Design thinking is a methodology for solving problems that focuses on  asking questions and listening, with empathy, to the needs of individuals  and groups. Storytelling is an “essential human activity” for sharing  experiences, explaining values, and deciding on solutions through vivid  verbal and visual accounts. Storytelling helps explain the  interconnections among people in situations and settings, teaching  broad lessons that engage real human beings. Listening engages  people; and  empathy is an essential and fundamental component in the  process.

Stories generate questions and questions expand the breadth  and depth of stories, leading to lots of innovative thoughts and ideas.  Storytelling becomes an important tool for feedback, which is the basis  of the iterative process of prototyping that lead to solutions. Stories and  prototypes are intertwined, explaining and repositioning experiences  through a multitude of potential interpretations, which allow researchers  to test new solutions before committing exclusively to a particular policy,  program, or service. Storytelling elevates the project deliverable into  something everyone could relate to a human level. Stories can help  activate a sense of purpose by really connecting you to the person you  are creating the product for.

A good story is about reducing down the essence. We can use the  analogy of the stars .If you look at a sky full of stars , you can’t make  sense of it. If you take a few stars , link them together and make a  constellation , now you’ve got a cool picture of a bear and that’s  memorable.

I have a story about using storytelling . We were working on a app  development project which focus on reminding people to drink water.  The story basically explain us how it can be helpful to people. Sam , a  37 year old manager was struggling with his work- family- life balance .  As we know that water is critical for digestion .It prevents constipation  and keeps the bowels moving by helping to process soluble fibre and fat.  Staying hydrated also helps to eliminate toxins from the body . He often  forget to drink water which caused him problems like abdominal pain,  dehydration and fatigue during work. Then Sam discovered our water  drink reminder app . The auto reminders reminds ,  what time he has to  drink water, it contains option like to note how much he consumed water

then it will remind you how much more you have to drink according to  your weight. It also shows your weekly report of drinking water. By using  this app Sam now drinks water in time and which benefit him a lot. He  became more productive and healthy.

So I told this story to the agency, and I think it had a big impact on  people there .Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good.

So storytelling is important because it shows how an idea or solution can  bring positive change ;

● Showing the essence of the idea or solution clearly and visually.

● Connecting the message at an emotional, human level

● Demonstrating what the future would hold like.

● Motivating and inspiring the audience to take action.

