Challenge Definition

This stage describes the role of ideation within innovation processes, providing the designers with a range of different tools and techniques to get a deep dive understanding of the end-user’s problem, making them familiar with the problem. 

 It shall be encouraged to always start with the problem, never with a solution with first understanding of the problem to be solved. Every problem shall have a clear problem statement that consolidate and capture the end-users needs. A problem statement shall mark the starting ideation phase. 

 The methods to support the creation of a problem statement include: 

 

 Context mapping which shall help to recognize contexts and patterns in the collected information. 

 Cause-effect diagrams which shall help to differentiate the causes and the impact of problems. 

 Questions to help to transfer the resulting problem definition into design opportunities.