Design thinking is a problem-solving approach that puts human needs first. Inventors can teach us a lot about design thinking. I invented my product, the wrist water bottle, because I needed it myself. I passed out from dehydration while out running in the heat. I wasn’t sure, but I imagined if I needed the product, maybe other runners would also need it. Turns out I was right as I’ve sold almost a million units of the product around the world.
Then I started to brainstorm ideas and eventually made a clay prototype to see what the product would look like. I still didn’t know if it would work or not. Once I had an actual working model I was able to test it and get others to test the product. It went through many different designs before landing on the final version.
Here are some other examples of the design process that inventors have gone through:
Empathize: Understanding User Needs (The Post-It Note Story)
The invention of Post-It Notes perfectly illustrates the importance of understanding user needs, even when users themselves don’t know what they need. In 1968, Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, accidentally created a weak adhesive that could stick and peel without leaving residue. For years, this invention remained a solution without a problem until Arthur Fry, another 3M employee, experienced a common frustration: his paper bookmarks kept falling out of his hymnal during choir practice.
**Key Lesson:** Sometimes the most valuable innovations come from observing everyday frustrations and connecting them with existing solutions. True empathy means watching what users do, not just listening to what they say they want.
Define: Framing the Right Problem (The Sony Walkman Revolution)
When Sony’s co-founder Masaru Ibuka requested a way to listen to opera during his frequent business flights, he wasn’t asking for a revolutionary portable music player. He was expressing a specific need: high-quality mobile music. The development team could have simply modified existing portable tape recorders, but instead, they defined the problem more broadly: “How might we create a completely new way to experience music on the move?”
**Key Lesson:** The way you frame the problem determines the solutions you’ll discover. The Walkman succeeded because Sony defined the challenge not as a technical specification but as a human experience to be enhanced.
Ideate: Challenging Assumptions (Thomas Edison’s Light Bulb)
Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb—he revolutionized it. Many inventors before him had created various forms of electric lights, but they were impractical and short-lived. Edison’s genius lay in his team’s approach to ideation. They tested over 6,000 different materials for the filament, challenging the assumption that expensive materials were necessary for success. The winning solution? Carbonized bamboo, a humble and sustainable material.
**Key Lesson:** True innovation often comes from questioning established assumptions and being willing to explore seemingly crazy ideas. Quantity of ideas can lead to quality breakthroughs.
Prototype: Failing Fast and Learning Faster (The Wright Brothers’ Approach)
The Wright brothers’ path to powered flight demonstrates the power of rapid prototyping. Instead of building full-scale aircraft for each test, they created a wind tunnel to test hundreds of wing designs quickly and cheaply. This allowed them to gather crucial data and iterate their designs far more efficiently than their better-funded competitors.
**Key Lesson:** The faster you can create and test prototypes, the more you can learn. Simple, cheap prototypes often teach you more than elaborate ones. I always tell people to start with supplies such as popcycle sticks, styrofoam, cardboard, etc. to make a rough sample of your product. Mine was made of clay, a vel-stretch band, and an off the shelf cap. It looked kind of silly, but you could at least get an idea of the final product.
Test: Real-World Feedback (The Evolution of the Bicycle)
The bicycle’s evolution from the dangerous high-wheeler to the modern safety bicycle illustrates the importance of testing and iteration. Early designs prioritized mechanical efficiency over user safety and comfort. It took decades of real-world testing, accidents, and user feedback to arrive at the basic diamond-frame design we know today.
**Key Lesson:** No amount of theoretical planning can replace real-world testing. User feedback, even negative, is invaluable for product evolution. You can do a simple test by giving out some free samples and having people test them in action. Get honest feedback from them. Also, pay attention to online threads about your product. People may be more willing to be honest on those.
Modern Applications of Historical Lessons
These historical examples offer valuable insights for modern innovators:
Embrace Serendipity
Like the Post-It Note, many breakthrough innovations come from connecting seemingly unrelated dots. Create systems to capture and explore unexpected discoveries.
Focus on Human Experience
The Walkman succeeded because it focused on the experience of personal music enjoyment rather than technical specifications. Modern design thinking similarly emphasizes human needs over technical features.
Create Fast Feedback Loops
The Wright brothers’ wind tunnel approach shows how important it is to get quick feedback. In today’s digital world, this might mean using A/B testing, beta releases, or minimal viable products.
Challenge Industry Assumptions
Edison’s success came from questioning the conventional wisdom about materials. Today’s innovators need to similarly challenge digital, social, and business assumptions.
Iterate Based on Evidence
The bicycle’s evolution demonstrates how product development should be guided by real-world evidence rather than theoretical perfection.
Implementing These Lessons in Your Innovation Process
To apply these historical lessons in your own design thinking practice:
Start with Observation
– Spend time watching how people interact with existing solutions
– Document pain points and workarounds
– Look for unspoken needs
Reframe Problems
– Ask “Why?” multiple times to get to the root issue
– State problems in human terms rather than technical specifications
– Consider broader implications and opportunities
Generate Many Ideas
– Use constraints as creative fuel
– Combine seemingly unrelated concepts
– Encourage wild ideas before filtering for practicality
Prototype Cheaply and Quickly
– Start with paper prototypes when possible
– Test individual features before combining them
– Use existing tools in new ways
Test in Reality
– Get prototypes into users’ hands early
– Observe without interfering
– Document unexpected uses and adaptations
Inventors are problem solvers
The greatest inventions in history teach us that design thinking isn’t just a modern methodology. It’s a formalization of the natural problem-solving process that innovators have used for centuries. By understanding how historical inventors approached problems through empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing, we can better apply these principles to modern challenges.
The key is to remember that innovation isn’t about sudden inspiration. It’s about a methodical process of understanding, experimenting, and refining. Whether you’re working on the next world-changing invention or solving everyday problems, these historical lessons in design thinking can guide your path to innovative solutions.
Every great invention started with someone looking at a problem differently and being willing to fail their way to success. The same principles that led to the light bulb, the Walkman, and the bicycle can help you innovate in your own field. You just need to apply them systematically and learn from each iteration.