The first stage is about identifying the problem, then considering if it is a real problem or an opportunity. Companies will lay down their problem, present a hypothesis, and define the way they can learn more.

A study found that keeping employees' minds open to all possible solutions maximised creative problem-solving. However, all the digging will generate large amounts of information, making managing and organising this information crucial.

The definition stage is about filtering through all the information you got from the first stage, then identifying bottlenecks or resource waste, seeing hidden opportunities and creating a no-go list.

The end of the definition stage consists of corporate sign-off, when management either scraps the project or approves it.

This stage marks the start of the actual design process. The development stage involves putting the designers together with internal partners, such as engineers, developers or other departments. By doing this, you speed up problem-solving.

The method aims to put the prototyping tool to good use and bring the solution to fruition. When different departments participate in the design process, there are less prototypes needed and less problems with the design.

The last stage of this model includes the final testing of the product and official sign-off to production.

The final test is the last look at the product to ensure it is without issues. It includes testing it against regulation and legal standards, damage testing or compatibility testing.

When the product is launched, your work is not done yet. The product is out there, and you need to listen to users to ensure their opinions are reflected in subsequent versions.