Critical Thinking Archive

How to Conduct Online Brainstorming

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 08/15/202210/09/2022Online Brainstorming 19 min read

Brainstorming allows teams to explore ideas and analyse information in a creative, collaborative environment. During the pandemic lockdown, online brainstorming solved the problem that teams had to work remotely and

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How to Use the Decision Matrix to Make Decisions?

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 05/29/202210/09/2022Decision Matrix 8 min read

Making the right decision is the biggest challenge that designers, managers, and innovators face, especially when there can be more than one possible choice to select from and multiple factors

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How to Apply Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 03/17/202210/09/2022Critical Thinking 8 min read

The critical thinking framework provides an efficient method for designers, design students, and researchers to evaluate arguments and ideas through rational reasoning. As a result, we eliminate biases, distractions, and similar factors

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30+ Distance Learning Tools And Advices for Design Educators

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 03/16/202010/09/2022Distance Learning, Online Learning 15 min read

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many educational institutions have recommended their students to switch to distance learning or online learning to reduce the chances to get infected and

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The Role of Storytelling in the Design Process

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 09/24/201810/09/2022Design Process, storytelling 6 min read

Storytelling is in the heart of our DNA as a human being, it helps us connect events is a holistic experience through time. This unique nature of stories makes it

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How to Apply Root Cause Analysis Using 5 Whys

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 08/02/201810/09/20225 whys, Root Cause Analysis 5 min read

The root cause analysis aims to dig deep into a particular problem to identify the primary cause behind it. One of the most significant challenges that face us when trying

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How to Apply the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis in Design

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 10/26/201710/09/2022Failure Mode and Effects Analysis 6 min read

Out worst fear in design is to end up with a failed product. At this particular moment, we pause and wonder; if we would know this will going to happen,

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How to Create the System Thinking Diagrams

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 07/20/201710/09/2022Feedback Loops, System Thinking, System Thinking Diagrams 6 min read

Complex systems can’t be seen as individual parts. We need a broader perspective to see the whole pattern that causes the problem as many factors as affecting both the current

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Critical Thinking as a Catalyst of Change in Design

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 05/29/201710/09/2022Critical Thinking 4 min read

In almost every design project, we find ourselves trapped in a number of mindset obstacles that stands between us and building an innovative outcome. These barriers include presumptions, biased ideas,

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Creative Problem Solving: How to Turn Challenges into Opportunities

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 05/18/201710/09/2022Creative Problem Solving 6 min read

What if we can turn problems faced in projects into opportunities? There are various examples show that understanding the problem and provide a creative solution for it can lead to

Critical Thinking Problem Solving

Five Skills to Improve Your Strategic Thinking

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 11/02/201610/09/2022Strategic Thinking 7 min read

The ability to take strategic decisions can lead the organization to achieve business success as firms can’t preserve its existence without a strategy that maintains its long-term growth. Having the

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How to Use Task Analysis Grid in Service Design

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 10/24/201610/09/2022service design, task analysis grid 6 min read

Designers usually find themselves stuck in the communication with the other stakeholders in the project in order to understand the project challenges that need to be addressed. While they communicate

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Guide for Critical Thinking for Designers

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 10/18/201610/09/2022Critical Thinking 6 min read

In every single day in our life, we are faced with a number of choices to make, problems to solve, and ideas to evaluate or analyze. However, these activities are

Critical Thinking Design Management

10 Productivity Tips for Designers

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 09/19/201610/09/2022Productivity Tips 7 min read

Many designers complain about a large number of tasks they have every day comparing with the time required to achieve it. If you are a freelance designer, the problem becomes,

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What Does the Systems Thinking Teach us About the Problems of Problem-Solving Practice

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 09/12/201610/09/2022Systems Thinking 8 min read

The systems thinking theory combines understanding how complex systems integrate with each other and solve complicated problems that involve multiple inputs outputs from these systems. The theory can also help

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What Designers Need to Learn Aside from Their Design Education

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 08/18/201610/09/2022design education 4 min read

In a conversation with one of my friends about the problems that designers face in their professional life, she highlighted that while designers may get good design-related skills during design

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Practice Guide to Solve Problems with TRIZ

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 08/16/201610/09/2022TRIZ 5 min read

Previously, we covered the TRIZ (Using the TRIZ Method for Creative Problem Solving) as one of the most effective methods to solve problems using innovative ideas. Unlike the other problem-solving

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How Design Thinking Approaches Problems

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 06/23/201610/09/2022Design Thinking 7 min read

Design thinking is widely known as a strategy to successfully address complex problems and build products that address consumers’ needs. Many word-leading design companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, IKEA, Lego

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Time Management Tips for Designers: The Action Priority Matrix

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 06/14/201610/09/2022Time Management 4 min read

Unlike regular jobs, designers are required to handle various of tasks on different levels. This challenge increases when working as a freelancer or working in your own start-up. The majority

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Decision Trees: Eliminating Uncertainty in the Decision-Making Process

Dr Rafiq Elmansy 06/03/201610/09/2022Decision Trees 5 min read

Every day, designers are faced with decision-making challenges on different levels of their careers. In many of these situations, uncertainty dominates the choices, especially when it comes to evaluating new