Reflection – Visualization for a new design

Challenge & Selection:

I work as a Model designer and we are a team of 6 members working for farm machining  company, who are equally enthusiastic as me when it comes to problem solving in  design or  related stuff. As expected we receive several minor problems and queries regarding the design  and its feasibility from the manufacturing unit, and also from the consumers. But recently we  were often been hit with a problem complaining that the newer attachments for the cultivation  process( salt ) are heavy to operate and needs frequent human interaction for the process,  when consulted with the manufacturing dept, they informed that was minimum weight  required for a sturdy structure and the materials available for a lighter structure are expensive.

In order to deal with this we decided to use the Visualization design tool as it is way effective  than any other design tool when it comes to the designing process for new solutions. It helps us  to ease idea propagation and freedom to express everybody , it also enables the “What If”  questions.

Application:

Having decided the tool to use, we then had to plan a way of using it in an effectively. We know  that any design thinking process needs Exploration, Research, Ideation, prototyping and  execution.

We split into teams of 2 thus 3 sets, one set was made to do online research about all the  various processes that is undergone during the cultivation process and to search all the  alternatives in regards of materials and resources that could make the project simple, cheap  and effective.  The second set was made to do surveys among the consumers, key stakeholders  and ethnographic researches (basically people who are readily affected by the possible change),  and finally the third set dealt with the sketching of basic ideas that could possibly have a  solution by brainstorming and discussion with other members that work in the company. Once  the information is gathered the team members are made to design their own ideas in designing  software and the end products are diagrams are discussed at the end of each session.

Insights & Approach:

The broad search for clues and ideas gave served a greater inspiration than we could have got  from the traditional techniques. At the each session of individual designing we were brought to  light about the various things that can be implemented to the current design, as they say its  never too good to have a broad repertoire! We received more ideas and concepts than that we

needed to resolve the problem. Due to the rich insights from the ethnographic researches we  were able to reduce the size and incorporate the working models to a newer design which can  do the work for which 2 different attachments were needed previously. Further use of the tool  made me realize the potential of my team capability, and know what my teams individuals  strengths and weaknesses.

In other perspective, apart from the Visualization tool we could have also used the Mind  Mapping tool for problem solving. We could split into teams and do our researches and gather  the required information. We could then invite all the stakeholders and the workers form the  other departments to pen down their thoughts and relations on the data available, form  clusters and then could’ve made mini projects and prototypes on the basis of Learning launch  and approve  a design or solution that  satisfies the needs of the stakeholders. This could be a  possible alternative approach.

