Kruso Logo
Kontaktiere uns

Design thinking in 2025 and why human-centered innovation still drives real impact

In a digital landscape driven by automation, AI and ever-increasing complexity, one question remains central to how we work at Kruso: Are we solving the right problem? 

This question, so simple, yet so powerful, sits at the heart of design thinking, a methodology that has shaped human-centered innovation for over two decades. Originally popularized by IDEO, design thinking isn’t a trend or a workshop format. It’s a mindset. And in 2025, it’s more relevant than ever. 

What is design thinking?

  1. Empathize

    Understand users and their experiences.

  2. Define

    Frame the core problem based on insights.

  3. Ideate

    Explore a wide range of creative solutions.

  4. Prototype

    Create quick, low-fidelity models. 

  5. Test

    Gather feedback and refine the solution. 

“Design thinking relies on our ability to be intuitive, to recognize patterns, to construct ideas that have emotional meaning as well as functionality, to express ourselves in media other than words or symbols”

- Tim Brown, IDEO

Reframing the challenge

Too often, digital projects begin with the assumption that the problem is fully understood. But what if the issue lies not in execution, but in the framing? Design thinking helps us step back and ask: What’s the real need? Who is this for? Why does it matter? 

At Kruso, we embed these questions early, long before a single line of code is written. It’s how we approach everything from complex enterprise CMS migrations to composable commerce strategies. We begin with empathy, not assumptions. 

Beyond the post-it notes

Design thinking is sometimes dismissed as a collection of sticky notes and brainstorming sessions. But for us, it’s embedded in how we collaborate across disciplines. It’s visible in our early research sprints, in the way we co-create with clients, and in our iterative approach to testing and validation. 

As IDEO emphasizes in its archived Design Thinking blog, true mastery comes from practice, not process. It’s not about following a five-step diagram; it’s about building a culture that’s curious, courageous, and human-centered. 

Another example: when helping a B2B client adapt to new product passport regulations, we used rapid prototyping to test various compliance interfaces. This not only reduced risk, but aligned the legal, UX, and dev teams around a shared understanding of the solution early on. 

A tool for navigating complexity

Today’s digital challenges are “wicked” problems: multi-stakeholder, high-risk, and rapidly evolving. Whether we’re addressing accessibility across multisite platforms or helping B2B clients meet new regulatory demands like the Digital Product Passport, design thinking offers a structured yet flexible way to explore, align, and build with confidence. 

It works because it delivers clear, human-centered value: 

  • Reduces the risk of building the wrong solution 

  • Aligns cross-functional teams around user needs 

  • Improves usability and user satisfaction 

  • Supports innovation in fast-changing environments 

In short, it turns complexity into clarity, whether you're tackling a full-scale digital transformationUX design challenge, or user-driven innovation initiative.