<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix">Reading Time: </span> <span class="rt-time"> 4</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minutes</span></span>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Image-99-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-9685" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Image-99-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Image-99-300x169.webp 300w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Image-99-768x432.webp 768w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Image-99-1536x864.webp 1536w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Image-99.webp 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>In today’s technologically advanced world, businesses, especially startups, have a huge scope for innovation and growth. However, 90% of startups fail despite developing and offering a great product.</p>



<p>There can be several reasons for this but overlooking the user&#8217;s point of view can be cited as one of the crucial ones.</p>



<p>In this article, we will explore how <a href="https://octet.design/journal/design-thinking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">design thinking</a> can help your startup succeed.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Challenges faced by startups</h3>



<p>There are increasing challenges for startups to adapt their services and products to the rapidly changing economy and evolving market.</p>



<p>The customers are changing from passive consumers to active influencers and trendsetters.</p>



<p>Consumers are emerging as makers and innovators themselves. Although the advancement in technology has enabled the founders to start new ventures with ease, the increasing global competition and changing <a href="https://www.clootrack.com/knowledge/customer-behaviour-analytics/what-is-consumer-behavior" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">customer behaviour</a> have brought in a new set of challenges.</p>



<p>Inadequate time for customer development is the number one reason why startups fail.</p>



<p>For any business, customer understanding should be of prime importance. It is critical to the success of startups as it helps in creating improved and more compelling services and products that lead to competitive advantages as well as increased <a href="https://www.huronconsultinggroup.com/insights/strengthen-innovation-capabilities-drive-performance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">innovation capability</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The need for design thinking</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/start-up-business" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Businesses</a>, mostly startups, have begun to recognize that innovation can provide a competitive advantage over their competitors.</p>



<p>Due to the knowledge and opportunities that customers and users can provide, startups have begun to show great interest in <a href="https://octet.design/journal/user-centered-design/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">user-centred approaches</a> to innovation.</p>



<p>This approach has led to an increasing interest in the design thinking methodology. Design thinking is a mindset that is not restricted to designers.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://octet.design/journal/design-thinking-to-build-brand/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">principles of Design Thinking</a> can be extended across multiple disciplines within a business.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why design thinking is essential for startups?</h3>



<p>Unlike a few years ago when businesses focused on developing their internal process to drive growth, today most businesses are also considering customer needs and feedback to develop <a href="https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/innovative-product-examples" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">innovative products</a>.</p>



<p><a href="https://earthx.org/earthlings/erik-steeb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Erik Steeb</a> of the <a href="https://laincubator.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Los Angeles Cleantech Incubato</a>r explains, &#8220;Design is a critical element of any business but it&#8217;s especially important for startups who have the unique challenge of discovering the right business model for their innovation.</p>



<p>Too often, companies spend all their time on the innovation itself and miss one or two key elements that would really connect with a particular market.</p>



<p>By identifying and really understanding their customers early on, companies can save a lot of time and money in discovering that <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/successful-business-model" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">successful business model</a>.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How can startups inculcate a design thinking mindset?</h2>



<p>Startups should not only focus on solving problems but develop solutions for problems that the users didn’t even know existed. Apart from improvising their product, startups can inculcate the design thinking mindset in their business processes or can also align their startup&#8217;s culture with design thinking.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ways to adapt design thinking</h3>



<p>Following are the ways how startups can inculcate design thinking:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading heading2 black-color yanone-regular-font">1. Walk in your customer’s shoes</h4>



<p>First and foremost, the founders should look at the users through the <a href="https://blueprintleadership.com/empathy-seeing-through-the-lens-of-others/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">lens of empathy</a>.</p>



<p>Founders should start with defining who their users are, and analyse their behaviours, desires and needs.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="766" height="453" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Walk-in-your-customers-shoes.png" alt="Identifying the customers' needs is the first step in design thinking." class="wp-image-2227" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Walk-in-your-customers-shoes.png 766w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Walk-in-your-customers-shoes-300x177.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px" /></figure>



<p></p>



<p>By narrowing down their potential users, they can focus on a specific segment of the market, service them and win quickly.</p>



<p>Next, founders must deepen the understanding of their customer base.</p>



<p>This can be achieved by doing meticulous research and refining the speculations.</p>



<p>Skipping or skimming this step could jeopardize success; these insights let you know whether the target users would want and value the product that the startup is offering them.</p>



<p>Once the founders identify key <a href="https://dscout.com/people-nerds/writing-user-insights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">insights through research</a>, they can focus on turning them into meaningful solutions.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading heading2 black-color yanone-regular-font">2. Develop real solutions</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="766" height="548" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Develop-real-solutions.png" alt="Design thinking offers solutions that solve users' problems." class="wp-image-2224" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Develop-real-solutions.png 766w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Develop-real-solutions-300x215.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px" /></figure>



<p></p>



<p>Developing real solutions based on user insights instead of focusing only on technology is crucial. Although this approach might seem counter-intuitive for a cleantech startup, it will eventually pay off.</p>



<p>Even if founders have an idea that solves a core problem of users, they need to harness it in the right context or risk missing the mark.</p>



<p>As the <a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/types-of-business-growth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">business grows</a>, startups can refine their model and strategies as necessary, but should never lose sight of the user. They should always be able to answer questions like What needs are they satisfying? Who are the competitors and why should a customer choose them instead?</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading heading2 black-color yanone-regular-font">3. Evolve continuously</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="766" height="485" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Evolve-continuously.png" alt="Design thinking helps in cultivating a culture of innovation." class="wp-image-2225" srcset="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Evolve-continuously.png 766w, https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Evolve-continuously-300x190.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 766px) 100vw, 766px" /></figure>



<p></p>



<p>It is rare for any startup to get the solutions right the first time. It takes multiple failures and trials to hit the spot and develop the right solutions that will work.</p>



<p>Therefore, founders should know that it is ok to fail but learning from it and trying again is what counts.</p>



<p>Iterating and evolving the product continuously based on <a href="https://www.zendesk.com/in/blog/customer-feedback-hear-voice-customer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">customer feedback</a> and suggestions will help in scaling the business better.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading heading2 black-color yanone-regular-font">Conclusion</h2>



<p>Founders need to keep in mind that customers use their product for the value it provides.</p>



<p>That&#8217;s why, at <a href="https://octet.design/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong data-start="271" data-end="294">Octet Design Studio</strong></a>, we believe that focusing on the why behind a product is crucial. It helps founders make better and more relevant decisions when designing for their startup.</p>



<p>By staying grounded in the purpose and user needs, businesses can create solutions that people genuinely want to pay for, share, and return to.</p>



<p>With this mindset, we at <strong>Octet Design Studio</strong> aim to help startups solve real customer problems and achieve total <a href="https://www.zendesk.com/in/blog/3-steps-achieving-customer-satisfaction-loyalty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">customer satisfaction</a>.</p>



<p></p>
<footer class="author-bio-section" ><div class="author-flex"><div class="author-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="90" height="90" src="https://octet-gatsby.in2.cdn-alpha.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/vansha-150x150.webp" class="attachment-90x90 size-90x90" alt="" /></div><div class="author-info"><div class="author-name"><strong>Vansha Kalra</strong></div><p class="author-bio">Vansha Kalra is a UI UX designer with years of professional experience. She is celebrated for her creativity and innovative approach to user interfaces and experiences. Her background in graphic design provides a strong foundation in visual aesthetics and design principles, which she skillfully applies to her work in the digital realm. Vansha is passionate about creative work and continuously seeks to explore new ideas and artistic expressions to enhance her designs.

&lt;br /&gt; &lt;br /&gt;

In addition to her professional achievements, Vansha enjoys spending her free time doodling and baking, which reflects her artistic flair and personal creativity. Her commitment to her craft and personal interests enriches her design perspective and contributes to her unique UI UX design approach.
</p></div> </div><div class="authorbox-social-icons"> <a href="mailto:vansha@octet.design" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="E-mail" class="tooltip"><i class="fa fa-envelope-square fa-2x"></i> </a></div></footer>

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