Reflection:	
  Visualization

Challenge	
  	
   	
   I	
  never	
  realized	
  how	
  important	
  and	
  useful	
  design	
  thinking	
  tools	
  are	
  to	
  solve	
  problems.	
  I	
  had	
  to	
   participate	
   in	
   a	
   multidisciplinary	
   work	
   team	
   to	
   solve	
   the	
   problem	
   of	
   a	
   big	
   commercial	
   and	
   residential	
  complex.	
  They	
  needed	
  to	
  redesign	
  and	
  improve	
  their	
  water	
  treatment	
  plant	
  in	
  order	
  to	
   comply	
  with	
  the	
  local	
  law.	
  We	
  had	
  the	
  challenge	
  to	
  work	
  with	
  such	
  a	
  diverse	
  group	
  that	
  everyone	
   needed	
  to	
  understand	
  each	
  other's	
  work	
  with	
  the	
  purpose	
  to	
  succeed	
  and	
  convince	
  the	
  directors	
   of	
  the	
  complex,	
  and	
  ourselves,	
  that	
  our	
  redesign	
  and	
  the	
  plans	
  we	
  had	
  were	
  the	
  best	
  proposals	
  to	
   improve	
  their	
  plant.	
  	
   	
   Selection	
   	
   The	
  directors	
  of	
  the	
  complex	
  were	
  our	
  clients;	
  we	
  needed	
  them	
  to	
  realize	
  that	
  the	
  redesign	
  of	
  the	
   water	
  treatment	
  plant	
  was	
  going	
  to	
  need	
  a	
  big	
  investment,	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  improve	
  the	
  functioning.	
   But	
  first	
  we,	
  as	
  a	
  team,	
  needed	
  to	
  understand	
  each	
  other's	
  responsibilities	
  and	
  tasks	
  to	
  complete	
  a	
   successful	
  project.	
  The	
  whole	
  team	
  came	
  up	
  with	
  several	
  and	
  different	
  ideas.	
  All	
  were	
  great	
  and	
   related	
  to	
  our	
  own	
  specialization,	
  so	
  the	
  challenge	
  was	
  to	
  put	
  all	
  the	
  ideas	
  together	
  and	
  give	
  them	
   an	
  order	
  to	
  select	
  the	
  most	
  appropriate	
  ones,	
  and	
  present	
  that	
  concrete	
  idea	
  to	
  the	
  directors	
  of	
   the	
  complex.	
  As	
  described	
  in	
  the	
  course,	
  we	
  had	
  to	
  make	
  the	
  design	
  (and	
  all	
  it	
  involved)	
  tangible	
   and	
  concrete	
  before	
  getting	
  the	
  actual	
  work	
  done.	
  We	
  realized	
  we	
  had	
  to	
  visualize	
  the	
  final	
  project	
   so	
  the	
  directors	
  could	
  be	
  convinced,	
  too,	
  by	
  visualizing	
  the	
  improvement	
  proposal.	
   	
   Application	
   	
   I	
   am	
   a	
   chemical	
   engineer.	
   As	
   I	
   mentioned,	
   we	
   worked	
   as	
   a	
   multidisciplinary	
   team	
   of	
   several	
   chemical	
  engineers,	
  industrial	
  engineers,	
  microbiologists,	
  and	
  even	
  educators.	
  As	
  we	
  began	
  with	
   the	
  project,	
  we	
  all	
  came	
  with	
  several	
  ideas	
  on	
  how	
  to	
  improve	
  this	
  water	
  treatment	
  plant,	
  and	
  the	
   ideas	
  were	
  great.	
  But	
  there	
  were	
  too	
  many,	
  some	
  ideas	
  were	
  incomplete,	
  some	
  were	
  too	
  complex.	
   We	
  were	
  a	
  little	
  overwhelmed	
  with	
  all	
  the	
  ideas	
  and	
  all	
  the	
  work	
  it	
  implied;	
  that	
  made	
  us	
  realized	
   we	
  had	
  to	
  come	
  up	
  with	
  an	
  organization	
  plan.	
  After	
  a	
  while	
  of	
  trying	
  to	
  figure	
  everything	
  out	
  and	
   going	
  through	
  some	
  ups	
  and	
  downs,	
  what	
  we	
  finally	
  did	
  was	
  to	
  put	
  the	
  ideas	
  on	
  a	
  board,	
  made	
  the	
   sketches	
  we	
  were	
  proposing,	
  and	
  relate	
  all	
  the	
  proposed	
  ideas	
  and	
  sketches.	
  As	
  we	
  all	
  sat	
  down	
   and	
  visualized	
  in	
  a	
  board	
  all	
  the	
  ideas,	
  we	
  began	
  to	
  find	
  an	
  order	
  and	
  logic.	
  We	
  also	
  discarded	
  the	
   ideas	
  that	
  were	
  repeated,	
  or	
  the	
  ones	
  that	
  were	
  way	
  too	
  expensive.	
  	
   	
   Visualizing	
  the	
  ideas	
  in	
  a	
  mind	
  map,	
  through	
  sketches,	
  graphics	
  and	
  pictures	
  was	
  helpful	
  to	
  find	
   the	
  relationship	
  with	
  each	
  other’s	
  work	
  and	
  provide	
  a	
  proposal	
  of	
  a	
  more	
  functional	
  and	
  efficient	
   water	
  treatment	
  plant.	
  Besides,	
  it	
  also	
  helped	
  us	
  to	
  understand	
  each	
  other's	
  functions	
  and	
  duties	
   that	
  would	
  be	
  the	
  key	
  to	
  convince	
  the	
  directors	
  that	
  our	
  proposal	
  was	
  the	
  best.	
  We	
  found	
  out	
  that	
   the	
   microbiologist	
   could	
   do	
   the	
   analysis	
   of	
   how	
   contaminated	
   the	
   water	
   was	
   and	
   it	
   definitely	
   needed	
  improvement,	
  so	
  that	
  data	
  would	
  help	
  us	
  as	
  chemical	
  engineers	
  to	
  design	
  the	
  adequate	
   process	
  and	
  equipment.	
  Even	
  the	
  educators	
  could	
  use	
  that	
  data	
  to	
  elaborate	
  programs	
  and	
  plan	
   trainings	
  for	
  the	
  users	
  of	
  the	
  complex,	
  so	
  they	
  could	
  understand	
  the	
  good	
  disposal	
  of	
  waste.	
  The	
   industrial	
  engineers	
  focused	
  on	
  the	
  finances	
  and	
  needed	
  our	
  final	
  design	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  estimate	
  the	
   final	
  costs.

We	
  concluded	
  a	
  really	
  successful	
  proposal,	
  our	
  design	
  was	
  efficient	
  and,	
  relatively,	
  with	
  a	
  low	
  cost,	
   and	
  the	
  program	
  of	
  education	
  for	
  the	
  people	
  of	
  the	
  complex	
  was	
  great.	
  We	
  even	
  found	
  a	
  way	
  to	
   generate	
  profits,	
  by	
  using	
  the	
  well-­‐treated	
  sludge	
  as	
  organic	
  fertilizer	
  and	
  they	
  could	
  even	
  sell	
  it	
  to	
   the	
  people	
  of	
  the	
  residential	
  or	
  commercial	
  complex.	
  	
   	
   Insight	
  and	
  Approach	
   	
   It	
  felt	
  terrible	
  at	
  the	
  beginning,	
  like	
  we	
  were	
  never	
  going	
  to	
  get	
  to	
  an	
  agreement	
  and	
  we	
  could	
   never	
   understand	
   what	
   the	
   others	
   wanted	
   to	
   propose.	
   We	
   needed	
   not	
   only	
   to	
   find	
   a	
   great	
   improvement	
  but	
  also	
  we	
  needed	
  to	
  convince	
  the	
  directors	
  of	
  the	
  complex	
  that	
  our	
  proposal	
  for	
   the	
  improvement	
  was	
  the	
  most	
  convenient.	
  	
  I	
  realized	
  that	
  visualization	
  is	
  a	
  great	
  tool	
  to	
  relate	
  all	
   the	
   ideas,	
   especially	
   when	
   working	
   with	
   a	
   multidisciplinary	
   group.	
   The	
   sketches	
   and	
   the	
   mind	
   maps	
  gave	
  us	
  a	
  broad	
  understanding	
  of	
  the	
  improvements	
  that	
  needed	
  to	
  be	
  done.	
  As	
  learned	
  in	
   the	
  course,	
  the	
  sketches	
  and	
  the	
  pictures	
  of	
  the	
  water	
  treatment	
  plant	
  that	
  were	
  presented	
  were	
   really	
  helpful	
  for	
  everyone	
  to	
  find	
  the	
  most	
  adequate	
  solutions	
  because	
  it	
  is	
  easier	
  to	
  understand	
   through	
  simple	
  drawings	
  rather	
  than	
  an	
  explanation	
  with	
  words	
  and	
  theory.	
  This	
  tool	
  was	
  helpful	
   because	
  not	
  everyone	
  in	
  the	
  group	
  understood	
  the	
  theory	
  behind	
  each	
  other's	
  specialization,	
  so	
  it	
   was	
   easier	
   to	
   understand	
   through	
   mind	
   maps,	
   graphics	
   and	
   pictures.	
   Literally,	
   everyone	
   could	
   "picture"	
  the	
  design	
  and	
  the	
  tasks	
  to	
  complete	
  the	
  right	
  design	
  proposal.	
  At	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  the	
  day,	
   the	
  visualization	
  tool	
  helped	
  us	
  to	
  convince	
  the	
  directors	
  as	
  well.	
  Our	
  proposal	
  would	
  generate	
   profits,	
   more	
   clean	
   water	
   and	
   lower	
   maintenance	
   costs.	
   We	
   presented	
   them	
   a	
   more	
   graphic	
   design	
   and	
   plan	
   because	
   we	
   realized	
   it	
   is	
   better	
   for	
   the	
   mind	
   to	
   comprehend	
   through	
   a	
   more	
   concrete	
  idea.	
   	
  	
   As	
  I	
  mentioned	
  at	
  the	
  beginning,	
  I	
  never	
  realized	
  how	
  helpful	
  the	
  visualization	
  tool	
  is	
  to	
  concrete	
   the	
  ideas	
  we	
  have	
  on	
  our	
  minds.	
  Maybe	
  this	
  was	
  not	
  the	
  typical	
  design	
  or	
  innovation	
  project,	
  but	
  I	
   think	
   it	
   was	
   appropriate	
   for	
   this	
   reflection	
   because	
   it	
   was	
   a	
   multidisciplinary	
   work	
   group	
   that	
   needed	
   to	
   create	
   the	
   best	
   design	
   proposal.	
   This	
   course	
   made	
   me	
   realize	
   that	
   it	
   is	
   easier	
   to	
   understand	
   concepts,	
   definitions,	
   or	
   ideas	
   through	
   drawings	
   or	
   anything	
   more	
   concise	
   that	
   the	
   mind	
  can	
  process.	
  It	
  gives	
  you	
  the	
  chance	
  to	
  work	
  in	
  a	
  more	
  efficient	
  way	
  with	
  excellent	
  results.	
  	
   	
   I	
  think	
  that	
  it	
  would	
  have	
  been	
  more	
  efficient	
  to	
  put	
  into	
  practice	
  this	
  tool	
  since	
  the	
  beginning.	
  We	
   lost	
  some	
  time	
  trying	
  to	
  figure	
  out	
  how	
  to	
  find	
  a	
  functional	
  design	
  and	
  listening	
  to	
  all	
  the	
  extended	
   ideas	
   and	
   explanations.	
   Next	
   time,	
   I	
   know	
   that	
   putting	
   all	
   our	
   ideas	
   in	
   a	
   board,	
   relating	
   them	
   through	
  a	
  mind	
  map,	
  and	
  drawing	
  sketches	
  can	
  make	
  it	
  a	
  lot	
  easier.	
  	
  What	
  I	
  would	
  add	
  next	
  time	
   with	
  what	
  I	
  now	
  have	
  learned	
  is	
  applying	
  the	
  storytelling	
  tool.	
  I	
  think	
  hearing	
  interesting	
  stories	
  on	
   how	
  the	
  good	
  design	
  and	
  functioning	
  of	
  other	
  companies	
  would	
  have	
  helped	
  us	
  even	
  more	
  when	
   presenting	
  our	
  proposal	
  to	
  the	
  directors.


Reflection : Visualization Challenge I never realized how important and useful design thinking tools are to solve problems . I had to participate in a multidisciplinary work team to solve the problem of a big commercial and residential complex . They needed to redesign and improve their water treatment plant in order to comply with the local law . We had the challenge to work with such a diverse group that everyone needed to understand each other 's work with the purpose to succeed and convince the directors of the complex , and ourselves , that our redesign and the plans we had were the best proposals to improve their plant . Selection The directors of the complex were our clients ; we needed them to realize that the redesign of the water treatment plant was going to need a big investment , in order to improve the functioning . But first we , as a team , needed to understand each other 's responsibilities and tasks to complete a successful project . The whole team came up with several and different ideas . All were great and related to our own specialization , so the challenge was to put all the ideas together and give them an order to select the most appropriate ones , and present that concrete idea to the directors of the complex . As described in the course , we had to make the design ( and all it involved ) tangible and concrete before getting the actual work done . We realized we had to visualize the final project so the directors could be convinced , too , by visualizing the improvement proposal . Application I am a chemical engineer . As I mentioned , we worked as a multidisciplinary team of several chemical engineers , industrial engineers , microbiologists , and even educators . As we began with the project , we all came with several ideas on how to improve this water treatment plant , and the ideas were great . But there were too many , some ideas were incomplete , some were too complex . We were a little overwhelmed with all the ideas and all the work it implied ; that made us realized we had to come up with an organization plan . After a while of trying to figure everything out and going through some ups and downs , what we finally did was to put the ideas on a board , made the sketches we were proposing , and relate all the proposed ideas and sketches . As we all sat down and visualized in a board all the ideas , we began to find an order and logic . We also discarded the ideas that were repeated , or the ones that were way too expensive . Visualizing the ideas in a mind map , through sketches , graphics and pictures was helpful to find the relationship with each other ’s work and provide a proposal of a more functional and efficient water treatment plant . Besides , it also helped us to understand each other 's functions and duties that would be the key to convince the directors that our proposal was the best . We found out that the microbiologist could do the analysis of how contaminated the water was and it definitely needed improvement , so that data would help us as chemical engineers to design the adequate process and equipment . Even the educators could use that data to elaborate programs and plan trainings for the users of the complex , so they could understand the good disposal of waste . The industrial engineers focused on the finances and needed our final design in order to estimate the final costs . We concluded a really successful proposal , our design was efficient and , relatively , with a low cost , and the program of education for the people of the complex was great . We even found a way to generate profits , by using the well-­‐treated sludge as organic fertilizer and they could even sell it to the people of the residential or commercial complex . Insight and Approach It felt terrible at the beginning , like we were never going to get to an agreement and we could never understand what the others wanted to propose . We needed not only to find a great improvement but also we needed to convince the directors of the complex that our proposal for the improvement was the most convenient . I realized that visualization is a great tool to relate all the ideas , especially when working with a multidisciplinary group . The sketches and the mind maps gave us a broad understanding of the improvements that needed to be done . As learned in the course , the sketches and the pictures of the water treatment plant that were presented were really helpful for everyone to find the most adequate solutions because it is easier to understand through simple drawings rather than an explanation with words and theory . This tool was helpful because not everyone in the group understood the theory behind each other 's specialization , so it was easier to understand through mind maps , graphics and pictures . Literally , everyone could " picture " the design and the tasks to complete the right design proposal . At the end of the day , the visualization tool helped us to convince the directors as well . Our proposal would generate profits , more clean water and lower maintenance costs . We presented them a more graphic design and plan because we realized it is better for the mind to comprehend through a more concrete idea . As I mentioned at the beginning , I never realized how helpful the visualization tool is to concrete the ideas we have on our minds . Maybe this was not the typical design or innovation project , but I think it was appropriate for this reflection because it was a multidisciplinary work group that needed to create the best design proposal . This course made me realize that it is easier to understand concepts , definitions , or ideas through drawings or anything more concise that the mind can process . It gives you the chance to work in a more efficient way with excellent results . I think that it would have been more efficient to put into practice this tool since the beginning . We lost some time trying to figure out how to find a functional design and listening to all the extended ideas and explanations . Next time , I know that putting all our ideas in a board , relating them through a mind map , and drawing sketches can make it a lot easier . What I would add next time with what I now have learned is applying the storytelling tool . I think hearing interesting stories on how the good design and functioning of other companies would have helped us even more when presenting our proposal to the directors .