What stage comes first in the design thinking process?

The design thinking process begins with the Empathize stage. This initial phase is crucial because it focuses on understanding the users and their needs through observation and engagement. By gaining deep insights into the experiences, motivations, and challenges faced by users, designers can identify the real problems that need to be addressed.

Entering the design thinking process without first empathizing would lead to solutions that may not effectively solve the users' real issues, as the designer would lack a clear understanding of the user’s context and experiences. This foundational step ensures that subsequent stages, such as defining the problem, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing, are rooted in a strong comprehension of the user's perspective, ultimately leading to more innovative and user-centered outcomes.