Visualization – An Effective Design Thinking Tool

Challenge

When my second baby girl was about to deliver, it created jealous, worries to the big sister which was 9- year-old. She said, “I am worried because you will spend all the time with the baby and no one will take  care of me.” When I heard it for the 3rd time, I understood a simple answer like “we will still love you”  would not ease her worries. The problem should be solved before the new baby born and before her  worries are amplified.

Selection

I need to select a way which is easy to be accepted by a 9-year-old kid, a way which will not create more  argument and confusion, so I selected visualization.

Application

In a quiet afternoon when no one of us was busy with anything, I sit with my daughter on a table with a  pen and paper. First, I drew 3 stick figures representing mom, dad and herself in a triangle position.  From each person, drew arrows to another person. Then ask my daughter, “if you want to split your love  to your mom and me, how do you want split it”. “50% and 50%”, she just learnt percentage. I explained  to her that mom and dad would also share the love equally in the family, so I put 50% beside each  arrow. A simple love sharing graphic was created as shown below.

I asked my daughter to calculate how much love each person gives and receives. Very quickly, she  calculated everyone gives and receives 100% of the love. Then I asked her to draw another graphic if she  had a little sister. I helped her draw 4 stick figures in a square position. With some additional help, she  drew a new love sharing graphic with little sister included as shown below and marked the love each  one gives and receives. Now it’s 1/3 for each to give and receive.

Again, I asked her to calculate how much total love each person gives and receives. To her surprise, it’s  still 100%. A simple visualized graphic and math helped my daughter understand no matter how many  members added in the family he does not receive less love. Actually after this talk, she never express her  concern again. She started to share all the happiness we had during the pregnancy and could not wait  the baby to join the family.

Insight

Even though this is a case used to a kid, it’s the same to adults. Visualization is great design thinking tool  which can simplify your idea and make other people understand it quickly and clearly. It’s easier for  people to join the conversation and creating an engaging environment for participation. It does not  require any drawing skill to use visualization tool to communicate and convey ideas. My 9-year-old  daughter can do it. With her own participation, she understood and accepted the concept easily.

Approach

The approach to choose from design thinking tools is highly depending on what is your objective, what is  the problem you want to solve, what are the people you work with and what the challenge you are  facing. For a 9-year-old kid, I believe it’s easy and effective to start with visualization. You can have fast  feedback if it’s working or not. If it’s not working, I think the next try should be storytelling. It could take  longer time and repeating efforts, but it could build the positive perspectives for her.

