Design Thinking: A Real-World Guide to Thinking Differently and Solving Problems That Matter

Welcome colleagues to Myford University. I'm George Sloane, and today we're diving into a topic that everyone throws around, but few truly understand: Design Thinking.

You’ve probably heard the term in business meetings, seen it in job listings, or caught it in TED Talks—but what the hell is it really? More importantly, how can YOU use it to solve problems, improve your life, and create real results—without needing a design degree or a $200k+ education?

Let's break it down.

What Is Design Thinking?

Design Thinking is a problem-solving process that puts people at the center of the solution. It’s not just about making things look pretty. It’s about:

• Understanding real human needs
• Generating creative ideas
• Testing those ideas fast
• Improving solutions through feedback and iteration

It’s structured, but flexible.

The basic phases look like this:

1. Empathize – Understand the user's experience and pain points
2. Define – Frame the problem clearly and concisely
3. Ideate – Generate lots of possible ideas (wild and practical)
4. Prototype – Build a low-cost version of a potential solution
5. Test – Try it out with real users, get feedback, and improve it

You don’t need to be a designer. You don’t even need to be in a creative field. If you solve problems or deal with people, you can use Design Thinking.

Why It Matters More Than Ever

We live in a world full of:

• Complicated systems
• Confusing services
• Frustrated customers
• Stagnant teams

Design Thinking cuts through the clutter and gets you back to what matters most: the people you're serving.

In a business? Design Thinking improves customer experience, product-market fit, and team alignment.

In your personal life? It helps you make better decisions, understand others more clearly, and develop creative options you may have missed.

At Myford University, we’re all about practical application, and Design Thinking fits like a glove. It’s not just theory—it’s action.

Who Can Use Design Thinking?

The short answer? Anyone. But especially:

• Entrepreneurs – Solve customer problems and stand out
• Managers – Lead better meetings, solve team issues, design better workflows
• Students – Tackle assignments, choose a major, build side projects
• Educators – Improve engagement and learning outcomes
• Parents – Design better routines, solve family problems creatively
• Tradespeople – Reimagine how work gets done or how clients are served

Don’t let the term intimidate you. You don’t need post-its and beanbags. You need curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to iterate your way forward.

When and Where Should You Use It?

Design Thinking is best used when:

• You’re stuck and don’t have clear answers
• People are frustrated with current options
• You want to innovate, not just maintain
• There are multiple stakeholders or users involved

Great places to apply it:

• Creating a new service or product
• Improving internal processes
• Solving team communication breakdowns
• Planning a career change
• Designing a better work-life balance

Use it early. Use it often. It’s not just for big projects—it’s for anything that matters.

How to Use Design Thinking in Real Life

Let’s walk through each phase and make it painfully clear and doable.

1. Empathize

Ask:

• What’s the user struggling with?
• What’s frustrating or confusing?
• What do they want that they’re not getting?

Do:

• Talk to users
• Observe behavior
• Walk through the process yourself

Example: You're a contractor and your customers keep asking the same pre-sale questions. Empathize by listening carefully, asking follow-ups, and logging their real concerns.

2. Define

Ask:

• What exactly is the core problem?
• What do we really need to solve?

Do:

• Write a simple problem statement
• Focus on one user and one need

Example: "Busy homeowners don’t have time to wait all day for service calls."

3. Ideate

Ask:

• What are 10 ways to solve this?
• What’s the craziest idea that just might work?

Do:

• Brainstorm fast, without judging ideas
• Mix serious and silly

Example: Ideas might include a live GPS tech tracker, appointment windows, or even a virtual estimate tool.

4. Prototype

Ask:

• How can I build something rough but testable?

Do:

• Create a sample, mock-up, demo, or flowchart
• Keep it simple

Example: Sketch out a new scheduling flow, or mock up the GPS app with free software tools.

5. Test

Ask:

• What worked?
• What confused people?
• What needs to change?

Do:

• Get real user feedback
• Adjust and improve quickly

Example: Ask a few customers to try the new process or tool. Learn what tripped them up and iterate.

What Makes Design Thinking Different?

• It starts with empathy not ego
• It values feedback over perfection
• It moves quickly rather than slowly
• It’s collaborative not solo genius
• It’s practical not theoretical

It’s not about big words or corporate jargon. It’s about finding a better way that actually works for real people.

Final Thoughts: Design Thinking Is a Superpower

Look—whether you're trying to:

• Launch a side hustle
• Improve your team’s results
• Solve a customer complaint
• Get a better job
• Streamline your home life

Design Thinking gives you a mindset and a method to think better and act faster.

Don’t let the name fool you. Design Thinking isn’t about being a designer. It’s about being a problem-solver in the real world.

At Myford University, we’re going to keep breaking down these "complex" concepts and showing you how to make them practical, powerful, and profitable.

So try it. Pick a problem you’re facing today and walk through the five steps.

And as always—don’t just think—DO.

Want more practical tools like this? Subscribe to our blog, newsletter, or podcast. Let’s ditch the theory and get shit done.

Until next time,

George Sloane
Founder and Dean, Myford University
"Driven in an F150. Teaching from the road."