Tool chosen – Mind-mapping

Challenge

As a designer, I often work on projects that require a lot of systems design planning.  Systems design includes studying a current system (e.g., Public transportation in a country),  understanding the current scenario, existing problems and issues within the system, and  coming up with appropriate solutions to tackle problems. Recently, I worked on Public  transportation in India. My idea was to first understand the current scenario, understand  implemented solutions, understand why a lot of the solutions don’t work in a country like  ours, and then go on to finding suitable solutions to overcome existing problems.

Selection

I took up mind-mapping as a tool because it brings to light various problems that we would  often overlook. Mind-mapping looks for patterns and themes in existing data, and helps  highlight relevant information.

Application

For the first phase of the systems design, I first brainstormed on the various issues  pertaining public transportation in India, today. A lot of problems came to light, including  overcrowding, lack of maintenance, lack of proper infrastructural development, and so on.  Applying the mind map tool helped understand and correlate a lot of these problems. For  example, I realised that by tackling an issue like overcrowding, we can cut down on  maintenance costs as it results in lesser property damage and property misuse like torn  seats, strewn garbage, etc.

A lot of problems were inter-linked with one another. Mind-mapping helped link as well as  understand how to go about the problem-solving stage because it changed my approach to  a lot of these issues and perspective on how to implement appropriate solutions.

Mind-mapping at the second phase also proved to be fruitful as it helped narrow down  important issues (issues that are of utmost importance and need to be dealt with right away)  that can be dealt with an array of smartly-devised solutions. Mind-mapping helped realise  that overcrowding was one of the main issues that required immediate attention due to  safety issues as well as maintenance and bus up-keep’s sake.

Insight

What I have learnt from this is that even a simple tool like mind-mapping can help dig deeper  into issues and highlight information. Even by just putting up all problems on the same  platform, the correlating and inter-linking of problems shed light on newer and more  innovative ways to approach a system issue this broad. This has since changed my  perspective about how important design thinking tools like mind-mapping is because it helps  understand the underlying issues in a deeper manner and also helps understand how a lot  of problems are inter-linked and can be solved in a much more efficient way.

Approach

Ever since realising the true potential of design thinking tools like mind-mapping, my  approach to solving problems has changed. I am a lot more efficient and tend to look at  problems on a broader platform. Mind-mapping has helped broaden and correlate issues in  a way that are smarter to provide solutions for.


Tool chosen – Mind - mapping Challenge As a designer , I often work on projects that require a lot of systems design planning . Systems design includes studying a current system ( e.g. , Public transportation in a country ) , understanding the current scenario , existing problems and issues within the system , and coming up with appropriate solutions to tackle problems . Recently , I worked on Public transportation in India . My idea was to first understand the current scenario , understand implemented solutions , understand why a lot of the solutions do n’t work in a country like ours , and then go on to finding suitable solutions to overcome existing problems . Selection I took up mind - mapping as a tool because it brings to light various problems that we would often overlook . Mind - mapping looks for patterns and themes in existing data , and helps highlight relevant information . Application For the first phase of the systems design , I first brainstormed on the various issues pertaining public transportation in India , today . A lot of problems came to light , including overcrowding , lack of maintenance , lack of proper infrastructural development , and so on . Applying the mind map tool helped understand and correlate a lot of these problems . For example , I realised that by tackling an issue like overcrowding , we can cut down on maintenance costs as it results in lesser property damage and property misuse like torn seats , strewn garbage , etc . A lot of problems were inter - linked with one another . Mind - mapping helped link as well as understand how to go about the problem - solving stage because it changed my approach to a lot of these issues and perspective on how to implement appropriate solutions . Mind - mapping at the second phase also proved to be fruitful as it helped narrow down important issues ( issues that are of utmost importance and need to be dealt with right away ) that can be dealt with an array of smartly - devised solutions . Mind - mapping helped realise that overcrowding was one of the main issues that required immediate attention due to safety issues as well as maintenance and bus up - keep ’s sake . Insight What I have learnt from this is that even a simple tool like mind - mapping can help dig deeper into issues and highlight information . Even by just putting up all problems on the same platform , the correlating and inter - linking of problems shed light on newer and more innovative ways to approach a system issue this broad . This has since changed my perspective about how important design thinking tools like mind - mapping is because it helps understand the underlying issues in a deeper manner and also helps understand how a lot of problems are inter - linked and can be solved in a much more efficient way . Approach Ever since realising the true potential of design thinking tools like mind - mapping , my approach to solving problems has changed . I am a lot more efficient and tend to look at problems on a broader platform . Mind - mapping has helped broaden and correlate issues in a way that are smarter to provide solutions for .