Using Design Thinking to Plan Your Life (Huang Yueyong) – EJ Tech

This articleauthorHuang YueyongHe is an associate professor and senior consultant (entrepreneurship) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and writes a column for the Hong Kong Economic Journal titled “Kemeijin“.

Jiang Minhui, who won the gold medal in the women’s epee at the Paris Olympics after overcoming injuries, has greatly inspired Hong Kong people. Her performance in winning the game after falling behind 1:7 was outstanding, and her words to reporters after the game: “I finally didn’t lose! I lost every time, but I finally won.” I believe that many Hong Kong people were deeply touched.

Today’s world is full of uncertainty. The political and economic changes and technological developments that change every day have brought unprecedented challenges and pressures to young people. When the DSE (Diploma of Secondary Education) results were released earlier, one of the author’s counseling cases was a female student who had a full career plan, was confident and hardworking. She had been working towards her goal for many years, but at the last minute, things did not go as planned. At this time, most people would suggest “check the test paper”, but apart from appealing to review the test results, is there anything else you can do?

Although the life path she imagined went wrong, it was unexpected, but this female student calmly re-examined her situation. After considering her core values ​​and future life goals, she discovered new possibilities. Finally, with the support of her family and friends, she set new goals and actively explored the requirements and ways to achieve her ideals, just like those who intend to start a business, turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

I still remember that in the past, when DSE results were released, there were selections for the “most popular subject” or “best career subject”, but with social changes and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), no one knows whether the “most popular” today is equivalent to the “most popular” in the future. When people face some uncertainties and feel a lot of pressure, it is crucial to cultivate stress resistance, self-reflection and adaptability. Design thinking, which emphasizes people-oriented and solution-seeking, provides a powerful framework to help us deal with complex problems in life and design the most suitable future.

This self-future design framework is not complicated. In simple terms, it is about knowing yourself, reflecting on your preferences, strengths and weaknesses. After a deep understanding, explore opportunities based on personal interests and combine them with feasible career paths. Finally, make choices and commitments, set short-term and long-term goals, ensure that you are on the right path, and make your life more fulfilling and motivated.

“Design thinking” is not a new concept. I am currently planning a new project that combines design thinking with AI, using generative AI to assist people in overcoming difficulties in life. In addition to being a companion, AI “friends/partners” can also help people reflect and introspect, quickly explore career options and learning opportunities, and provide honest opinions and a safe space, so that young people can see future development and cope with challenges more confidently and clearly.

Setbacks are inevitable in life. Even Jiang Minhui, who won the Olympic gold medal and became the world’s number one, did not have a smooth journey in fencing. Some viewers found that she mentioned “losing” more often than “winning” in the interview. Feeling nervous and stressed about the game is because of “fear of losing”, so you need to adjust your mentality. Life is your own. When we make choices and face them bravely, and “try our best”, what is there to be nervous and afraid of?

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