I just read my first reflection of the term to see if anything really stood out as having changed in my thinking process from then to now. It’s safe to say that learning about design thinking didn’t present me with any epiphanies. That isn’t to say my thinking processes haven’t been affected by my exposure to design thinking; only that the results are quite subtle and nuanced. To fully examine the change to my thinking process, I’m going to present myself three questions. Where was I mentally before I set foot in the D. Studio? What happened in my 13 weeks in the D. Studio? Where am I now mentally as a result of those 13 weeks?
Where was I?
I am a very introspective person. This helps me have an intimate knowledge of my shortcomings. I don’t generally use this knowledge for good. As of 2:29 PM on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 I had not yet been exposed to design thinking. At that point in time, my thinking process revolved heavily around my ability to beat myself up mentally, and back myself into corners which would lead to a chain reaction of stress which would then allow me to do effective work in a short period of time. I had an inner critic who had somehow acquired a megaphone, nay a whole PA system so that he could be heard all the time. But because of my ability to observe myself I was very aware of the monkey which had its claws in my back. I also knew I didn’t know how to throw him off me, at least not without collateral damage.
What happened?
Over my 13 weeks in the D. Studio I was exposed to new ways of thinking and solving problems. Then, I was required to put those new ways of thinking into action in a variety of different ways. I experienced success and failure, ease and hardship, and at the end of each activity I had learned something. Sometimes the lesson didn’t become apparent until afterwards, but I can safely say that there was always a valuable takeaway.
The tools for working past perceptual blocks, silencing the inner critic, starting the creative process, and all the unique problem solving tools I learned all worked. They all worked when correctly applied within the D. Studio, a safe environment where creativity was fostered and failure was met with nurturing encouragement.
Where am I now?
I am currently in the middle of several major projects. Honestly, I’m handling them almost as poorly as I would have 13 weeks ago. The difference in my thought process mainly lies in the fact that I am slightly more confident that the world won’t end because of my impending and inevitable failure and exposure as a fraud. Slightly, it’s a process.
I know a lot of tools for overcoming my thinking hurdles I didn’t know 13 weeks ago. I haven’t had a lot of success putting them in to practice. But they are gradually creeping into my thoughts, and gradually has to count for something. I’m turning a big ship, it takes time. Hopefully the next time I get into the weeds work-wise I’ll be able open up my design thinker’s toolbox and find something that can help. I just have to remember to keep that toolbox in plain sight, so I remember that I have it.