What role does empathy play in the discover stage of the design-thinking process?

Businesses can adopt several strategies from Apple's use of the design-thinking process. Firstly, they can focus on empathy, understanding their customers' needs and wants deeply. Secondly, they can prioritize usability, ensuring their products are user-friendly and easy to understand. Thirdly, they can strive to create products that not only meet a need but are also desirable and loved by their users. Lastly, they can be innovative, constantly seeking to redesign and improve their products, much like Apple's Project Titan.

Apple's Project Titan embodies the principles of the design-thinking framework by focusing on the user's needs and experiences. The project aims to redesign the car as a hands-free device, eliminating the need for a wheel or pedal. This innovation is driven by empathy for the end-user, a key principle of design thinking. The goal is to create a product that is not only functional and efficient but also enjoyable and desirable for the user. This approach aligns with Steve Jobs' vision of creating personal tools for individuals that are easy to understand, meet a specific need, and are aesthetically pleasing.