The founding inspiration which led to the development of D-PREP was the life, principles and practices of King Rama IX.
King Rama IX was highly accomplished in many fields. King Rama IX was a musician known for his jazz composition and saxophone playing, a sportsman through his regatta-winning yachtsmanship, an engineer and inventor, particularly in the areas of agriculture.
As an engineer and an inventor, King Rama IX would be very familiar with design thinking. Design thinking is a process and method to think about a problem. It involves talking to the people about the problem they face. Finally taking action towards solving all or part of the problem.Â
During his Majesty’s life, the rural development projects he initiated have benefited millions of people across Thailand. Projects range from small-scale agriculture; sustainable water resource management, flood mitigation, and conservation efforts, to improved access to health care and education for the local population.
Design Thinking Process – Dream and Define
The first step in the design thinking process is the Dream stage. This stage requires you to think about the dreams and ideal world for those affected. This involves understanding their needs and asking questions. Throughout his reign, King Rama IX spent countless hours speaking to ordinary Thai people to understand the problems they face.
The next step is to Define. In the case of the past opioid problem in northern Thailand, where farmers were harvesting opium as it was financially good for them and their families. During the define stage, it is necessary to understand that the problem is not the opium harvest, but that farmers need to make and living and support their families.
In defining the problem that was to be solved, it was necessary to decide that the problem to solve was that farmers needed an alternative source of income. The problem was not defined by just prohibiting the farmers from producing opium.
Design Thinking Process – Discover and Develop
The third stage of the design thinking process is Discover. This stage looks at a wide range of possible solutions. This is undertaking research and experimenting with different ideas, that later couple becomes part of the solution.
Stage four is Develop. This stage builds on the Discover stage by developing ideas further by testing out all or parts of the solution. This may be looking at alternatives for the opium farmers to grow. Factors to consider in replacing the opium harvest would be a crop that will grow well in the region, consider the weather and other environmental conditions, and importantly would bring insufficient revenue to support the farmers and their families so they would no longer need to harvest opium.
Design Thinking Process – Deliver and Determine
The Deliver stage requires sharing your solution. This involves a demonstration of the solution, showing how it works, the benefits. Part of this Deliver stage may include training or coaching in the use of the solution. For example how to grow alternative crops, where to sell these crops.
The final stage is the Determine stage. Here we must assess the outcome of the solution. What we learnt during our participation in the project, and the skills that we can transfer and use in the future. This requires talking to the users of the solution. For example, the farmers, to understand whether the solution does allow them to have a good living and support their families. We would also get evidence here from the lack of opium harvests existing in Thailand today.
Design thinking is a successful approach to solving problems. This is because it focuses on user needs which are fundamental to a successful solution.
The great news is that you can apply and practice design thinking to any aspect of your life. It is therefore an effective framework for everyone to use to work like King Rama IX did to solve problems in our lives, our communities and throughout the world.
