Creating With The People, for the people

Beyond Thinking Outside The Box

When I was younger, I thought “thinking outside the box” meant coming up with an invention worthy of Shark Tank. It’s not a surprise that my fourth-grade self was not exactly ready for that. Whenever my teachers told us to be creative, it felt overwhelming, like they wanted us to change the world before lunchtime. They never explained how or what to do, just that we should think in ways that were “different” (whatever that meant).

Now, at the glorious age of 20, I think I finally understand what they were really asking. They did not expect us to be the next Thomas Edison or Kevin O’Leary. What they wanted was for us to look at our ideas from new perspectives, challenge our first thoughts, and figure out how to make them stronger. And that, my friends, brings me to the world of design thinking.

At It’s core

Design thinking is a structured, people-centered way to solve problems creatively. Harvard Business Review explains this as a process that balances three things: A solution should be desirable for people, technically possible to make, and financially realistic.

Instead of expecting a perfect idea to appear out of nowhere, design thinking encourages you to try out ideas, test them, and refine them along the way. In many ways, it is like staying in an editing stage throughout the entire building process.

Empathy First

The first stage of design thinking is empathy. Before you even start brainstorming, you need to understand the people who will be impacted. IDEO, a leader in this field, has mentioned how listening closely to users reveals needs and frustrations that data alone cannot capture.

Asking simple but meaningful questions like “What is most difficult about this experience?” or “What do you wish worked better?” helps guide the direction of new ideas.

For me, this was a new way of seeing creativity. It is not only about what I think or what I want to build. The best ideas come when you take the time to listen and see the world through someone else’s perspective.

Learning to except the Unexpected

Design thinking is also a method that pushes us to be comfortable with uncertainty. Early ideas are not meant to be flawless. Prototypes and small tests are intended to spark conversations and uncover important information about what works and what does not. By trying things out early, you can make better decisions without wasting too much time or resources.

This makes creativity feel less overwhelming. Instead of fearing that my first idea will fail, I can treat it as a beginning step. Feedback will then help shape it into something even stronger.

My Design thinking Takeaway

Looking back, I now really understand that “thinking outside the box” was never about inventing something world-changing overnight. It was about shifting perspectives, being curious, and improving ideas step by step.

Design thinking is not just for product designers. Companies use it to improve services, rethink strategies, and connect more meaningfully with their audiences. For someone like me, pursuing a career in advertising, it is especially valuable. It helps me practice empathy, so I can truly understand what consumers want. It also strengthens adaptability, which is crucial in such a fast-moving industry. And it trains me to approach problems creatively, whether I am crafting a campaign, developing a brand strategy, or finding new ways to capture someone’s attention, especially in an industry where that can sometimes feel impossible.

These are the kinds of skills that don’t just make your work better, they make you think differently about every challenge you face. Who wouldn’t want to see the world a little more creatively?