Example reflection- Mind Mapping

Challenge

*What is?

I work as an Interior Designer in a team of 5, for a huge global company specialized in home  furnishing. The work is mostly about planning and implementing solutions based on the data  we collect and the goals that we want to achieve on the market, doing it in the store without  any real communication with the actual customers. So basically, visualizing solutions for the  virtual problems without meeting the individual. There is even a “Life at home” document  based on a wide research of the local market trying to help us in understanding the many needs  in the ultimate goal to make life better for the many.

Recently we got a new project due to high demand on the market to create a brand new service  in giving Home Furnishing Consulting services to our customers, which is quite new to the team  giving that there is no experience in meeting and communicating with the client ‘one on one’.  **(Perhaps we were actually missing this piece of the puzzle?)

Selection

*What if?

As designers, for us everything is about storytelling and visualization. Each individual, or a  couple, or a family has their own story to tell, needs to be addressed, problems to be solved.  They need to be truly heard. That’s not new. But now we have to make assumptions about  what can be new in the process and guess the possible problems in the process and  communication, therefore trying to avoid them and reduce them. What can be the possible  confusion for them and how can we provide the service in clear steps and easy understanding  ways?

The most obvious guess to make for me, was that the most common customer comes without  really knowing what he/she/they want. As simple as that. They can tell you what they like or  dislike, they can tell you about their budget but eventually they will get very confused about  the direction they want to take and the particular style that they need to suddenly identify  themselves with, and that was exactly our task: to guide them through finding themselves  through the process in very little time, and understand or create a need together through  listening: show empathy, develop trust, invest in this time spent and personalize the experience  ultimately resulting in high engagement. Create the needed mind mapping visual tools and  questioning methods and a creative task strategy before the meeting minutes. Offer descriptive  choices  like in the story of “The Good Kitchen” video.

Application

*What wows?

Now the time is to test the pilot version of the tools and use the prototype templates made  specially for this purpose. Ultimately, of course the customers will get a visual moodboard  solution for their desires and needs, but I wanted to make it key to this process to visualize  every step of the creative process for them and myself to easily understand and give maximum  information from both sides. Empathize->Define->Ideate->Test the solution->Provide full  satisfaction.

The customers now find it very professional from our side to be well prepared and to go to the  very depth of what this service really is about and how to help them. The process of just 90  mins with them contains mind mapping tools to find all the necessary answers for us and to  explain them the type of our products, the 4 style groups they are divided in, the wide price  range for each pocket, the high or low effort in assembling the solution, the space of  possibilities in between their desires and their budgets, the multifunction that they can achieve  with our products, the usage of space etc... The strategy for receiving enough data and giving  an adequate offer in this limited amount of time has shown to be more than enough if done  with confidence.

Insight & Approach

*What works?

Eventually, the tool is applied effectively because of the better conditions made for the  customer as well as the real problems in focus and the real solution in quick response, like the  Geoff’s mindset in the video of a prepared mind. Also, the eye-opener is that sometimes even a  designer needs to get out of his comfort zone and think partially analytically in order to break  the process in simple steps.


Example reflection- Mind Mapping Challenge * What is ? I work as an Interior Designer in a team of 5 , for a huge global company specialized in home furnishing . The work is mostly about planning and implementing solutions based on the data we collect and the goals that we want to achieve on the market , doing it in the store without any real communication with the actual customers . So basically , visualizing solutions for the virtual problems without meeting the individual . There is even a “ Life at home ” document based on a wide research of the local market trying to help us in understanding the many needs in the ultimate goal to make life better for the many . Recently we got a new project due to high demand on the market to create a brand new service in giving Home Furnishing Consulting services to our customers , which is quite new to the team giving that there is no experience in meeting and communicating with the client ‘ one on one ’ . * * ( Perhaps we were actually missing this piece of the puzzle ? ) Selection * What if ? As designers , for us everything is about storytelling and visualization . Each individual , or a couple , or a family has their own story to tell , needs to be addressed , problems to be solved . They need to be truly heard . That ’s not new . But now we have to make assumptions about what can be new in the process and guess the possible problems in the process and communication , therefore trying to avoid them and reduce them . What can be the possible confusion for them and how can we provide the service in clear steps and easy understanding ways ? The most obvious guess to make for me , was that the most common customer comes without really knowing what he / she / they want . As simple as that . They can tell you what they like or dislike , they can tell you about their budget but eventually they will get very confused about the direction they want to take and the particular style that they need to suddenly identify themselves with , and that was exactly our task : to guide them through finding themselves through the process in very little time , and understand or create a need together through listening : show empathy , develop trust , invest in this time spent and personalize the experience ultimately resulting in high engagement . Create the needed mind mapping visual tools and questioning methods and a creative task strategy before the meeting minutes . Offer descriptive choices like in the story of “ The Good Kitchen ” video . Application * What wows ? Now the time is to test the pilot version of the tools and use the prototype templates made specially for this purpose . Ultimately , of course the customers will get a visual moodboard solution for their desires and needs , but I wanted to make it key to this process to visualize every step of the creative process for them and myself to easily understand and give maximum information from both sides . Empathize->Define->Ideate->Test the solution->Provide full satisfaction . The customers now find it very professional from our side to be well prepared and to go to the very depth of what this service really is about and how to help them . The process of just 90 mins with them contains mind mapping tools to find all the necessary answers for us and to explain them the type of our products , the 4 style groups they are divided in , the wide price range for each pocket , the high or low effort in assembling the solution , the space of possibilities in between their desires and their budgets , the multifunction that they can achieve with our products , the usage of space etc ... The strategy for receiving enough data and giving an adequate offer in this limited amount of time has shown to be more than enough if done with confidence . Insight & Approach * What works ? Eventually , the tool is applied effectively because of the better conditions made for the customer as well as the real problems in focus and the real solution in quick response , like the Geoff ’s mindset in the video of a prepared mind . Also , the eye - opener is that sometimes even a designer needs to get out of his comfort zone and think partially analytically in order to break the process in simple steps .