Design Thinking in Action: SoftServe’s Five-step Framework
Traditional problem-solving methods often can’t keep up with rapidly changing technology and growing user expectations. As a result, they fall short for organizations facing complex challenges, such as building AI-driven solutions or modernizing enterprise IT systems.
Design Thinking offers a different approach. Rooted in architecture and industrial design, it has grown into a flexible methodology that helps teams tackle problems creatively, collaboratively, and with a focus on real human needs.
Team members progress through these modes of working over the course of a project, sometimes shifting back and forth nonlinearly depending on the immediate needs. The framework is primarily a guideline to aid teams to structure their own approach based on best practices. To make the steps more memorable, we symbolize each one using a simple shape.
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking is a human-centered methodology for solving complex problems. It emphasizes understanding people’s needs, encouraging collaboration across disciplines, and testing ideas quickly through prototyping.
The core principles are:
- Empathy for end users
- Collaboration across functions
- Iteration through testing and refining
- Focus on creating practical solutions
SoftServe’s Five-step Framework
We’ve distilled Design Thinking into five modes of working: Learn, Interpret, Ideate, Experiment, and Evolve. These steps are not always linear. Teams may move back and forth depending on project needs. Each step is symbolized by a simple shape to make it easy to remember.

1. Learn (Triangle – exploration)
The Learn mode is about gathering knowledge. Symbolized by an expanding triangle, like a beam of light, it represents searching broadly for information.
- Purpose: Understand the problem space and its context.
- Activities: Research, interviews, observation, and exploration from different perspectives (design, solutions, engineering).
- Outcome: A collection of raw data and insights that will later guide decision-making.
2. Interpret (Square – structure)
The Interpret mode turns raw information into understanding. Represented by a square, this step draws boundaries and decides what matters most.
- Purpose: Synthesize research findings and define the challenge clearly.
- Activities: Reviewing transcripts, analyzing photos or notes, clustering patterns, highlighting themes.
- Outcome: A well-defined point of view that frames the problem and sets direction for ideation.
3. Ideate (Arrow – creativity in motion)
Ideation is where creativity takes center stage. Symbolized by a forward-facing arrow, it represents momentum toward solutions.
- Purpose: Generate innovative ideas that address the defined problem.
- Activities: Brainstorming, brainwriting, sketching solutions, mapping future journeys.
- Outcome: A range of possible solutions that are ready to be tested.
At SoftServe, we actively involve stakeholders and end users during ideation. Their input grounds creativity in real-world needs and ensures ideas remain relevant.
4. Experiment (Circle – iterative cycle)
Experimentation is about testing ideas quickly. The circle symbolizes the ongoing cycle of prototyping and validation.
- Purpose: Reduce risk early by validating assumptions.
- Activities: Building simple prototypes, running user tests, gathering feedback, and refining designs.
- Outcome: Lessons learned and a clearer direction for development, while avoiding wasted time and resources.
By testing early and often, teams uncover flaws before investing heavily, turning mistakes into learning opportunities.
5. Evolve (Hexagon – maturity)
The Evolve mode moves concepts into real-world solutions. Represented by a hexagon, it suggests complexity and strength built from earlier cycles.
- Purpose: Scale validated ideas into working solutions.
- Activities: Eliciting requirements, integrating design artifacts into agile development, and continuing to test while building.
- Outcome: A user-centered solution that delivers tangible value to both users and the organization.
Why this framework works
Our framework balances creativity with structure. It helps teams:
- Stay focused on real user needs
- Collaborate across disciplines effectively
- Reduce project risk through early validation
- Adapt flexibly by moving between steps as needed
Conclusion
Design Thinking celebrates ingenuity and progress. At SoftServe, we’ve adapted its guiding principles into a framework that supports complex, high-stakes software development. The five modes — Learn, Interpret, Ideate, Experiment, and Evolve — offer a practical structure for navigating challenges and creating solutions that matter.
With experience in software engineering, user experience, and enterprise systems, we help organizations apply Design Thinking in a way that works. If you want to see how it can work for your project, get in touch with us.
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