“What is design thinking, Dad? I overheard you mention it a few times,” AK asked curiously.

 

GK looked at his 11-year-old son, intrigued by his curiosity and eager to explain with a simple example. He kept his coffee cup aside and picked up two hangers from the cupboard, one with its edge folded into a knot and the other with its edge barely welded.

 

GK: “Observe these two hangers. What do you notice?” 

AK: “This one with the fold works great, but the other one? It’s terrible! The weld broke, and it’s not doing its job.”

 

GK: “Ah, I see. Why do you think that happens?” 

AK: “Well, the folded one keeps things in place, even for a bit heavier clothes. The other one doesn’t. It only worked for very lightweight clothes.”

 

GK: “Sounds like you’ve found a design flaw. What do you think could have been done differently?” AK: “Maybe the second hanger should have been folded too. Or they could use something stronger than welding.”

 

GK: “That’s a great observation, AK. What you’re doing is called design thinking. You’re identifying a problem with the current design and thinking of ways to improve it.” 

AK: “So, design thinking is just about making things work better?”

 

GK: “Exactly! It’s about understanding how people use something, finding the problems, and coming up with solutions. Like how that folded edge makes the hanger work better for heavy clothes.” 

AK: “Cool! So, if we think about how things are used, we can design them better?”

 

GK: “You got it. Whether it’s hangers, everyday items, mobile apps, portals, games, or anything else—design thinking helps us create solutions that actually work for people. This simple idea is what drives innovation in every industry—whether you’re designing products, services, or digital experiences.” 

AK: “Thanks, Dad! I guess I’ll keep an eye out for other design flaws.”

 

GK: “And when you do, remember, it’s all about finding simple, effective solutions that address the core purpose.”

 

Design thinking isn’t just for experts — it’s something we can all apply in our daily lives. From hangers to high-tech solutions, design thinking is everywhere. How have you used design thinking to solve problems in your work or home?