From Seeds to Solutions: How Design Thinking is Helping Farmers Thrive

How do you create value for farmers working in tropical conditions? The answer isn’t simply about offering better resources. It begins with understanding their daily lives, their challenges, and their goals. This is the focus of a recent design thinking workshop with a company dedicated to improving the livelihoods of smallholder vegetable farmers across Southeast Asia.

The company’s mission goes beyond producing high-quality vegetable seeds tailored for tropical climates. They aim to empower farmers by blending Western agricultural expertise with Eastern farming traditions. Through design thinking, they’re exploring innovative ways to bring this vision to life.

The Challenge: Designing Impactful Solutions for Farmers

The team approached the workshop with a central question: “How might we create value for farmers?” This guided a structured and collaborative process designed to inspire creativity, uncover deep insights, and generate practical solutions. To set the stage, we introduced participants to our custom-designed design thinking Miro template, that will guide participants through the process by keeping them focused.

Insights from the Workshop: Laying the Foundation

The first session of the workshop focused on preparing participants to conduct meaningful research. Hosted online, it brought together the company’s team to explore fresh ways of thinking about their challenge. Here are some of the key concepts they explored:

• The “Vuja De” Mindset One of the highlights of the session was introducing the idea of "vuja de," which flips the familiar on its head. By encouraging participants to question their assumptions and see the challenge through fresh eyes, we helped them uncover new opportunities.
• Convergent and Divergent Thinking Using our Miro template, participants practiced separating idea generation from decision-making. Divergent thinking allowed them to explore bold and creative possibilities, while convergent thinking provided clarity to focus on the most promising directions.
• Empathy Exercises Participants worked through structured exercises designed to help them see the world from the farmers’ perspectives. By stepping into their shoes, they gained a deeper understanding of the struggles and aspirations that shape daily life for smallholder farmers.

Next Steps: From Research to Innovation

The team is now conducting field research, gathering insights directly from farmers. These findings will shape the next phase of the workshop, where participants will meet in person to synthesize what they’ve learned and brainstorm actionable solutions. Our hybrid approach—starting with an online session and transitioning to in-person collaboration—ensures flexibility while keeping the process grounded in human-centered design. The custom Miro template plays a key role in bridging these two formats, offering a consistent framework that participants can rely on throughout.

Lessons You Can Apply

Here are three insights from this workshop that you can use to start solving your own challenges:

• Frame the Right Question: A well-crafted “How might we” question sets the tone for innovation. It should be specific enough to focus your efforts but open enough to inspire creativity. At the beginning of a project, it's generally better to be more broad though getting it "just right" might take a few iterations.
• Challenge Familiar Thinking: The "vuja de" mindset is a powerful way to uncover new possibilities. It encourages you to step back, question what you think you know, and approach challenges from a fresh angle.
• Prioritize Empathy: Understanding the experiences and needs of the people you’re designing for will always lead to more meaningful solutions. Spend time listening and learning before you start building.