(7.1). The UX Analyst’s Approach: Creating User Personas

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(4). Design Thinking

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(DD Method): Discover & Define Explained Simply

Whether you're designing a new app, solving a problem in your community, or just figuring out how to make your school project more fun—Design Thinking can help! One of the easiest ways to start is by using the DD Method, which stands for:

🕵️ Discover and
🧠 Define

Let’s dive into what these mean, step-by-step!

🌟 What is Design Thinking?

Design Thinking is a creative way to solve problems. Instead of jumping straight to solutions, it encourages you to:

  • Understand people’s needs

  • Think from different angles

  • Come up with fresh, smart ideas

  • Test and improve them

Now let’s focus on the DD Method, the first two important steps in this process.

🔍 Step 1: DISCOVER

In this stage, you become a curious explorer! You try to learn as much as you can about the problem or the people who are experiencing it.

Here’s what you do:

  • Ask questions: What are people struggling with?

  • Observe: Watch how people interact with the problem.

  • Listen: Talk to users, ask for their thoughts.

  • Collect facts and feelings: What’s working? What’s not?

💡 Example:
If you’re designing a new lunchbox for kids, the Discover phase might include:

  • Watching how kids open their current lunchboxes

  • Talking to parents about what they pack

  • Noticing what food comes back untouched

🧩 Step 2: DEFINE

Now it’s time to put the pieces together. This step is about clearly stating the real problem so you can solve the right thing.

In this stage, you:

  • Organize what you found in Discover

  • Spot patterns or pain points

  • Write a clear problem statement

🎯 Example:
From our lunchbox research, we might define the problem as:

“Kids struggle to open their lunchboxes easily and the food gets mixed up during travel.”

This statement will help you focus your creativity and design a real solution!

🛠 Why the DD Method Matters

Skipping these steps often leads to bad results because:

  • You assume instead of asking

  • You solve the wrong problem

  • Your solution doesn’t help real people

With Discover & Define, you build your project on strong foundations.

Final Thought 💬

“A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” — Charles Kettering

The DD Method is a powerful starting point in Design Thinking—and it's not just for designers. Anyone can use it: students, teachers, entrepreneurs, or anyone trying to make something better.

So next time you want to solve a problem, start with Discover and Define. Your solution will be smarter, kinder, and way more useful!



The Double Diamond Method in UI/UX Design

Design smarter by thinking in diamonds! 💎💎

When creating digital experiences—whether it's a mobile app, website, or game—designers don’t just start drawing screens. First, they understand the problem, explore ideas, and test what works. One popular way to do that is with the Double Diamond Method.

Let’s break it down in a simple, visual, and easy-to-understand way.

💎 What is the Double Diamond Method?

The Double Diamond Method is a design process model developed by the British Design Council. It helps UX/UI teams solve the right problem and create the right solution—by working through two diamonds:

  1. Diamond 1: Discover & Define — Understand the problem

  2. Diamond 2: Develop & Deliver — Create the solution

Each diamond has a divergent phase (explore many options) and a convergent phase (focus and choose the best ones).

💡 Diamond 1: Discover & Define (Understanding the Problem)

🔍 1. Discover (Diverge)

  • Explore the user’s world

  • Research, interview, observe, ask questions

  • Look for hidden needs and pain points

Goal: Gather insights, not just facts

🧭 2. Define (Converge)

  • Analyze your research

  • Spot patterns and user struggles

  • Write a clear problem statement

Example Problem: “Users find it hard to book a taxi quickly during peak hours.”

🛠 Diamond 2: Develop & Deliver (Solving the Problem)

🧪 3. Develop (Diverge)

  • Brainstorm multiple solutions

  • Sketch wireframes or prototypes

  • Collaborate and test rough ideas

Try wild ideas, then refine them!

📦 4. Deliver (Converge)

  • Pick the best solution based on feedback

  • Finalize UI designs

  • Test again, launch, and improve

Goal: Ship a design that solves the user’s problem effectively and delightfully

🎨 Why It Works So Well in UI/UX

The Double Diamond helps you:

  • Avoid assumptions by starting with real research

  • Focus on user needs before jumping into solutions

  • Build user-friendly, tested products instead of pretty-but-useless ones

  • Collaborate better with product teams and developers

It’s like a map for creative problem-solving—with checkpoints that keep you user-centered.

📌 Visual Summary: Double Diamond at a Glance


Final Thought

UI/UX isn’t just about making things pretty—it’s about making them work well for real people. The Double Diamond Method is your blueprint to do just that, one thoughtful step at a time.

So next time you're starting a design project, think like a diamond:
Explore. Define. Design. Deliver.

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