Human-centered design thinking is a collaborative approach that uses design methods like ethnography and interviews to understand people's needs, behaviors, and experiences in order to develop solutions that improve their lives. It starts by asking "why" to understand people's values and uncover unmet needs. Researchers observe people's actual behaviors rather than just asking them what they want to gain a deeper understanding. They ask open-ended "How might we..." questions to generate innovative solutions without limiting ideas. What people say they do often differs from what they actually do, so observational research provides new insights into unconscious behaviors shaped by context.
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