The Design Edge Vol. 01 No. 09

Insight

Design as Problem Solving: Finding the Pain Points

Design as Problem Solving: Finding the Pain Points

At its core, design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about solving problems. Whether you’re crafting a physical product, a digital experience, or a marketing campaign, identifying and addressing pain points is the foundation of great design. Here’s how you can master this approach:

What Are Pain Points?

Pain points are the specific challenges, frustrations, or inefficiencies that users experience. These can range from a hard-to-open product package to an app that takes too many steps to complete a simple task. Identifying these pain points means truly understanding your users’ needs and where their experiences fall short.

Steps to Identify Pain Points

Engage with Users Directly​
Talk to your users, observe them interacting with your product, and collect feedback. Tools like surveys, focus groups, and user interviews are invaluable.

Analyze Data​
Dive into analytics to spot patterns. Are users abandoning your app at a certain point? Are certain features underutilized? These insights reveal where the friction lies.

Conduct Usability Testing​
Watch real users navigate your product. Their actions will highlight inefficiencies or confusing elements faster than assumptions will.

Look Beyond the Obvious​
Sometimes pain points are hidden. Ask “why” multiple times to dig deeper into root causes rather than surface issues.

Use The Product Yourself​
Take the product out of the “studio” and fully controlled environment in which is was designed and tested and actually use it. See how your user will first encounter it, in what conditions, what environment and what state of mind are they in. Then use it as they would. Too many times I encounter products that work well under perfect conditions but that is not how they are used by the end user.

Designing the Solution

Once you’ve identified the pain points, solving them becomes your design mission. Keep these principles in mind:

• Prioritize Simplicity: Over-complicated solutions often create new problems. Strive for elegant, straightforward fixes.
• Test Iteratively: Don’t assume the first idea is the best. Prototype, test, and refine.
• Think Empathetically: Place yourself in the user’s shoes. How does your design improve their experience, save them time, or make their lives easier?

Why It Matters

Great design turns frustrations into moments of delight. By focusing on solving real problems, you build trust and loyalty, elevate user experiences, and differentiate your work in a crowded market.

Let 2025 be the year you embrace design as problem solving. Start by asking: “What’s the pain, and how can I ease it?”

Case Study

The Secret Behind the Google Doodles: Why They Keep Us Coming Back

Every day, millions of users visit Google—not just for answers, but for a bit of unexpected delight: the Google Doodle. These playful, interactive designs have evolved from simple sketches to sophisticated animations and even games. But what makes them so effective at fostering loyalty?

1. Engagement Through Surprise

Google Doodles inject a sense of discovery into an otherwise utilitarian task—searching the web. By transforming a static logo into a dynamic experience, they spark curiosity and reward users with something new each visit. This keeps the platform fresh and engaging.

2. Emotional Connection

Doodles often celebrate cultural moments, historical events, and underrepresented figures, creating a sense of inclusion and shared experience. This emotional resonance builds goodwill and reinforces brand affinity.

3. Interactive Storytelling

Recent doodles often feature interactive elements, like games or quizzes. For example, the Pac-Man Doodle saw users spending hours on Google, turning a simple visit into an immersive experience. These elements encourage users to stay longer and associate the brand with fun and creativity.

4. Education Without Effort

By highlighting lesser-known milestones or people, Google positions itself as not just a search engine but an educational platform. Users come away feeling smarter and more informed, which boosts their perception of Google as a valuable resource.

What Designers Can Learn

• Keep It Fresh: Regularly update your designs or content to surprise and delight users.
• Foster Emotional Connections: Reflect values and stories that resonate with your audience.
• Integrate Play: Find ways to make interactions fun, even in unexpected contexts.
• Educate and Entertain: Balance information with engagement to leave a lasting impact.

Google Doodles show us that even the smallest design elements can have an outsized impact. By prioritizing creativity and connection, they turn everyday users into loyal fans.

Skill Builder

Prototyping on a Budget: How to Build Without Breaking the Bank

You don’t need a state-of-the-art lab or expensive software to prototype your ideas. Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or just someone with a big idea, limited resources don’t have to limit your creativity. Here's how to create effective prototypes on a shoestring budget:

1. Start with Paper and Pen

Before diving into tools, sketch your ideas. This low-tech, cost-free method helps you quickly visualize concepts, iterate, and gather feedback without committing to expensive resources. It does not have to be a fully rendered drawing nor something that a working prototype can be built from. This is just a visual way to remind you of what you are thinking and so you can start to work out some kinks that may show up as you sketch. Keep it very loose and simple.

2. Use Free or Affordable Tools

For digital prototypes, platforms like Figma, Canva, or Adobe XD offer free versions with robust features. These tools allow you to create clickable wireframes or mockups that mimic user experiences without needing coding expertise.

3. Leverage Everyday Materials

For physical prototypes, think creatively. Cardboard, tape, string, or even LEGO bricks can simulate your product. Remember, it’s not about perfection but about demonstrating functionality and testing ideas. The first iPad was constructed out of cardboard and many of those on the design team carried it around for weeks evaluating the weight and size to see how it fit into their everyday lives. Most furniture and buildings, still today, are first built as a miniature model called a maquette.

4. Repurpose and Recycle

Reuse materials from around your home or workspace. An old box can become a model, while spare electronics can demonstrate interaction concepts. This reduces waste and costs. (My absolute favorite tip.)

5. Collaborate with Communities

Online communities like Reddit’s r/DIY or local maker spaces can be goldmines for advice, feedback, and sometimes free tools or materials. Share your project, and you may find others willing to contribute or collaborate.

6. Test and Iterate Quickly

The beauty of low-cost prototyping is that you can test ideas without fear of sunk costs. Gather feedback early, make changes, and refine. The faster and cheaper you iterate, the closer you get to your ideal solution.

7. Embrace Minimalism

Your prototype doesn’t have to be perfect. Focus on key features that showcase your concept’s value. Fancy aesthetics can come later.

Why It Matters

Prototyping is essential for understanding user needs, refining ideas, and gaining buy-in from stakeholders. By embracing a resourceful approach, you’re not just saving money—you’re proving that constraints can fuel creativity.

Let’s by building smarter, not harder. Remember, innovation often comes from necessity.

Product I'm Excited About

The Storymatic

This is the official description of The Storymatic, the original:

• 540 cards = trillions of card combinations that prompt stories, characters, scenes, situations, and plots.
• Wild cards encourage you to tell stories in different ways and from different points of view.
• Includes a booklet with prompts, tips, suggestions, and activities to help you bring more stories into the world.
• Easy, fun creative tool for writers, classes, and homeschool– as well as an easy, fun storytelling game for family game night, improv, and travel.
• Parents, teachers, and therapists: The Storymatic can help with public speaking, listening skills, sequential thinking, as well as with fostering imagination and empathy.
• Performers: The Storymatic is a great tool for improvising scenes, developing characters, and exploring backstory.
• Made in USA and ships from beautiful Vermont.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon a set of storytelling cards at Goodwill. They sat on a shelf until 2025, the year I decided to rethink how I approach design—and life. That’s when I got the idea to start using these cards every day, and it’s been a game-changer for my creativity.

Here’s how I use them:
Each morning, I draw two character cards and one setting card, then write a short story based on them. That’s it—no timers, no word counts, no pressure. I write what feels right and let the ideas flow.

It’s a simple yet powerful exercise that stretches my creativity beyond my usual design work. And, more importantly, it’s fun!

Creativity is like a muscle—it thrives on challenge and consistency. The more you push it, the stronger it becomes. So why not give it a try?

If you don’t have a set of cards like these, no problem. I’ve started sharing the cards I draw each morning in my Instagram Stories. Follow the link below to join in, get inspired, and kickstart your creative juices each day. Let’s build those creative muscles together!

Just hit the Instagram icon below.

Team Tips

The Power of User-Centric Design: A Lesson for Everyone

User-centric design isn’t just for designers—it’s a mindset that can transform the way any professional approaches their work. Whether you’re in marketing, product development, or customer service, focusing on user needs ensures better outcomes and more satisfied customers. But how do we teach its importance to non-designers?

Why It Matters

User-centric design places the end user at the heart of every decision. It’s not about what a business thinks the user wants but about uncovering what they truly need. This approach prevents wasted resources on misguided features and ensures a product or service solves real problems.

Teaching the Basics

1. Start with Empathy:​
   Ask non-designers to imagine walking in the user’s shoes. What challenges or frustrations might they face? Empathy is the foundation of user-centric thinking.
2. Show Real-World Examples:​
   Share case studies where user-centric design led to success (e.g., Apple's intuitive products) versus failures (e.g., clunky software that users abandoned).
3. Involve Them in the Process:​
   Let non-designers participate in user interviews or usability tests. Seeing pain points firsthand often sparks a shift in perspective.
4. Simplify the Framework:​
   Explain core principles like usability, accessibility, and user feedback in relatable terms. Avoid jargon and connect these ideas to their day-to-day roles.

Actionable Steps for Teams

• Create Personas: Develop simple user profiles to help everyone understand who the product serves.
• Prototype Together: Invite non-designers to brainstorm and test ideas alongside designers.
• Foster a Feedback Culture: Encourage open discussion of how products or processes can better serve the end user.

Why It Works

When non-designers embrace user-centric principles, teams become more aligned, and collaboration improves. Ultimately, this results in more meaningful and effective solutions, whether for a physical product, a website, or a customer experience.

By teaching the value of user-centric design, you empower everyone to think creatively, empathetically, and collaboratively—leading to stronger, more user-friendly outcomes.