8 Strategies for Critical Thinking Skills for Futuristic Designers

Why it is very essential for a designer to develop the critical thinking skills. It's a very important topic. Lot of people take it very granted and people who are really aware they don't know how exactly to do it. If you are in that zone, if you wanted to become more clear in decision making without biases and without being judgmental on the one side, being a designer, this is very important. If you are in that zone, this podcast is exactly for you. Take a lot of notes. Let's jump into this podcast. Welcome to this Design for Change podcast. And with this podcast we are really redefining how a designer can really learn things faster and move ahead in the learning curve and contribute well ahead for the society for the design industry where they're working and even equip themselves as well. Okay, so Design for Change is really attracting lot many countries. More than 15 country designers are really listening to our podcast and lot of impressions is happening and we are into Apple Podcast and Amazon podcast and Google Podcast now. So if you, if you are using Apple devices, you can definitely go and reach out and you can even rate me at there and you have a comment section in Apple Podcast. It's a premium one right now. It's free, but it might be little bit subscription later because there has been overwhelming response. So I, I'm really happy that a lot of people are getting this for free of cost because they can enjoy this benefit. If you would have listened to all of my podcast earlier, you know what a complete design, comprehensive understanding of what needs to be done when you're starting up as a designer. Okay. So that's why Design for Change is liked by a lot of people and people are really getting a lot of benefit out of it. People are also telling me that this kind of pain points needs to be addressed and more than 22 pain points have been addressed in the last 30 to 40 podcast, I believe episodes. So I wanted to make it very simple so that people can take action. And it's a point oriented podcast and that's how people can able to even implement it easily, understand, digest and implement it. Being a designer and a teacher, I have to make sure that happens. Okay, so this is why this podcast is there. And today we are discussing an important topic which is called critical thinking. Right? So people are very much biased in terms of thinking. What does mean by critical thinking and how do we really implement it? Are we really not biased in decision making? Because if you are a designer a lot of times there is a time which you will have to choose between concepts so or designs or colors or any kind of decision making, which is normal compared to any other field. Right? So that's why you need to wear a. We should not wear any hat. Like let's say if you are a. If you wanted to serve for the poor people, if you wanted to justify the rich people, if you wanted to really serve the government, if you want to satisfy your boss. So there are different, different cap one can wear. Right? Different. Different hat one can wear. How do you really stand that neutrality? How do you really understand what is required? And how do you really bring that new perspective into your design? That's why this kind of podcast I'm recording. Okay, so take a lot of notes. The very first point which we will be discussing is what is critical thinking? We need to get that right. So when it comes to critical thinking, it's an ability to objectively analyze and evaluate some information. If somebody makes an argument or some situation, if you're encountering, you need to objectively analyze it. It involves some skill of like going into that particular situation, examining it, asking some questions without any assumptions, identifying which is the biases and considering some different perspective and properly make a reasoning statement, then make a well informed decision. You know what, it's a very essential skill for a designer for particularly taking decision problem solving. And it's a lifelong learning skill. Guys, it's not a joke. You need to get that. Okay, so let me tell you, what are all the attributes of a proper critical thinker in a design field? Okay, so there are what you call eight points, which I'm telling you the first skill is asking right questions. Right? First ask questions. Let it be not right or wrong being a designer. If you're a fresher, it's good to first start asking question. Okay, so critical thinkers really ask lot of questions to understand the issue better and really challenge some biases. Like let's say if everybody's saying hey, electric vehicles are good, electric vehicles are good. Instead of that, ask why it is really good on what way you are comparing for the fossil fuel, it's good. Maybe on the flip side you can find like charging electric vehicle could be even more harmful or maybe even more carbon dioxide emission is coming. We don't know. I'm just telling you for example, but until unless you ask questions and find out, you can't take a decision. So very first quality. The second attribute is constructing and evaluating arguments. See, you need to be a critical thinker. Critical thinker can construct and identify and evaluate arguments definitely to convince others and improve their presentation. And debating skills. See, every time you have to build on top of others perspective, right? It's not about you argue and then you demean somebody and then you knock off them. We are not doing a. What do you call? It's not like a Arnab Goswami. We debate and we shout. That's not the. That's a different context. I'm not saying it's. I mean, I'm not saying it's bad for that context. It really works well. But being a design thinker and critical thinker for taking a decision which can impact thousands of people, this is a very important skill of constructive argument, right? This is the second attribute. The third important attribute is creative thinking. Definitely guys, if you are a creative thinker, you need to find that patterns then and only you can find a real creativity in that. Right? See, this is a very good skill of a critical thinker because finding that pattern and establishing the connections, you know what which normally no people sees it normally no people really observes that. That is what you have to be very keen on. This is called uncommon thinking. Normal people don't do it. Okay, so very important attribute. So the next attribute is detecting inconsistencies in reasoning. See, this is very important. Creative thinkers really identify that inconsistencies and errors. If somebody is reasoning out or maybe if they are reading an article or a journal or a speech written by somebody, you will be having a potential to reason it out. The inconsistencies and errors, what's happening? Because people, when they are very true and honest, they make the consistent statements. They will not change like even after five years. A lot of political people really promise and they deliver. But a lot of people don't deliver that there is an inconsistency. So how do you understand that Biases. Detecting that particular pattern is very important. Being a critical designer. Okay, this is the fourth aspect of it. The fifth important element is making informed decisions. See, everything what we are doing, the critical thinkers really make an informed decisions based on the fact, based on the evidence. And the reason being rather than becoming very emotional or your opinion sided way, you need to be really rational in that that is the big important thing is whatever we understood so far about the critical thinking, it all comes to decision making. If you're not able to make an informed decision, everything what you're making will not be a solid proof because you are not building on top of evidence or a proof or a data. Right? So this is a fifth important aspect. The sixth important attribute is reading for understanding using text coding. Like let's say if you're a critical thinker, you need to read a lot of text and understand and think. And if you're reading, if you're, if you're, if you're understanding a journal, let's say if it's a scientific journal or a article, if you're reading for your research, for your primary research or secondary research, whatever you're doing, you know what, if you're not able to understand that through that, what happens is you will not see the reality in it. People would have, let's say, published a journal. Maybe that journal is saying like let's say a lot of people are dying because of this problem and this is the only solution for that. Maybe the solution, what they're referring to in that journal is a product. Maybe that particular company who manufactures that product would have funded that research. So the chances are highly it could be biased. So I'm not saying you have to take a decision that is always biased. You need to go and understand the facts and really justify. If the numbers, what they produce is true, then fine, we can trust that company. If it is not, then obviously we'll have to question everything. So that is why reading that for understanding and finding out the rational is important. Okay, this is the sixth important attribute. The seventh important attribute is solving problems systematically. See, lot of people emotionally solve a problem, but critical thinkers really do it in a systematic way because they know this is the way to do it. You have to hear out both the sides before coming to a conclusion. And the last important element is understanding the links between ideas. See, this is the most important thing, guys. Understanding the logical connection between the ideas which will make you really unique. The then and only, you are becoming a proper leader and a potential contributor for your ideas. If you're able to do this. Eight elements, guys. Being a critical thinker, let me tell you, you're going to nail this show. The first is asking questions. Second is constructively evaluating your arguments. Third is being a creative thinker, finding out the patterns. Fourth is detecting inconsistencies in reasoning. Fifth is making informed decision. Six is reading for understanding that clarity. And seventh is solving problems systematically. And eighth is understanding the link between different, different, different elements, right? So if you are able to follow this methodology, let me tell you, you will have a much more clearer thinking compared to any other people. This is what is a real, real attribute, guys. Let me tell you a real time example. If somebody says like let's say a lot of sustainability is happening and a lot of sustainable problems are happening and the sea is getting polluted or the environmental is getting polluted. Do not just understand just because we have learned from the childhood or this that. And I'll go and really find out what is the real point, why they are saying it. Is this verified by an environmentalist? Is it verified by proper data and numbers? Is it taken at this context? What kind of a people they ask this information and why is this really coming into this picture in this year in this context? Because lot of time history is also important. Whenever you're talking about a topic like this, lot of times it will not make much sense. When a pressing issue happens at that point of time, people will talk about lot of sustainability because at that point of time it will be very useful. So you need to get both the time and period in it. History, past, present, future. Because people really favor their side. People favor their side because of that kind of a reason why they wanted to really take a decision at that point of time. A lot of times because of emergencies, people take a decision. Other times they will be very calm, right? So see this guys, how it is very important why people take a decision during that crucial time. Let's say if it's pandemic, people will be forced to take a decision because they have to find a vaccine or something, right? So understand this fact. This is why critical thinking ability is very, very important. Balancing out a creativity and functionality is very important. Guys, you have to be resistant for change. Change. Lot of times you will be pulled away. You will be given a lot of challenges and you will be finding out lot many things. But if you are able to balance that and take a rational decision, definitely you are developing that critical thinking attribute. See, I will tell you one, one more example. Okay, I'll give you an activity also with this example you can find out that. So there is an author who is saying in the. In the scientific journal. Our study adds a growing body of evidence suggesting that coffee consumption might be inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Okay, they're saying having a lot of coffee will have a lot of problem in their heart, which is cardiovascular system. There is another statement I'll do further research is warranted that confirm our findings and establish the biological basis of coffee's potential preventing effects on corona artery disease. So what you can infer from this, I'll start giving you a perspective. But you can take an activity to do. I'll tell you why it is important to do an activity. Hey Jagdish, you're just talking about a podcast. It's fine, but how do I really learn this and put it in forward because I'll tell you why it is important to do this activity the moment. If you take this a small challenge and do an activity, what will happen is you'll try to think both sides of this problem. Coffee beans, cardiovascular problem, why it is important. See this statement, whether it is conclusion is really justified. Is this statement really reasonable based on the study results? They are saying some study result, but what result? Who funded what are the good points and limitations of the study? Unlikely. We can't comment without a proper study, further research. They're saying it can be always true or it can be an insightful. Do the author really suggest some specific study for it? There is another statement also. Coffee really prevents clogged arteries, right? This is is something which is very. What do you call? Which is a little contrary, right? So people who drink three to five times a coffee a day are less likely to develop clogged arteries that could lead to heart attacks, a study has shown, which is completely a contrary statement. So. So that's why guys, we should not jump into sites. Understand whether it's really understood, whether it's really scientifically proven. Is coffee and the ingredients is chemically proven, which is really making injurious health to the people. Or is the cardiovascular industry telling that this is bad and if it has happened, maybe you can get a cardiovascular treatment at this cost of time, this cost or this benefit. Lot of hospitals will also push, lot of businesses will also push. But what is reality? Being aware and understanding the data and fact is the reality. Not siding with the business or not siding with the doctor and everything you need to really understand taking coffee, what it has, what is the real problem, what is the real potential it has, what are the ingredients, how it is harmful or not harmful for our body. If you are able to find out that information, then and only you can find a proper neutrality, guys, that is why it is very important. Maybe they have chosen different country people for testing it. Maybe they have chosen different age group people. Maybe if they have chosen gender, women and men popularity in a different way, population in a different way. So how do they really conclude this information? This kind of a question should be asked being a designer, guys, I'll tell you, if you ask this kind of a question, analyze and evaluate asking questions, recognizing the bias, considering the alternate perspective, Definitely I'm telling you, you will really find a proper neutrality. Then and only as a designer you can add value to take the decision. I hope this particular podcast would have given you some clarity on what is critical thinking and how it's important. Okay, so go and implement this particular challenge and if you are encountering this kind of situations in your office or your design projects, or if you are a fresher working in some project, please add a heading Critical Thinking Ability. How you are able to change this project tide using your critical thinking skill. If you add that perspective, people will really make a very differentiating factor for you. You're not just solving a problem, you're just understanding the holistic nature thinking of safety, health, environment and others also. Then and only you'll draw a parallel line. Okay, thank you so much guys and if you find this podcast useful, give me your best rating in Apple and Spotify. If you need my mentorship support in helping you get 2x and 3x growth in your UI, UX and product design, please hit a email. I'll be more than happy to help you and that's given in the podcast description dfc designforchangemail.com and there is a very good happy news also. One of my students, she got 7.2 LPA salary and she's been not having a problem design education before. Or maybe she's not having a proper design school education. She took my mentorship and she's getting a results. Okay, so it's a very good happy news also which I want to share and if you need this kind of a results to enhance you further, please take my mentorship. I would highly, highly suggest you because without taking action you can't do anything. Hearing podcast is fine, but if you take action and if you need an accountability, this program is going to help you a lot. Okay, thank you so much guys. Take care. All the best. That.