Problem Framing
Framing your problem as an opportunity allows you to think in divergent ways. By putting a positive frame on your design thinking, you move from ‘helping’ your client to ‘empowering’ your user. A positive frame can inspire a virtuous cycle of good-will towards the project, and by looking for opportunities you are likely to come up with a better end result.
Example applications
Problem framing is used in a wide array of discipline areas, across the sciences and humanities. Framing a problem as an opportunity usually involves looking at the problem holistically. A classic example is the Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894 in New York City, where the number of horses (and their excretions) were filling up the streets. The problem wasn’t solved by looking at the horse, but the introduction of the automobile ‘solved’ this problem. Another example is the accessibility features of an iPhone, which have revolutionised the way that people with vision or hearing disabilities interact with technology.
Steps
Framing a problem is best done individually at first, then bring together all your group’s ideas.
- Write down your design problem in one sentence.
- Turn your design problem into a How Might We.. statement
- Generate some possible solutions to the How Might We… statement
- What are some constraints in the given project context?
- Rewrite your design problem [repeat as necessary!]
Hints
- A good How Might We… statement requires thinking broadly about your problem, and can be very lofty and difficult to achieve
- During the problem framing, you should encourage different ideas and creativity. Don’t get bogged down in the detail, and avoid negative attitudes
- Build on the strengths of your user, rather than focussing on the negatives. See how you could transfer one skill to help them achieve the broader goal
Core resources
- IDEO’s Field Guide to Human-Centred Research, p.31-33 on Problem Framing. [Online or PDF (framing sections only){: .link-ext target=”_blank” }]
- Tina Seelig’s article in InGenius, How reframing a problem unlocks innovation. [Online or PDF]
Similar tools…
As the concepts behind problem framing are used widely, there are a few related tools worth considering alongside how you frame your problem. Problem setting (SpringerLink) is a way to influence the direction of a design approach, often used in policy and economics. Humanitarian, development and community practitioners rely on using a ‘strength-based approach’ (see Dr Graeme Stuart’s reflection on this approach).