Sipho Mofokeng

Reflection – Visualization

Challenge & Selection:

In order to design the solution, first we have to get a good understanding of the problem that we are  trying to solve. Interviews, observations, desk research and other research techniques that are applied  during this phase generate huge amount of data – data that has to be grouped and analyse. My  business is not in one place and my people work far from home and I have to keep tread on all these  activities?

Creating an activity wall is a great way to display insights, photos, and locations, all the relevant activity  outputs in one place. This approach helps us build connections between different findings and  understand the bigger picture. The visual aspect of the wall triggers idea generation and enables  project members to better understand activity insights. For this reason, design thinkers often use tools  such as persona which give a face to the customer/interviewee.

Visual tools that can be used for understanding the problem are for e.g. personas, mind map, customer  journey maps, mood board, photo safari.

Application:

In his book Change by Design, Tim Brown states that drawing for designers is a way to express their  ideas and only drawing “can simultaneously reveal both the functional characteristics of an idea and  its emotional content.” It is not necessary to poses good drawing skills, as the popular saying goes  “picture is worth a thousand words” and even a simple sketch can tell us more than a 10 minutes’  description of an idea. In a group setting, visualization helps to spark idea generation. Seeing what  other people are drawing, adding elements to their drawing or simply discussing the sketches helps  to build on top of each other’s ideas. Brainstorming sessions can be also enhanced by the use of visual  props such as nudge cards to stimulate idea creation.

Drawing can benefit our understanding of how the idea unfolds through different stages of the service,  particularly when generating ideas for a new service.

Insight and Approach:

Citing Katja Tschimmel “in the same way that sketching helps the designer to think and elaborate  ideas, early prototyping is another way of visualizing and testing new solutions, it is a visual  manifestation of concepts, the transformation of an idea in a testable model”. In another words, use  of prototyping transforms ideas from drawings on a paper to tangible solutions. This shift helps us  explore different possibilities, compare how the customers perceive prototypes, and improve  solutions without investing a lot of money. Prototypes tend to be “cheap and dirty”, which means that  they are not a polished solution but instead a working version of a service that is good enough to be  understood by the customer. For this reason, development of prototypes doesn’t require a lot of time  and money. Tim Brown summarizes it in a great way, “the faster we make our ideas tangible, the  sooner we will be able to evaluate them, refine them, and zero in on the best solution”.

Visual tools that can be used for prototyping are for e.g. desktop walkthrough, cardboard prototyping,  paper prototyping, role playing.


Sipho Mofokeng Reflection – Visualization Challenge & Selection : In order to design the solution , first we have to get a good understanding of the problem that we are trying to solve . Interviews , observations , desk research and other research techniques that are applied during this phase generate huge amount of data – data that has to be grouped and analyse . My business is not in one place and my people work far from home and I have to keep tread on all these activities ? Creating an activity wall is a great way to display insights , photos , and locations , all the relevant activity outputs in one place . This approach helps us build connections between different findings and understand the bigger picture . The visual aspect of the wall triggers idea generation and enables project members to better understand activity insights . For this reason , design thinkers often use tools such as persona which give a face to the customer / interviewee . Visual tools that can be used for understanding the problem are for e.g. personas , mind map , customer journey maps , mood board , photo safari . Application : In his book Change by Design , Tim Brown states that drawing for designers is a way to express their ideas and only drawing “ can simultaneously reveal both the functional characteristics of an idea and its emotional content . ” It is not necessary to poses good drawing skills , as the popular saying goes “ picture is worth a thousand words ” and even a simple sketch can tell us more than a 10 minutes ’ description of an idea . In a group setting , visualization helps to spark idea generation . Seeing what other people are drawing , adding elements to their drawing or simply discussing the sketches helps to build on top of each other ’s ideas . Brainstorming sessions can be also enhanced by the use of visual props such as nudge cards to stimulate idea creation . Drawing can benefit our understanding of how the idea unfolds through different stages of the service , particularly when generating ideas for a new service . Insight and Approach : Citing Katja Tschimmel “ in the same way that sketching helps the designer to think and elaborate ideas , early prototyping is another way of visualizing and testing new solutions , it is a visual manifestation of concepts , the transformation of an idea in a testable model ” . In another words , use of prototyping transforms ideas from drawings on a paper to tangible solutions . This shift helps us explore different possibilities , compare how the customers perceive prototypes , and improve solutions without investing a lot of money . Prototypes tend to be “ cheap and dirty ” , which means that they are not a polished solution but instead a working version of a service that is good enough to be understood by the customer . For this reason , development of prototypes does n’t require a lot of time and money . Tim Brown summarizes it in a great way , “ the faster we make our ideas tangible , the sooner we will be able to evaluate them , refine them , and zero in on the best solution ” . Visual tools that can be used for prototyping are for e.g. desktop walkthrough , cardboard prototyping , paper prototyping , role playing .