Design thinking is a flexible, non-linear process. Unlike traditional methods, the five phases of design thinking – empathy, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing – don't need to follow a set sequence. They can happen simultaneously or in any order that suits your project.

In the early stages, avoid applying the entire process from start to finish for every problem. Instead, adapt the approach to fit your specific challenge. You might find that starting with testing sparks new ideas, or that jumping into ideation before fully defining the problem works best.

The key is to use design thinking in a way that's most effective for your situation. This flexible approach encourages creativity and innovation, allowing your team to explore solutions from different angles and at various stages.^[1]