Case Study of How Art Thinking Rescued a Cultural Institution in Dublin : http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/joitmc4040057
- Brown, T. (2008). Design thinking. Harvard business review, 86(6), 84.
- Dym, C. L., Agogino, A. M., Eris, O., Frey, D. D., & Leifer, L. J. (2005). Engineering design thinking, teaching, and learning. Journal of engineering education, 94(1), 103-120.
https://doi-org.nuigalway.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2005.tb00832.x
Books:
- Plattner, H., Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (Eds.). (2010). Design thinking: understand–improve–apply. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Cross, N. (2023). Design thinking: Understanding how designers think and work. Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Plattner, H., Meinel, C., & Leifer, L. (Eds.). (2014). Design thinking research: Building innovators. Springer.
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