"Defining the problem” is the process of determining why we are making this product in the first place and for whom. It is in this stage where clients reap a large part of the value of hiring a designer. That can be a confusing notion for clients because they often think that they have hired a designer to solve a problem that has already defined. A client recently asked me to create a proof of concept for an iPad thermostat and I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about how defining the problem can be more complex and nuanced than it first appears and how a better understanding of the problem can lead to a better solution. Read more...