Design
Generate innovative ideas that focuses its effectiveness on understanding and solving the real needs of users
Honestly? We're all designers.
If you’ve ever had an idea and tried to make it happen, congrats — you’re a designer. I know that might raise a few eyebrows, but hear me out.
Say you’re planning a holiday to a place you’ve never been. You research it, learn a bit about the culture and laws, figure out what you can and can’t do. Then you book flights, accommodation, maybe plan a few activities. You map out a Plan A, maybe a Plan B just in case the weather turns. You budget, organise, and then off you go. You come back with a fresh mind and a few good stories. That whole process? That’s design.
Most people planning a trip — whether for work or fun — follow a similar approach. And chances are, it’ll be a great trip if you’ve been thoughtful about it. That kind of thoughtful planning? That's the essence of design.
So... design thinking?
For me, design thinking is a way to imagine the future — and change it. Through empathy and observation, I sketch out ideas, test them, get feedback, and build solutions that actually make sense. It’s not some new fad; it’s been around a while. But let’s be honest: the world’s still full of junk that breaks, bores, or ends up in landfill. Clearly, we’re not applying it enough.
When I first stumbled onto design thinking back in 2011, everything just clicked. It felt like someone had finally put a name to something I'd always done. That moment? Magic.
This approach has reshaped how we think about problems and innovation. It’s picked up steam over the years, and for good reason — it gives us a clear, hands-on framework for creative problem-solving. It helps us spot gaps we might’ve missed and find better ways forward.
At the heart of it, design thinking is about walking in someone else’s shoes — really understanding the people we’re designing for. Their needs, habits, frustrations. We observe, we listen, we connect.
From there, we can start exploring ideas. This bit is messy, open, creative — and that’s the point. It’s not about having the perfect solution straight away. It’s about stretching your thinking.
Next comes prototyping — testing ideas in the real world. You see what works, what doesn’t, and refine. You fail early and cheap, before throwing heaps of time and money at something that’s not quite right.
Design thinking isn’t just for making new things. It’s brilliant for improving what already exists. When you shift your lens to the user’s view, you start noticing all the little tweaks that could make something better.
I’ve spent over seven years experimenting with it — lots of wins, plenty of fails too. I’ve even turned the method inwards and used it on myself. Honestly? It works. I’m more focused, my mind feels clearer, my finances are in better shape. My little “crystal palace” up there? Peaceful.
Design thinking helps me zoom in, zoom out, and have deep brainstorms without losing my footing. It’s liberating — and, frankly, beautiful.
Are you interested in knowing more?
If you’d like to explore more about my artistic journey, including special projects and collaborations, visit the Projects section.