Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test. Involving five phases—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test—it is most useful to tackle problems that are ill-defined or unknown.

The Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford (aka the d.school) describes design thinking as a five-stage process. Note: These stages are not always sequential, and teams often run them in parallel, out of order and repeat them in an iterative fashion.

Stage 1: Empathize—Research Your Users' Needs

Stage 2: Define—State Your Users' Needs and Problems

Stage 3: Ideate—Challenge Assumptions and Create Ideas

Stage 4: Prototype—Start to Create Solutions

Stage 5: Test—Try Your Solutions Out