Formulate a Problem Statement

Transform the research findings into questions for ideation

A Problem Statement formed as a “How Might We” question helps to transform challenges into opportunities, setting the stage for creative brainstorming in the Design Phase. By creating ‘How Might We’ questions based on research findings, you’ll focus your ideas on the user needs and motivations.

GOAL

Problem Statements help focus the problem into a statement of opportunity.

PARTICIPANTS

Designers, Business Leads

TIME NEEDED

15 - 30 Minutes

PHASE

Discover

Before You Start

Map the User Experience Journey
You can understand current challenges and motivations for the user over time to derive insights about the use case, with the following method:

Map the User Experience Journey

Materials You Will Need

Resources for Download

Download All Resources

Templates for Virtual Collaboration

(Registration to MURAL is required)

Steps

Creating the problem statements includes several steps. We recommend completing them in one session.
  • 5 - 10 minutes

Start a Team Discussion

  • What have you learned about the user and their current journey?
  • What was most interesting, inspiring and surprising? Why?
  • Articulate the insights, the most important user needs, limitations and conditions of success.

Prior to this exercise, the team must have developed a common understanding about the user as well as the user’s needs, motivations, limitations and/or criteria of success.

  • 10 - 20 minutes

Create “How Might We” Questions

Start phrasing 3 – 5 “How Might We” questions by formulating the results from Part 1 into questions. These questions are the basis for a first round of idea generation.

See Completed Example

You're Done!

Use the problem statements as basis for the first ideations.