Design thinking tool – Storytelling

Challenge and Selection    I think that one of the most effective and useful design thinking tools is storytelling. As a  mechanical engineering student, I observed that my teachers often used stories in order  to convey their message. Some of them where even personal. In fact, the more personal  they were, the more impact they had. I remember them until now, even though so may  years have passed since I graduated.  For me, this tool is a more direct way to  communicate with people, to touch theirs souls while I am sharing my story and that’s  why really love storytelling. When I used to teach mathematics and thermodynamics in  a private class, I often shared personal stories with my students, which was proved to be  a very successful method. I saw that I could captivate their interest more easily and even  raise their awareness for environmental issues. With my stories I help them visualize a  better world.     For the last two years I have been dealing with 3D printing, an additive manufacturing  which enables the user to create objects using eco-friendly, biodegradable plastics (PLA  and Carbon Filament) as raw materials. My latest challenge is to create personalized  foot splints and try to convince my audience about the importance of this product.     Application    When I took part in a startup competition, I had to present my idea to an audience  which didn’t know much about 3D printing. So in order to communicate and present my  idea and the product the best way possible to my listeners, I chose to use the  storytelling tool. I shared a real story with them; the story of my little niece, who used to  take pre-ballet classes from a really young age. One day, during training her leg was  badly injured and needed treatment and physiotherapy. The problem was that during  the rehabilitation her leg was too little and skinny to fit in a typical foot splint. I  remember her how sad she was telling me that she could not be able to dance again.  That particular need from a lovely little girl who was passionate about dancing,  combined with my 3D printing knowledge, resulted in the birth of my idea of designing  and creating customized foot splints, which could help the patient stabilize his/her  injured leg and  rehabilitate more quickly.    Insight and Approach    By applying the storytelling tool to a more ‘’professional’’ audience, I realized how  powerful it was. I could feel that the story about my niece really touched my listeners.  After my presentation some of them actually thanked me for sharing my personal story.  I also realized that telling a story created a more comfortable environment for the  speaker as well and triggers emotions that help the conversation flow better.

One thing that I can certainly improve in my storytelling is my body language, my speech  control and the duration of the story. It must be neither too short, which will not  transfer the emotions to the audience nor too long, which may be boring and pointless.     Finally, after taking this valuable course, I will certainly try to put the other three  powerful designing tools into practice: Visualization, Mind Mapping and Learning  Launch.


Design thinking tool – Storytelling Challenge and Selection I think that one of the most effective and useful design thinking tools is storytelling . As a mechanical engineering student , I observed that my teachers often used stories in order to convey their message . Some of them where even personal . In fact , the more personal they were , the more impact they had . I remember them until now , even though so may years have passed since I graduated . For me , this tool is a more direct way to communicate with people , to touch theirs souls while I am sharing my story and that ’s why really love storytelling . When I used to teach mathematics and thermodynamics in a private class , I often shared personal stories with my students , which was proved to be a very successful method . I saw that I could captivate their interest more easily and even raise their awareness for environmental issues . With my stories I help them visualize a better world . For the last two years I have been dealing with 3D printing , an additive manufacturing which enables the user to create objects using eco - friendly , biodegradable plastics ( PLA and Carbon Filament ) as raw materials . My latest challenge is to create personalized foot splints and try to convince my audience about the importance of this product . Application When I took part in a startup competition , I had to present my idea to an audience which did n’t know much about 3D printing . So in order to communicate and present my idea and the product the best way possible to my listeners , I chose to use the storytelling tool . I shared a real story with them ; the story of my little niece , who used to take pre - ballet classes from a really young age . One day , during training her leg was badly injured and needed treatment and physiotherapy . The problem was that during the rehabilitation her leg was too little and skinny to fit in a typical foot splint . I remember her how sad she was telling me that she could not be able to dance again . That particular need from a lovely little girl who was passionate about dancing , combined with my 3D printing knowledge , resulted in the birth of my idea of designing and creating customized foot splints , which could help the patient stabilize his / her injured leg and rehabilitate more quickly . Insight and Approach By applying the storytelling tool to a more ‘ ’ professional ’’ audience , I realized how powerful it was . I could feel that the story about my niece really touched my listeners . After my presentation some of them actually thanked me for sharing my personal story . I also realized that telling a story created a more comfortable environment for the speaker as well and triggers emotions that help the conversation flow better . One thing that I can certainly improve in my storytelling is my body language , my speech control and the duration of the story . It must be neither too short , which will not transfer the emotions to the audience nor too long , which may be boring and pointless . Finally , after taking this valuable course , I will certainly try to put the other three powerful designing tools into practice : Visualization , Mind Mapping and Learning Launch .