Frustrated with complex design problems? Create a hypothesis
Define all aspects of a design problem to make it easier to solve
Design isn’t always easy. Sometimes, you’re asked to design with incomplete information, vague requirements, or complex subject matters.
If you’re having trouble understanding the problem, the design requirements, or the basic aspects of a particular project, creating a hypothesis may help.
After all, if you’ve ever watched Netflix on your TV or game console, you’ve benefitted from a design hypothesis.
Design hypotheses, or how to break new ground
Back in 2010, Netflix had a problem. While Netflix.com was up and running, they wanted to expand Netflix to game consoles (and later Smart TVs).
As a result, they needed to develop a new interface for the PS3. However, this was the first time anyone had ever done this. They had no one else to reference, which was problematic because game consoles use different navigation than computers.
