Last updated on Apr 6, 2024

What do you do if your strategic thinking in design is hindered by challenges?

Strategic thinking is vital in design, as it allows you to plan and execute projects with foresight and innovation. But what happens when you encounter roadblocks that stifle your strategic approach? It's a common scenario: you're deep into a design project, and suddenly, challenges emerge that threaten to derail your strategic vision. Whether it's a shift in project goals, budget cuts, or team dynamics, these obstacles can be frustrating. Yet, they also serve as opportunities to refine your strategy and strengthen your design outcomes.

1 Assess Impact

When challenges arise, the first step is to assess their impact on your design strategy. Take a step back and analyze how these new variables affect your project's goals and outcomes. Are they minor setbacks or game-changers? Understanding the extent of the impact allows you to determine whether you need to make small adjustments or a significant pivot in your strategy. This clarity is crucial in deciding the next steps and communicating effectively with your team and stakeholders.

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Nihar Tanna

Founder at Two Words | Ex-Grant Thornton | Former Lawyer
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Let's say you're designing a poster for a school event, but you realize that the printer you planned to use is suddenly unavailable. Instead of panicking, you take a moment to assess the situation. You think about how this printer issue might affect your goal of promoting the event and getting people to attend. Is it a minor hiccup, or does it completely change your approach?

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Alfredo Chang

Co-Founder of C Cubed Capital Partners, LLC/ Witnex, Inc.
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When challenges hinder strategic thinking, I would go back to the beginning and reassess inputs, stakeholders, and process. In the review, consider the CTQs by the stakeholders and find a solution that resolves the challenges while addressing the objectives set by the stakeholders as a measure of success in the strategic thinking.

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preemy nayak

Founder of Unvoid Tech Studio | Chief Product Designer
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When challenges hinder strategic thinking in design, I take a step back to reassess the situation. I identify the root causes of the challenges and brainstorm alternative approaches to overcome them. Seeking input from colleagues or mentors often provides valuable insights. I prioritize problem-solving and adaptability, leveraging creativity to find innovative solutions. Additionally, I remain open to learning from setbacks, viewing them as opportunities for growth. Ultimately, perseverance and resilience drive me to navigate obstacles and continue advancing strategically in my design endeavors.

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Mike J Lucas MBA

You work for You - Use 9-5 stealth mode to learn, earn and grow | AI-based Solo Investor
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I've found that you need to go back and revisit the original design brief. We make choices as to what information we gather about the present situation and we process and assembly it according to the models we have in our heads and in our cultural understanding of how the world works. The plan that emerges may have some gaps that need to be addressed so that it the plan can be modified to overcome the challenges.

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2 Stay Flexible

Flexibility is a designer's superpower. When your strategic thinking hits a snag, being adaptable can make all the difference. Instead of clinging to your initial plan, explore alternative pathways and solutions that align with the new circumstances. This might mean rethinking your design approach, adjusting timelines, or reallocating resources. Embrace the change as a chance to innovate and perhaps even improve upon your original vision.

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3 Collaborate More

Collaboration is essential when facing strategic challenges in design. Engage with your team, stakeholders, or a mentor to brainstorm solutions. Different perspectives can shed light on aspects of the challenge you might not have considered and lead to innovative solutions. Collaboration fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose, which is particularly valuable when navigating through uncertain waters.

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Mike J Lucas MBA

You work for You - Use 9-5 stealth mode to learn, earn and grow | AI-based Solo Investor
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One area to revisit is your stakeholders as you may have missed some subtle information prevalent to your current challenge. The tool to use is stakeholder mapping where you check "who is involved", "what do they care about". You want to step back and ensure you have included all stakeholders expectations as sometime the ecosystem of interrelationships can be complex and subtle. Then you check whether your challenges have emerged out of a miss categorisation of stakeholder involvement and needs.

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4 Break It Down

Complex challenges can overwhelm your strategic thinking. To regain control, break down the challenge into smaller, manageable parts. Tackle each component one at a time, which will help you maintain focus and make progress without becoming paralyzed by the larger issue. This methodical approach can reveal simple fixes for seemingly insurmountable problems and help you maintain momentum in your strategic design process.

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5 Reflect and Learn

Every challenge in design is a learning opportunity. Reflect on what these hurdles teach you about your design process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. What worked, what didn't, and how can you apply these insights to future projects? Continuous learning ensures that each challenge you overcome makes you a more resilient and skilled designer.

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6 Seek Inspiration

Lastly, seek inspiration from outside your immediate design challenge. Look at how other designers or industries have navigated similar obstacles. This can provide fresh ideas that reinvigorate your strategy and help you think outside the box. Sometimes the solution to a design problem lies in a completely different field or an unexpected source of inspiration.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your strategic thinking in design is hindered by challenges?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Impact

2 Stay Flexible

3 Collaborate More

4 Break It Down

5 Reflect and Learn

6 Seek Inspiration

7 Here’s what else to consider

Design

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What do you do if your strategic thinking in design is hindered by challenges?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Impact

2 Stay Flexible

3 Collaborate More

4 Break It Down

5 Reflect and Learn

6 Seek Inspiration

7 Here’s what else to consider

Design

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