Design Thinking in UX: A Non-Linear Journey I Keep Coming Back To

When I first started learning about Design Thinking, I imagined it as a clean, five-step process that I'd follow like a checklist: Empathize → Define → Ideate → Prototype → Test. Simple enough, right?

But as I grew through actual UX projects, I realized something essential: design is anything but linear.

This image perfectly captures the reality I’ve come to know — Design Thinking is a loop, not a line. Each stage constantly feeds the next and often sends me right back to where I started. Let me walk you through how I apply this framework in my work as a UX designer:

1. Empathize

Every project I begin starts with listening and seeking feedback from stakeholders. I try to deeply understand the user's world and also de business objectives — what they need, feel, and struggle with. This is where I immerse myself in user interviews, observations, or even just analyzing behavior patterns.

Sometimes, what I learn here immediately reshapes the problem I thought I was solving.

2. Define

Once I gather insights, I move into defining the core problem. But here's the catch: defining is rarely final. As I move forward, I often circle back here with fresh perspectives. The problem becomes clearer—or sometimes even changes entirely—as I test and learn more.

3. Ideate

This is where the fun begins. I explore possible solutions, sometimes alone, sometimes in teams. No idea is too wild. But the truth? Some of the best ideas emerge after testing early assumptions, not before. So this stage doesn’t just happen once. I revisit it constantly.

4. Prototype

Prototyping lets me bring ideas to life, fast and scrappy. These models aren't perfect; they're meant to spark reactions and conversations. Often, a prototype fails beautifully. That’s a good thing. Because each failure reveals a new direction.

5. Test

Testing is never about proving a design is right. It’s about learning. Every test opens up new questions, and often leads me to tweak the prototype, rethink the idea, or even reframe the entire problem. That’s when I loop back.

The Loop That Drives Innovation

What I love most about this approach is how flexible and human it is. Real people don’t fit neatly into boxes, and neither should our design process. This framework gives me permission to stay curious, to embrace iteration, and to never settle for assumptions.

Design Thinking reminds me that good UX is not just about solving problems—it’s about discovering the right problems to solve. Again and again.