Design Thinking

Visualization

Mirian Obrien

Challenge     In today’s multimodal world, there are demands on the right-of-way to accommodate room for  each mode to operate.  The modal types include pedestrians, cyclists, autos, and buses.  In  addition, many communities want their roadways to be appealing and offer character with  landscaping.  The challenge is how to arrange the space within the right-of-way to  accommodate everything and provide for the most efficient use of the dedicated space.  To  inform the project design, designers wanted as much input as possible from the users and  community on how to allocate the space and how to prioritize based on the elements.  For  example, how many auto lanes, should the buses share the auto lanes, should the cyclists have  their own pathways or share with pedestrians, and is a landscaped median between directional  lanes preferred.        Selection    Visualization was selected as the tool to use because it provided a clear understanding of the  participants’ design priorities.  Visualization is a technique used to transfer thoughts and ideas  into illustrations which portray and capture the details of the idea.  This tool removes the  individual interpretation often lost in the use of text in communication.  This visualization  technique also allows the communicator to develop their output by rearranging the elements  until they are satisfied that the picture clearly represents their thoughts.  This was the perfect  tool for this input gathering phase of the project because it would provide many pictures from  many people and allow for commonalities across all pictures to quickly be revealed.      Application    The public was provided with a board to work on.  The only thing on the board were the  boundaries of the right-of-way.  On the left was a row of storefronts and on the right was a row  of academic buildings.  Very light in the background were lines depicting the existing conditions  noting the location of the sidewalk, auto lanes, and median.  Each person was given a group of  puzzle pieces.  The pieces included auto lanes, bus lanes, cycle paths, pedestrian paths, trees  (representing landscape) and median grassy areas.  There were several of the same pieces so  there were no limitations.  Those participating were asked to place the puzzle pieces within the  right-of-way as they prefer them to be provided for within the right-of-way.  If someone

preferred all auto lanes, they would take their auto lane puzzle pieces and fit them all on the  board between the buildings.  If someone preferred limited vehicular traffic, they would place  landscaping along both sides of the buildings, one auto lane shared with buses, bike lanes,  pedestrian sidewalks and more median areas.  This exercise was provided on a website and was  available in multiple public meetings held in the area being studied.  Once the participants had  the puzzle assembled as they wanted it, they would save the picture or, if doing this at a  meeting place, glue the pieces in place.      The design team placed all the completed boards around the room and those provided online  were scrolling on several large screens around the room.  After some time of studying the  boards, the team started using a few empty boards and puzzle pieces to put summary puzzles  together the way they saw it done most commonly from the public.  This resulted in four  common design ideas that would then be tested to determine the viability.  Quantitative data  about the various modes was used to determine which of the ideas provided sufficient capacity  for the current and projected future trip-making.      Insight & Approach    Using visualization accomplished several things.  It helped the community learn how the  process of providing multi-mobility and character occurred.  It helped them understand the  challenges and trade-offs that were required.  It allowed those participating to try a variety of  approaches until they found their preferred picture.  Being able to move the puzzle pieces  around to create different pictures allowed the participants to really consider their preferences  and reactions to each idea they came up with.  Each picture generated different reactions,  feelings and emotions in the participants.      From the design team’s perspective, it brought many ideas to the table that might not have  been thought of without this collaborative input process.  Using visualization, the similarities  and differences in the final pictures from the participants were clear.  This process brought  several ideas that would move to the next step of testing.  This process was easy to apply in an  electronic tool.  Making it available on a website provided access to a much broader audience  and more diverse viewpoints.      Visualization is a great tool to use in the beginning phase of the design thinking process because  it allows for many ideas to be expressed and for ideas to manifest in more ideas.  The output of  the visualization exercise is clearly communicated to the design thinking core team resulting in  actionable next steps.


Design Thinking Visualization Mirian Obrien Challenge In today ’s multimodal world , there are demands on the right - of - way to accommodate room for each mode to operate . The modal types include pedestrians , cyclists , autos , and buses . In addition , many communities want their roadways to be appealing and offer character with landscaping . The challenge is how to arrange the space within the right - of - way to accommodate everything and provide for the most efficient use of the dedicated space . To inform the project design , designers wanted as much input as possible from the users and community on how to allocate the space and how to prioritize based on the elements . For example , how many auto lanes , should the buses share the auto lanes , should the cyclists have their own pathways or share with pedestrians , and is a landscaped median between directional lanes preferred . Selection Visualization was selected as the tool to use because it provided a clear understanding of the participants ’ design priorities . Visualization is a technique used to transfer thoughts and ideas into illustrations which portray and capture the details of the idea . This tool removes the individual interpretation often lost in the use of text in communication . This visualization technique also allows the communicator to develop their output by rearranging the elements until they are satisfied that the picture clearly represents their thoughts . This was the perfect tool for this input gathering phase of the project because it would provide many pictures from many people and allow for commonalities across all pictures to quickly be revealed . Application The public was provided with a board to work on . The only thing on the board were the boundaries of the right - of - way . On the left was a row of storefronts and on the right was a row of academic buildings . Very light in the background were lines depicting the existing conditions noting the location of the sidewalk , auto lanes , and median . Each person was given a group of puzzle pieces . The pieces included auto lanes , bus lanes , cycle paths , pedestrian paths , trees ( representing landscape ) and median grassy areas . There were several of the same pieces so there were no limitations . Those participating were asked to place the puzzle pieces within the right - of - way as they prefer them to be provided for within the right - of - way . If someone preferred all auto lanes , they would take their auto lane puzzle pieces and fit them all on the board between the buildings . If someone preferred limited vehicular traffic , they would place landscaping along both sides of the buildings , one auto lane shared with buses , bike lanes , pedestrian sidewalks and more median areas . This exercise was provided on a website and was available in multiple public meetings held in the area being studied . Once the participants had the puzzle assembled as they wanted it , they would save the picture or , if doing this at a meeting place , glue the pieces in place . The design team placed all the completed boards around the room and those provided online were scrolling on several large screens around the room . After some time of studying the boards , the team started using a few empty boards and puzzle pieces to put summary puzzles together the way they saw it done most commonly from the public . This resulted in four common design ideas that would then be tested to determine the viability . Quantitative data about the various modes was used to determine which of the ideas provided sufficient capacity for the current and projected future trip - making . Insight & Approach Using visualization accomplished several things . It helped the community learn how the process of providing multi - mobility and character occurred . It helped them understand the challenges and trade - offs that were required . It allowed those participating to try a variety of approaches until they found their preferred picture . Being able to move the puzzle pieces around to create different pictures allowed the participants to really consider their preferences and reactions to each idea they came up with . Each picture generated different reactions , feelings and emotions in the participants . From the design team ’s perspective , it brought many ideas to the table that might not have been thought of without this collaborative input process . Using visualization , the similarities and differences in the final pictures from the participants were clear . This process brought several ideas that would move to the next step of testing . This process was easy to apply in an electronic tool . Making it available on a website provided access to a much broader audience and more diverse viewpoints . Visualization is a great tool to use in the beginning phase of the design thinking process because it allows for many ideas to be expressed and for ideas to manifest in more ideas . The output of the visualization exercise is clearly communicated to the design thinking core team resulting in actionable next steps .