d.school Micro-Cycle
Stanford d.school micro-cycle: Understand/Observe (fan) -> Define POV (waist) -> Ideate (fan + prototype) -> Prototype & Test (waist).
Human-centered design when you want empathy-first divergence and rapid prototype testing.
Stages
01
Understand & Observe
Build empathy: observe and surface user needs, contexts and frictions broadly.
FormatsCouncilsNotesOpen questions
02
Define POV
Consolidate observations into a single Point-of-View statement (user + need + insight).
FormatsCouncilsReportsOpen questions
03
Ideate
Generate many diverse solution concepts; build a prototype for the most promising.
FormatsCouncilsPrototypesNotes
04
Prototype & Test
Personas use the prototype; gather feedback and converge to refined requirements.
FormatsSessionsReportsDecisions