Design Thinking Tools and Resources

💎 60 UX Strategy Methods And Activities (Figma) (https://lnkd.in/eCDU-vhR), a large repository of UX methods, templates and activities for ideation sessions and product sprints, from storyboards and brainwriting to 6 thinking hats, journey mapping and concept testing. Neatly put together in one single place by fine folks at Merck. The team has also put together a very thorough overview of their UX Strategy Kit (https://lnkd.in/ek5dEYn4), broken down by categories for strategy, observation, ideation and warm-up, along with detailed video walkthroughs, examples and step-by-step guides. Frankly, most of these methods are unfamiliar to me. And by no means is the point to actually study and apply all of them. What works for you works for you. To strategize, I rely on How Might We but also think about metrics that should be moved once we implement some features or refine some user flows. For event storming and brainstorming, I tend to rely on Bono’s 6 thinking hats to align brainstorming, and (of course) journey mapping. For ideation, I love using storyboards to jump right into the user’s success story, but would also use card sorting with cut-out paper cards to understand user’s mental model. And for almost every project, I’d run concept testing with tree testing or Kano model, or low-fidelity/paper prototyping to understand if we are on the right track. Once you sprinkle a bit of critical thinking, early user testing and strategic planning across the design work, you gain confidence that you are moving in the right direction. And really that’s all you need. A few of my personal bookmarks with UX methods and activities: UX Tools For Better Thinking, by Adam Amran 👏🏽 https://untools.co/ Playbook For Universal Design (+ PDF/Powerpoint templates) https://lnkd.in/ernris4g UX Methods & Projects, by Vernon Fowler https://lnkd.in/eAHaiaSm 18F Method Cards https://methods.18f.gov/ Hyperisland UX Methods Resource Kit 👍 https://lnkd.in/eDTaci7T How To Design Better UX Workshops, by Slava Shestopalov https://lnkd.in/edxqCC-n How To Run UX Workshops With Users, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/ejm7_TsS Happy designing, everyone — I hope you’ll find these guides and resources helpful to get started. Just don’t feel like you have to try out all of them. It might be much more worthwhile to get early feedback from stakeholders and end users, even if your work isn’t really “good” enough. Good luck! #ux #design

Every architect & designer knows the struggle:- Hours spent searching for that perfect concept. You flip through sketches, browse online, and hope for a moment of inspiration. It’s frustrating, right? But what if you had a curated list of resources to guide you? ↗ Here are six essential books that can elevate your design thinking and streamline your concept development process. 1> Design Thinking by Nigel Cross This book dives into the mental strategies behind solving complex problems. It teaches you to balance creativity with practical limitations—so crucial in architecture. 2> Graphic Thinking for Architects and Designers by Paul Laseau This gem highlights the power of visual communication. Using sketches and diagrams can make your ideas clearer and more refined. 3> Visual Thinking: Skills for Problem Solving by Rudolf Arnheim Arnheim explores how we interpret visuals. This understanding can enhance your designs, especially regarding user experience and space. 4> Siteless: 1001 Building Forms by François Blanciak This book is all about experimentation. It encourages you to break free from traditional forms and explore bold new concepts. 5> Design Drawing by Francis D.K. Ching & Steven P. Juroszek A must-have guide for mastering architectural drawing. It helps you clearly express your design ideas through effective sketches and technical drawings. 6> Architectural Graphics by Francis D.K. Ching This resource covers the essentials of architectural graphics, from line work to rendering techniques. It’s all about presenting your ideas with clarity and impact. These six books can reignite your creativity and help you navigate the complex world of concept development more effectively. P.S.: What’s your go-to resource for design inspiration?

The Designer's Toolbox: Must-Have Tools for Every Stage of the Process Designing is a journey from concept to creation, and having the right tools can make all the difference. Here's a peek into my toolbox, packed with essentials for every stage of the process. When I'm in the brainstorming phase, Miro is my go-to. Its infinite canvas and collaborative features make idea generation a breeze. Whether sketching out concepts or collaborating with team members, it's the perfect digital whiteboard. Moving on to wireframing, Figma stands out. It's intuitive and powerful, allowing for real-time collaboration. The ability to prototype within the same environment speeds up the workflow, and its vast library of plugins is a designer's dream. For the actual design work, I can't recommend Adobe Creative Cloud enough. Adobe XD for UI/UX, Photoshop for detailed graphics, and Illustrator for vector designs – it's a suite that covers all bases. The seamless integration between these tools ensures that transitioning from one to another is smooth and efficient. Finally, when it's time for the final execution, tools like InVision for prototyping and user testing are indispensable. They help in gathering feedback and ensuring that the design not only looks good but functions perfectly. These tools have been game-changers for me, enhancing creativity and productivity. What are your favorite design tools? #webdesign #graphicdesign #designthinking #uiux #creativity #designprocess #digitaldesign #designinspiration #creativeworkflow #designers

"Where do you find good icons?", "What's your LP/ad inspo?", "How do you pick brand fonts?" I get DMs like this DAILY. After years of sharing one-off links, I've actually started sending everyone to Toools.design. It's a super-curated collection of hundreds (thousands?) of design resources. Everything from UI kits to typography, inspiration, stock photos, icons, etc. Here’s why I like it →  • Clean interface that doesn't overwhelm • Quality-filtered resources (no junk) • Organized by exactly what you need • Regularly updated with fresh tools Been using this at Obvi for months. It's replaced like 50 bookmarks in my browser. For non-designers: It removes the guesswork. You'll find professional-grade resources without getting lost in the weeds. For designers: It's like having a master list of vetted tools. Plus they surface new ones I haven't seen before. Not affiliated - just sharing because it's become my go-to recommendation for anyone who asks about design resources 🙌 

Time for the Summer reading list. People Experience has great tools and methods and they come from User and Customer Experience and are based on Human-centered Design, Agile & Analytics. If we want to see new/better business results, we have to get serious about learning & applying these tools and methods: do better research on how and where people do their best work, map their experiences, Moments that Matter (interactions with outsized impact) and other KPI's, and then build and test prototypes to ensure success. Here are my Top 5 books on Human-centered Design, Analytics and Agile – I emphasize books that help if you want to set up and facilitate a workshop or do research or design. If you only have space to pack 2 books, take the first 2 along: 1- This is Service Design Doing – Stickdorn et al – A comprehensive overview of every kind of tool and method at every phase of research and design. Simple and well-explained. This book takes Service Design Methods and puts it in a framework with even richer context and explanations. These first 3 books are like 101, 201 and 301 university courses. 2- Design Thinking Metrics & Analytics – Lewrick et al – the latest in their series now with how to set up and measure the impact of what you create using Design Thinking, with tools (lots of illustration) and practical guides for how to use them e.g. in facilitating a workshop, this is a great book. 3-  This is Service Design Methods – Stickdorn et al – if you want one book that explains all the tools in all the phases on how to DO Experience Research and Design, this is your book. The detailed guide for facilitators is my favorite feature. 4- Mapping Journeys – Kalbach – the best, in-depth guide on how to design, create and use Maps. Chapters on Visualizing Value, and how to create Service Blueprints, Journey and Experience Maps, Mental Models and Spatial Maps. 5- Universal Methods of Design – Martin, Hanington – An exhaustive guide to 125 Design Research methods (2 pages each), with a quick outline on when to use each one, great illustrations, and where to get more information. Other favorite books on Human-Centered Design, Analytics and Agile –with great examples of how to use and apply methodology and tools: The Design of Everyday Things, Emotional Design – Don Norman The Design Thinking Toolkit - Lewrick et al Experience Design – Liedtka et al Sketching User Experiences – Buxton Designing Interactions – Moggeridge Excellence in People Analytics - Ferrar & Green Qualitative Research Practice - Ritchie, Lewis et al Sprint – Knapp Scrum Fieldbook – Sutherland Lean UX - Gothelf What are your favorite books and resources? Where have you applied and learned from these sources?