Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
The most popular design thinking strategy is BS
Summary
How Might We (HMW) is a commonly accepted design thinking practice for framing a problem in space exploration, usually within a codified "design sprint" framework. However, there are risks and limitations that can undermine its value. Join us for a candid, provocative discussion with Tricia Wang, who wrote a searing yet insightful piece recently in Fast Company that challenges the value of the HMW practice, while offering alternatives to help us transcend its issues.
Key Insights
-
•
The 'how might we' approach has been co-opted in many settings to enforce conformity and suppress alternative ideas, rather than encourage creative problem-solving.
-
•
Teams using 'how might we' must critically examine who the 'we' represents and whether those communities are truly included in decision-making.
-
•
Diversity and inclusion efforts often fail because companies seek to engage marginalized communities externally without changing their internal leadership and talent structures.
-
•
Building local research and design capacity in communities is more sustainable and ethical than relying on outside consultants who lack contextual understanding.
-
•
Designers need to foster trust and authentic interpersonal connections across organizational silos to drive meaningful change internally.
-
•
Conversations around values and purpose should be prioritized within teams to align efforts and expose misalignments that hinder productivity and retention.
-
•
Representation matters critically, especially in research teams, to avoid harm and misinterpretations when working with underrepresented groups.
-
•
Design teams benefit from diverse professional backgrounds like journalism and engineering, which enrich research and insight generation.
-
•
Emerging tech fields like Web3 present an opportunity to embed equitable design practices early, avoiding repeating past mistakes seen in Web2.
-
•
Feeling discomfort or skepticism towards standard design methodologies is a healthy sign prompting critical reflection and potential innovation.
Notable Quotes
"How might we has become like a church—untouchable and sanctimonious instead of a flexible tool."
"You have to ask who the 'we' is in the room, because often the communities you're designing for aren't represented or understood there."
"It's not about going out to communities but changing your team and leadership to genuinely reflect those communities."
"Companies parachuting in to 'study' marginalized groups often do more harm than good when they don't build local capacity."
"Building trust across functions means simple acts like scheduling lunch or coffee meetings with no agenda."
"Values conversation is less threatening when framed as wanting to understand why we're doing this project or why we're here."
"Designers are the most insecure function in many companies because their role—to represent people's needs—is both critical and ambiguous."
"Representation is key to avoiding harm and misinterpretation, especially when working with Indigenous and marginalized communities."
"Web3 offers a unique chance to get involved early before some of the ethical challenges of Web2 take root."
"Make a note when something about your design process doesn't feel right—discomfort is a guide to curiosity and improvement."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Inviting other teams into research sessions lets us triangulate findings by combining interviews, observations, and focus groups."
Joanna Vodopivec Prabhas PokharelOne Research Team for All - Influence Without Authority
March 9, 2022
"Onboarding often felt like trial by fire—go to the meeting and hope you understand something."
Louis Rosenfeld Lashanda Hodge Senongo Akpem Chris HodowanecBecoming a Civic Designer: Making the Move from Private to Public Sector
November 17, 2022
"Lauren Cantor is our house librarian and has made an outstanding contribution to the conference."
Bria AlexanderDay 3 Welcome
September 25, 2024
"Lauren Cantor is a heavy hitter gathering all the really good resources and putting them together."
Uday Gajendar Louis RosenfeldDay 2 Welcome
June 5, 2024
"More ways to contact support—chat, email, phone—are essential because different disabilities require different options."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
June 7, 2023
"Buddy systems create leadership opportunities and a support network without changing org charts."
Russ UngerOnboarding: The Ecosystem, not the Afterthought
November 7, 2017
"Every person on your team matters. Find actionable ways to include and share findings with anyone who will listen."
Catherine DubutBridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design
March 18, 2021
"Agents set goals, plan steps, execute them, and decide when they’re done, often without user attention."
Josh Clark Veronika KindredSentient Design: New Postures for AI-Mediated Experiences (2nd of 3 seminars)
January 29, 2025
"If you don’t have those challenges, it’s a lot easier to make it in the corporate world."
Dantley DavisLeadership & Diversity—A Fireside Chat with Dantley Davis
September 17, 2020