This episode is based on this article: ALD 003 // There Are No Problems Worth Solving – Only Questions Worth Asking. Read the article and others like it on Fluid Hive’s Ask Like a Designer.

This Ask Like a Designer episode is about a better way to see and choose problems to solve. It includes a simple framework for aligning your choices with the development and goals that matter most to you.

In these short Ask Like a Designer episodes on the Design Thinking 101 podcast, you’ll find new ways to explore the show’s stories and ideas about design-driven innovation. I’ll share methods, templates, and ideas that have worked in my practice in teaching. 

What did you think of this episode? Please send your questions, suggestions and guest ideas to Dawan and the Fluid Hive team.

Cheers ~ Dawan

Design Thinking 101 Podcast Host

President, Fluid Hive

Show Highlights

[00:52] A better approach to closing the gaps between the world we have and the world we want.[01:07] Questions worth asking.[01:21] The trouble with solving.[01:54] Responding instead of solving.[02:23] Difference between response and reaction.[02:44] Looking at problems and how questions can create the problem space.[03:37] Questions worth answering.[04:28] Wicked problems.[04:54] Questions worth answering by you.[05:11] Four considerations when deciding if a question is worth answering by you.[05:25] Learning.[05:39] Power-Ups.[05:58] Seedlings.[06:18] The Spend.[07:33] Free Ask Like a Designer Thinking Tool to help you choose your next question worth answering.[08:21] Design Thinking 101 Learning courses.[08:47] The Innovation SmartStart webinar.

Design Thinking 101 Learning — Courses and More

Design Thinking 101 Learning helps people learn, lead and apply design-driven innovation. Each training course focuses on a different collection of actions and skills critical to using design thinking effectively and getting the results you seek.

Please join me in the first course, Design Thinking 101 — Framing: Creating Better Solutions by Finding More Valuable Problems to Solve. 

Each course is structured to help your innovation actions create what you need for the people you serve, your organization and yourself.

Fluid Hive’s Designing Facilitation Course launches soon. Get notified when enrollment opens.

Good events are essential when creating effective solutions while thinking and acting like a designer. Designing Facilitation shows you how to create effective, engaging events that are easy to lead. You’ll learn how to apply the Event Design Questions, use over 20 event creation tools, how to avoid common facilitation traps, and make the most of every second people spend at your events.

Notify me when Designing Facilitation launches!

Other Design Thinking 101 Episodes You Might Like

Ask Like a Designer 001 — DT101 E61 Design, and One Question to Rule Them All // ALD 002 — DT101 E63

Other Resources

Download the Design-Driven Innovation Project Launch Guide — Guide to launching innovation projects and avoiding common innovation traps Design-Driven Innovation.

Innovation Smart Start Webinar — Take your innovation projects from frantic to focused!

Fluid Hive: Learn — A growing collection of courses, webinars, and articles for people expanding their design thinking, service design, and human-centered design skills.