32:12 Nia: Alright Miles, I'm convinced. Design thinking is powerful, but I know our listeners are thinking "This sounds great, but how do I actually start?" What's the practical roadmap for someone who wants to begin using these principles today?
32:27 Miles: Perfect question! Let's build you a personal toolkit that you can start using immediately. First, you need to shift your mindset from solution-jumping to problem-exploring. When you encounter any challenge, force yourself to spend time in the problem space first.
32:44 Nia: What does that look like day-to-day?
32:46 Miles: Start with the "Five Whys" technique we talked about. When something goes wrong—whether it's a work process, a relationship issue, or even something as simple as always running late—ask "why" five times to get to the root cause.
32:59 Nia: Can you give me a personal example?
8:58 Miles: Sure! Let's say you're always stressed about deadlines. Why? Because you're always rushing at the last minute. Why? Because you underestimate how long tasks take. Why? Because you don't account for interruptions and unexpected complications. Why? Because you plan in ideal conditions, not realistic ones. Why? Because you've never actually tracked how long things really take.
33:23 Nia: So the solution isn't working harder—it's tracking time more accurately?
0:41 Miles: Exactly! You've just used design thinking to solve a personal productivity challenge. The real problem wasn't time management—it was unrealistic planning.
33:36 Nia: What's the next tool in the toolkit?
33:39 Miles: Empathy interviewing, but applied to everyday situations. Before you try to solve any problem that involves other people, actually talk to them about their experience.
33:49 Nia: How do you do that without it feeling weird or formal?
33:52 Miles: Keep it conversational! Instead of "I'm conducting user research," try "I'm trying to understand this situation better—can you tell me about your experience with [specific situation]?"
34:03 Nia: What kinds of questions should you ask?
34:05 Miles: Focus on stories and specifics. "Tell me about the last time this happened" or "Walk me through your typical process for [whatever]." Avoid leading questions like "Don't you think it would be better if..."
34:18 Nia: What about the ideation part? How do you brainstorm effectively on your own?
34:23 Miles: Set quantity goals and time limits. Give yourself ten minutes to write down 20 ideas, no matter how ridiculous. The time pressure prevents overthinking, and the quantity goal forces you past the obvious solutions.
34:36 Nia: What if you're working with a team?
34:38 Miles: Use the "Yes, and..." rule from improv. Build on ideas instead of shooting them down. When someone suggests something, respond with "Yes, and we could also..." instead of "But that won't work because..."
34:50 Nia: How do you prototype solutions quickly?
34:53 Miles: Start with the simplest possible version. If you're trying to improve a meeting format, don't redesign the entire process—test one small change in the next meeting and see what happens.
35:03 Nia: What about testing? How do you know if your solutions actually work?
35:07 Miles: Define success metrics upfront, but include both quantitative and qualitative measures. Sure, track if efficiency improved, but also ask people how the change felt. Sometimes solutions work on paper but create stress or confusion.
35:23 Nia: Can you give me a step-by-step framework for tackling any problem?
10:25 Miles: Absolutely! Here's your five-step personal design thinking process: First, spend 20% of your time deeply understanding the problem through observation and conversation. Second, define the challenge as a "How might we..." question. Third, generate at least ten possible solutions without judging them. Fourth, create the simplest possible test of your best idea. Fifth, try it, measure results, and iterate.
35:52 Nia: What about tools? What should someone have in their design thinking toolkit?
26:04 Miles: Start simple! Sticky notes for brainstorming and organizing ideas. A notebook for observations and insights. A smartphone for quick interviews and documentation. And honestly, that's enough to get started.
36:09 Nia: What digital tools would you recommend?
36:11 Miles: Miro or Mural for virtual collaboration and mind mapping. Typeform for quick surveys. Your phone's voice recorder for interviews. Google Sheets for organizing insights. Don't overcomplicate it—the thinking matters more than the tools.
36:25 Nia: How do you practice these skills?
36:27 Miles: Start small and build the habit. Pick one minor frustration in your daily life and apply the full process. Maybe it's your morning routine, your commute, or how you organize your workspace. Practice on low-stakes problems first.
36:41 Nia: What if you work in an organization that isn't open to design thinking?
36:45 Miles: Lead by example! Use these methods for your own projects and share the results. When people see that your solutions work better and create less rework, they'll want to know your secret.
36:55 Nia: How do you introduce design thinking concepts to skeptical colleagues?
36:59 Miles: Don't use the jargon! Instead of saying "Let's do design thinking," say "Before we jump to solutions, let's make sure we understand the problem." Instead of "empathy mapping," say "Let's talk to some users first."
37:13 Nia: What are the biggest mistakes beginners make?
37:15 Miles: Rushing to solutions, skipping the empathy stage, and trying to do everything perfectly. Remember, design thinking is about iteration and learning, not getting it right the first time.
37:26 Nia: Any final advice for someone starting their design thinking journey?
37:30 Miles: Start today with something small. Pick a minor problem, apply the five-step process, and see what happens. The skills build on each other, and every iteration makes you better at human-centered problem solving.
37:41 Nia: And remember, you don't need permission to start thinking like a designer?
0:41 Miles: Exactly! Whether you're solving business challenges, personal problems, or trying to make the world a little better, these principles work. The key is to start with empathy, embrace experimentation, and always keep the human at the center of your solutions.