Final answer:
In design thinking, empathizing with users helps prevent team member bias from affecting problem understanding and helps discover the real problem to be solved, providing a user-centric approach to design solutions. (option A & B)
Step-by-step explanation:
Empathizing with users is a crucial phase in design thinking, serving two main purposes. Firstly, by empathizing, teams can prevent team member bias from distorting their understanding of the problem and its potential solutions. Human biases, conscious or unconscious, can cloud judgment and hinder effective problem-solving. Recognizing and mitigating these biases through empathetic engagement with users ensures a more objective and accurate assessment of the situation.
Secondly, empathizing helps teams uncover the real problem to be solved. Users may not always articulate their needs explicitly or may not be aware of underlying issues. Through empathetic interaction, designers can delve deeper into users' experiences, emotions, and challenges, revealing insights that go beyond surface-level observations. This deeper understanding allows teams to address the root cause of the problem, leading to more innovative and effective solutions.
Empathizing with users in design thinking is essential for fostering unbiased perspectives within the team and uncovering the genuine issues that need solving, ultimately contributing to the development of human-centered and impactful solutions.