Double Diamond: From Understanding the Problem to Building the Solution
The Double Diamond is an important approach for strengthening product thinking in software teams. It helps teams make sure they are solving the right problem before they start building a product.
Today, artificial intelligence has made software development faster and easier than ever. However, being able to build software faster does not necessarily mean that we are creating a valuable product that users actually need or use. The real challenge is to first identify and understand the right and valuable problem, and then build an appropriate solution for it.
The Double Diamond consists of two diamonds and four main stages.
The First Diamond: Design the Right Thing
The first diamond focuses on building the right thing. In other words, we first need to identify the right and valuable problem to solve. This diamond consists of two stages: Discover and Define.
In the Discover stage, we take a divergent approach. Instead of quickly settling on a specific definition of the problem, we explore it from different perspectives. We collect evidence and data, interview users, and examine available information such as logs and user feedback.
Then, in the Define stage, we analyze and synthesize these findings to move from different pieces of evidence toward a clear, precise, and valuable problem definition.
The Second Diamond: Design Things Right
Once we have identified and defined the right problem, we move to the second diamond: building the thing correctly. This diamond consists of two stages: Develop and Deliver.
In the Develop stage, we again take a divergent approach. Instead of immediately choosing the first solution that comes to mind, we explore different ideas and alternatives to identify the most appropriate solution.
In the Deliver stage, once the solution has been selected, we focus on designing, implementing, testing, and delivering it.
Therefore, the Double Diamond consists of four main stages:
Discover – Explore and understand the problem
Define – Clearly define the problem
Develop – Explore and develop possible solutions
Deliver – Build and deliver the selected solution
One of the key messages of the Double Diamond is that we should not make decisions too early. We need to explore different options, both when understanding and defining the problem and when discovering potential solutions.
However, once the right problem and the appropriate solution have been selected, we should stay focused and move into execution.
Many companies and teams choose a specific solution before they have properly understood the problem. For example, they may decide that they must use a particular technology, platform, or approach. Instead, they should first understand what the actual problem is and then select a solution that fits that problem.
Ultimately, an important principle is:
Building an excellent solution for the wrong or unimportant problem is still a failure.
This principle is even more important in the age of AI, because software can now be produced much faster than before. The key question is therefore not only “How fast can we build?”, but also “Are we building the right thing, and are we building it right?”