The reward of not knowing it all

In the middle of a lot of theoretical and overwhelming courses I felt that in DT4SI was where I could challenge myself to think with the other side of my brain and push my creative side that had been asleep for long.

This class was a pleasant surprise and transformed me in many ways. When I applied, I did not know what design thinking was, and I now leave with a greater perspective and the desire to deepen the knowledge of design in different areas of my life.

The topic we worked on — Brain waste — felt urgent and real from the start. But what had a bigger impact for me were the moments where we applied the design thinking blueprint into a way of genuinely connecting with people.

The interviews with the Lisbon Project consultants were, for me, the most meaningful and inspiring part of the process. Hearing firsthand their experiences changed my perception and some assumptions I had about migrants in Lisbon. The constraints, labels and barriers in the job market that were described in the interviews reframed the entire problem for our team. It was a reminder that behind every systemic issue there are real people with stories that statistics alone can’t perceive.

The semester group project opened my eyes about the way I work and communicate my ideas. I realized I take some time to feel confident in my own thoughts to share them, but that insecurity can disappear as I start to take the lead and speak my mind. I learned throughout the course with the help of activities done in class that there is no right or wrong when it comes to brainstorming. There is no need to have it all figured it out when creating or developing an idea, you can hunch and build from that. From further on, I will definitely apply more “Yes and…” rather than “Yes, but…” and be more enthusiastic about the uncertainty of designing.

Prototyping was one of my favorite parts of the process, because that was when the idea started to get a clearer shape, through the testing of our assumptions. Also, it was the first time we got outside of the class feedback. It taught me to stay humble about my own hypotheses and that at this stage of the project things can change and there is always time to reframe or take a step back.

Finally, the exhibition brought everything full circle. Presenting what we worked on during the semester and seeing it land as something purposeful and interesting for the future of Nova was really rewarding. The validation of the project and sharing what we had developed was truly liberating and I will never forget it.

This class reminded me that pushing through despite not knowing all the answers will always pay off in the end. We should challenge us more to create as we go and that’s something I will take as advice for the rest of my life.