Whats CommonSense Design

I'm not trying to sell you a hammer to solve every problem. And honestly, you probably have more processes, methodologies or best practices than you can handle. This helps you know how to use the right tool at the right time. I'm just reminding you to use common sense.

Unfortunately common sense is not very common.

Nothing I've created here should be new. I've Used standard design thinking processes as scaffolding for a framework. It encapsulate the core systems of a business. Each frame has processes that roll up and creates deeper understanding of complex systems while maintaining a simple map for wayfinding. Shifting to this model starts to create clear goals, accountability, and team fulfillment when managing products. It's agile and but not so strict that it can be implemented in entrenched ecosystems alongside your current processes.

Stop floundering, and solve the right problem.

Discovery
Strategy
Research
Ideation
Build
Review
Discovery

This is about getting everyone on the same page.

Whats the point of doing discovery work?
So you can focus

How do you get there?
Wayfinding.

Tell me a story - This is something my 5 year old can do.

Strategy

This is about Focusing on the right Questions

Most people get that they need a strategy. but their heads are in the clouds cause they're all shooting for the moon. hoping for the best.

Strategy is a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.
Not a moonshot. Not a vision. Not a dream. A Plan of action.
Knowing where you are. Lets you know what directions you can go.

What are we doing?
What's the big picture?
Who's Problems are we solving?
How do you prioritize all these problems?

Objectives and Key Results

Research

This is about Finding the constraints

You don't know what you don't know.
Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.

Do you KNOW where all the moving parts art? Do you really?
Nobody expects someone to be all knowing, and all seeing. If they do, they have real problems. What happens if that all knowing person gets hit by a bus tomorrow?

Here's the secret. You don't have to know. You just have to know how to ask the right questions.

Up until now you've had a general idea of the problems, at least enough to justify the solution you've come up with.

Do a deep dive and take the time to fully understand the problem from both the consumers perspective and from the perspective of the organization.

Ideation

Build Context

This section is about maximizing outcomes

A designer, a developer, a product manager, a marketer, a Salesman, all walk into the bar. They each say, "I am the voice of the customer, I know what you need." The local patrons look at them all and laugh and go on with their day. Embarrassed They suddenly realize they're blind and have been violating an elephant.

When we learn things, we create a perspective that is the "right" to do things. because its someone that has handed their perspective down to you.

The goal been and always will about people growing together through improving user outcomes.

To get there you're evaluating what each person can offer within the context of the Functional, Emotional, and Social needs of a problem.

The most common disconnect in ideation is that you need to be creative. The reality is simply a matter of context

Build a Hypothesis -

Test your Ideas

Place your Bets! - What are you actually going to build?

Build

Give Experts the space to do Expert Things.

This section is about maximizing Efficiencies.

How do you make it sustainable?
What needs to be in place for you to not get in your own way?
Building Components
Create Architectural Structures

Review

This is about the people.

Did what you do. do what you expected? 
Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.
What did you wish you had known?
How would you do something better?

Decompression time.
Overwork?
Cultural awards
highlights,
Outcomes

Whats all this for?

Discovery will get your clients on the same page.
Strategy will get you focused on the right problem
Research will get you the constraints
Ideation is expanding the idea and maximizing outcomes
Building is about Maximizing Efficiencies
Review is about People

It's a shift in mentality to stop worrying so much about knowing.
from: focusing on solutions using tactics, for problems,
to focusing on Problems, using tactics, to create solutions

MindShare

Advice is simply a sharing of knowledge, not a solution. Take what you need and leave the rest.
I take no offense to being told i'm wrong, as Its an opportunity to learn. So if you read my thoughts and have some feedback, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

Go to Mindshare Blog
Take a Step Back and Breath...

Want some help building consistency and clarity in your team? Get in touch by sending me a message.

Get in Touch

I don't have all the answers, but I'm happy to help where I can.

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If you're still not sure If I can help, I can help with that too. I may not be the right fit for every project, but I'm pretty sure I can point you in the right direction

We'll take a moment to get to know what you're looking for.

You'll walk away with a clear understanding of how to approach the problem. That's it!

No Gimmicks

Seriously, I don't require credit cards or down payments just to sit and talk. I won't try to guilt trip you either. Because that's a terrible thing to do.