That was easy
This Youtube video shows a motor-controlled dartboard that uses sensors and a computer to move the dartboard so that you can throw a dart off target and still hit the bullseye.
To me this is an excellent illustration of the power of Design Thinking. Design Thinking does two things – it focuses on the user and it makes iterative adjustments to the approach and goal of the project.
Would you prefer it wasn’t?
More rigorous project managers will scoff at this and say it’s pretty easy to hit the target when you get to move it to where you are going. Yes, I say, yes it is easier! Would you prefer it was more difficult?
Design thinking starts with the user
Unlike darts, the actual goal at the outset of a project can often be imperfectly defined. Only when the user is carefully observed do things become clearer. At the same time, your efforts to produce a vision of what will be of use to the user becomes clearer too through the user of ever more elaborate and accurate prototypes.
Design Thinking really is about moving the target, but that’s not being lazy or revisionist. It’s about accepting the fact that even the target is not fully understood when you begin.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
