Thank you to Tufts University Professor Linda Borghesani for inviting the HumanLogic team to speak as guest lecturers on February 26, 2026, for a capstone course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The course is titled “ENP-074: Project Study in Human Systems”.
Our one-hour presentation, titled “Problem discovery and scoping”, was delivered via Zoom and covered our work through our HumanLogic practice. Our talk included our thoughts and guidance on these topics related to discovery and scoping:
– The best products start with a problem that genuinely requires a solution
– Understand the problem space, context, and stakeholders’ needs before generating solutions
– A review and discussion of the phases of the Double Diamond design process model
– Strongly articulate the “why”: a strong problem statement identifies the target user, their need, and the compelling reason
– Scoping down the focus is key to developing a valuable product concept
Understand the problem you are solving
Our lecture outlined an important framework for successful product development, underscoring the principle that impactful solutions originate from clearly defined problems, not solutions in search of an application. We reviewed a structured, user-centered approach to product development and referenced the Double Diamond design process, which sequentially moves from divergent thinking to convergent action to narrow a broad problem area into a precise, solvable problem statement.
Our practice approach emphasizes rigorous scoping, which involves understanding target users, their constraints, and validating the value of the identified problem before solution candidates are developed and iteratively refined. We highlighted a product launch, with a case study of the Local Haze air quality app we have developed and released for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
In summary, our talk stressed that strong product development is an iterative, not linear, process guided by user-centered design. At the end of our talk we answered many thoughtful questions from students, and we closed with these points:
– Problem discovery must precede solution development for product success.
– The Double Diamond model structures design through discovery, definition, development, and delivery
– Scoping helps focus on a viable problem area, evolving to a clear focus.
– A strong problem statement defines the “why” – what a user needs and the compelling reason why it matters
If these ideas resonate with a challenge you’re facing, or if you’d like to discuss our practice offerings, we’d love to chat. Learn more about our work at humanlogic.com