Problem Definition and Political Ice Cream

Often, in our everyday, we get told what the problem is and then everyone goes straight to solving for the problem without taking time to really understand what the problem is.

Bingo.

This has been readily identified as a key problem within our bureaucracies, political parties and how our very democracy functions.

But are we identifying the right problems?  Or are we viewing everything as a nail because the only thing we know how to do is hammer on our own interests?

Leaders don't tell people what the problem is and how to fix it; they bring them together to properly identify the problem and design a sustainable solution.

It's a forward, together kind of thing.

We began to recognize a tension where participants felt if they weren't engaged with the problem, they had less motivation.

The user knows the way As groups worked on understanding the problem, one of the greatest task is thinking of who the users are beyond what you as the designer want to achieve.  When we can let go of our designer ego, and let the user guide you to the solution then we can be responsive and human-centered.