Challenge: Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.

Mind mapping is a tool that was taught to me to visualise and organise information while  showing a relationship across the entire concept.

I work as an Innovation Lead for a technology accelerator unit of a university. My work  involves working across stakeholders’ group (government, corporate, startup, aspiring  entrepreneur etc) to identify promising ideas, products, technology, and opportunity. As part of  the process, we are often working at the unknown unknowns space where technologies and  solutions are so new that we are not able to predict anything, less so on its’ impact and  outcome accurately.

For example, we are working with a district developer to incorporate innovative solutions,  technology and design plans for their upcoming innovation district development plans which  will be constructed from 2021 onwards.

Selection: In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (e.g., what it is and  why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture  references).

Given the complexity of the task, a combination of the different design thinking tools should be  used. However, I would like to zone into the “what if” phase where we may adopt “Mind  mapping”.

The reason for this selection being we have massive discussion and exchange of information  with the developer over the past months. Therefore, it is time for us to move forward to gather  feedback from the wider stakeholders as per the lecture suggested, to set up a yard sale or  gallery for the stakeholders to visit and feedback.

Application: Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge (e.g.,  what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively).

Insight: Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your  challenge (e.g., how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about  design thinking more broadly).

With all the information gathered from the developer client, we will connect related ideas,  concepts, and to establish the criteria for stakeholders. Specifically, with the visualisation  created, the gallery will be a watered-down version of the vision we understand from our  exchange.

Unfortunately, due to COVID and the festive year-end season. This exercise will be a thought  experiment.

We shall gather a group of 30-50 stakeholders, each given a stack of post-it note and pen.  Participants will be asked to review the vision gallery and note down information such as what  are good ideas, what ideas need improvement.

The participants will be asked to gather back in a group of 5 or 6 to review and share what  they pick up. Specifically to group the common theme (including good ideas and ideas that  requires refinement) together while keeping a tap on the outliers.

Each group will then be asked to share their findings and insights gathered from their  discussion.

Our team will take note of the respective sharing and insights, and ask questions to challenge  the participants in giving meaningful insight statement. The statement will be used to relate  back to the post-it notes grouped earlier to strengthen their connections and representation.

Lastly, we will seek for design criteria statement from the participants that translate the  insights gathered for subsequent prototyping or learning launch.

Approach: Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool  you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s) why.

By going through the thought experiment, it helps me review my process of engagement with  the client.

I’ve gained more insight that challenges my earlier assumption of what I had for the innovation  district. For example, from the developer briefing notes, they wanted specific spaces for  autonomous vehicles, drones, shared labs etc. However, as technology progress over the  years for the district to be developed, what they needed would be innovative, open and  flexible spaces that can be transformed or accommodate the future deployment. This shifted  the design focus of the district and how we may approach the client.

In an ideal situation, I would like to go through the entire design thinking process with the  client to gather and generate the right information and outcome.

Our current collaboration is based on good faith, however, much of the information is withheld  from the developer side due to confidentiality consideration.

It makes the planning and proposal difficult from our side due to the lack of accurate  information and full picture.

After going through this design thinking course, it reminds me of the importance of  understanding the current situation, before exploring for ideas.


Challenge : Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . Mind mapping is a tool that was taught to me to visualise and organise information while showing a relationship across the entire concept . I work as an Innovation Lead for a technology accelerator unit of a university . My work involves working across stakeholders ’ group ( government , corporate , startup , aspiring entrepreneur etc ) to identify promising ideas , products , technology , and opportunity . As part of the process , we are often working at the unknown unknowns space where technologies and solutions are so new that we are not able to predict anything , less so on its ’ impact and outcome accurately . For example , we are working with a district developer to incorporate innovative solutions , technology and design plans for their upcoming innovation district development plans which will be constructed from 2021 onwards . Selection : In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( e.g. , what it is and why you selected it for your challenge -- including any appropriate video lecture references ) . Given the complexity of the task , a combination of the different design thinking tools should be used . However , I would like to zone into the “ what if ” phase where we may adopt “ Mind mapping ” . The reason for this selection being we have massive discussion and exchange of information with the developer over the past months . Therefore , it is time for us to move forward to gather feedback from the wider stakeholders as per the lecture suggested , to set up a yard sale or gallery for the stakeholders to visit and feedback . Application : Describe how you applied the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , what you did and how the tool was applied effectively or ineffectively ) . Insight : Describe the insight you gained from applying the tool you selected to your challenge ( e.g. , how an insight affected your thinking about the challenge and about design thinking more broadly ) . With all the information gathered from the developer client , we will connect related ideas , concepts , and to establish the criteria for stakeholders . Specifically , with the visualisation created , the gallery will be a watered - down version of the vision we understand from our exchange . Unfortunately , due to COVID and the festive year - end season . This exercise will be a thought experiment . We shall gather a group of 30 - 50 stakeholders , each given a stack of post - it note and pen . Participants will be asked to review the vision gallery and note down information such as what are good ideas , what ideas need improvement . The participants will be asked to gather back in a group of 5 or 6 to review and share what they pick up . Specifically to group the common theme ( including good ideas and ideas that requires refinement ) together while keeping a tap on the outliers . Each group will then be asked to share their findings and insights gathered from their discussion . Our team will take note of the respective sharing and insights , and ask questions to challenge the participants in giving meaningful insight statement . The statement will be used to relate back to the post - it notes grouped earlier to strengthen their connections and representation . Lastly , we will seek for design criteria statement from the participants that translate the insights gathered for subsequent prototyping or learning launch . Approach : Describe what you might do differently next time -- applying the same tool you selected or a different one -- and the reason(s ) why . By going through the thought experiment , it helps me review my process of engagement with the client . I ’ve gained more insight that challenges my earlier assumption of what I had for the innovation district . For example , from the developer briefing notes , they wanted specific spaces for autonomous vehicles , drones , shared labs etc . However , as technology progress over the years for the district to be developed , what they needed would be innovative , open and flexible spaces that can be transformed or accommodate the future deployment . This shifted the design focus of the district and how we may approach the client . In an ideal situation , I would like to go through the entire design thinking process with the client to gather and generate the right information and outcome . Our current collaboration is based on good faith , however , much of the information is withheld from the developer side due to confidentiality consideration . It makes the planning and proposal difficult from our side due to the lack of accurate information and full picture . After going through this design thinking course , it reminds me of the importance of understanding the current situation , before exploring for ideas .