Design thinking begins with empathy. Before ideas, sketches, or testing prototypes, designers first need to understand the people they’re designing for. Empathy is what allows us to step outside of our own perspective and see, feel, and experience the world as others do.

After exploring the digital product marketplace, I began the ideation process for my own digital product. My goal was to create something that merges functionality with creativity while serving an audience that I understand and care about.

“A designer who doesn’t understand human psychologies is going to be no more successful than an architect who doesn’t understand physics.” – Joe Leech

Design thinking is an iterative, human-centered method to help tackle complex problems. Tim Brown of IDEO emphasizes that it’s about “creating an environment conducive to growth and experimentation, and the making of mistakes in order to achieve out-of-the-ordinary results.”

Design thinking has become one of the most talked-about approaches to problem-solving across various industries. At its core, it is a method that prioritizes empathy, creativity, and iteration. 

The digital product market has exploded in recent years, offering creators various ways to share skills, knowledge, and creativity. From planners and templates to online courses and apps, digital products are now a vital part of how people work, learn, and connect.