The stages involved in design process

Here are the common stages involved in the design process:

1. Empathize/Understand: This initial stage involves deeply understanding the users, their needs, their context, and the problem you are trying to solve. It often includes research, observation, and interviews to gather insights.
2. Define: In this stage, you synthesize the information gathered during the empathize phase to clearly articulate the problem statement. This involves framing the challenge in a user-centered way.
3. Ideate: This is the brainstorming phase where you generate a wide range of potential solutions to the defined problem. The focus is on quantity and creativity, encouraging diverse ideas without immediate judgment.
4. Prototype: Here, you create tangible representations of your ideas. Prototypes can range from simple sketches and storyboards to more detailed mock-ups or functional models, allowing you to test and refine concepts.
5. Test: In this stage, you put your prototypes in front of users to gather feedback. This helps identify what works, what doesn't, and areas for improvement, often leading back to earlier stages for iteration.