Design Thinking in Sightline

Design Thinking is non-linear process, the goal of which is to arrive at the best outcome, given a particular problem or set of challenges, while being mindful of time, cost and complexity. The first stage of the process is to develop an empathetic understanding of the problem. This involves reaching out to legal practitioners and learning more about their concerns by observing and engaging with them.

The definition stage consists of ana-lyzing observations to establish features, functions and other elements that will solve problems.

During the ideation stage, the product teams start generating ideas. Often the result is a statement of the problem and ideas about solving it. In the prototype phase, the ideas are tested with scaled-down versions of products or features. The goal is to identify the best solution for each problem that was identified during the first three stages.

At the testing stage, the complete product is tested using the best solutions identified in the earlier stages. Refinements are still made during this stage, at or after the release of a solution. It is crucial to foster an environment where many ideas can surface — a meritocracy of ideas and execution.

Sightline, an e-discovery platform, was created using the Design Thinking process, which continues to be used as Sightline is refined and improved through interaction with users. Innovating without an approach informed by users is a strategy operating in a vacuum, devoid of the real-world impacts and outcomes.