During which stage do designers articulate the problem they are trying to solve?

The stage in which designers articulate the problem they are trying to solve is the Define stage. During this phase, designers analyze the insights gathered in the previous Empathize stage to clarify and frame the problem statement effectively. This process is essential because it shapes the direction for generating ideas, designing solutions, and determining the design criteria.

In the Define stage, designers synthesize their findings from user research and observations, leading to a clearer understanding of user needs and pain points. This articulation of the problem sets the foundation for the subsequent stages in the design process, ensuring that all efforts align with addressing the identified user needs.

Other stages serve different purposes; for instance, the Empathize stage focuses on gathering qualitative insights about the users and their experiences, while the Ideate stage concentrates on brainstorming and generating potential solutions to the articulated problem. The Prototype stage involves creating tangible representations of concepts, which would be meaningless without a well-defined problem to address.