Design Thinking for Innovation

Final assignment

Sujeet Ruiz

The Netherlands

17th of June – 2021

Challenge and selection

My main field of employment is within mechanical engineering, which I’ve only been working

in for a short period of time as a fresh graduate mechanical engineer. My technical field is mostly

centred around automated construction methods, most of which are (completely) new. One of my

functions in my organisation is to continue where I left off after my graduation thesis, where I

researched a conceptual design for a new type of construction machine. This meant already working

some steps of the processes described throughout this course, mostly focussing on the “what is” and

the “what if”. After being rehired at this company to continue my thesis project, I’ll now be further

developing my conceptualised machine and it’s further phases.

My challenge for this project is to continue a strong development curve along the timeline of

my employment at this company and perhaps even continue after the completed project.

Already (somewhat unknowingly) using some methods of visualisation, I feel like I barely

skimmed the surface of what this design method has to offer. Therefore I’ll be attempting to broaden

my use of this technique and its implementations across the different phases of the creation of this

new machine I’ve been developing.

Application

As a more literal application of the title of this course, I’ll be using the techniques as ways to

improve the physical designs I create. I previously explored sketched visualisations of interpretations

of a variety of design concepts that could be implemented into the machine. However, I kept these

explorations, experiments and developments mostly to myself. This course showed me the possible

depth these visualisations can provide if I share my thoughts and processes with others.

My first application is to sketch out the ideas that I have into collages, segmented into various

design philosophies. I’ll incorporate various types if imagery (non-sketched) into the collage to provide

the source of inspiration. Another thing I’ll add for clarity is the use of various colours to highlight

certain sections for importance. These collages should function as a broad overview of the ideas that I

have regarding a specific feature. I’ll repeat this step for a multitude of features (about 2 or 3 to start

off).

Now comes the part where I involve my colleagues. I’ll present the collages to a couple of

colleagues after equipping them with post-its. Followingly, I give them 15 minutes to provide my

collages with feedback through the post-its. After these 15 minutes I gather all involved people and

will ask them to explain or give further comments regarding my designs and ideas.

The last step is to ask my colleagues to provide their own sketch (on A4 paper) of their

interpretation of the ideas I came up with.

Insight

One of the main things I learned from this shared experience with my co-workers is the

amazing value of their perspectives on my ideas. I found that their comments provided insight

regarding gaps in my knowledge and oversights in my designs. While not always comfortable, I was

able to process their commentary in a collaborative effort to create a better common understanding

of the project as a whole. We worked together to further make a better design for these

subcomponents.

Another great benefit of using this technique of collaboration was the strengthening of the

bond between myself and my co-workers. Even though we already (somewhat) worked together

before, we now have a better understanding of each other’s views on the project and designing as a

whole.

Approach

I can conclude from the previous section that (a more thorough than before) visualisation of a

certain concept can greatly help with creating a better concept, while also improving other aspects of

a project. Further design should definitely make use of more of this collaborative visual process to gain

more and more common insight and improvements.

A slight alteration for future reference is the increase of the amount of detail within a given

design. I noticed that some ideas weren’t sketched with enough detail, leaving too much room for

personal interpretation where it wasn’t necessarily needed. More detail should give a clearer picture

of the idea I’m trying to convey towards my co-workers.


Design Thinking for Innovation Final assignment Sujeet Ruiz The Netherlands 17th of June – 2021 Challenge and selection My main field of employment is within mechanical engineering , which I ’ve only been working in for a short period of time as a fresh graduate mechanical engineer . My technical field is mostly centred around automated construction methods , most of which are ( completely ) new . One of my functions in my organisation is to continue where I left off after my graduation thesis , where I researched a conceptual design for a new type of construction machine . This meant already working some steps of the processes described throughout this course , mostly focussing on the “ what is ” and the “ what if ” . After being rehired at this company to continue my thesis project , I ’ll now be further developing my conceptualised machine and it ’s further phases . My challenge for this project is to continue a strong development curve along the timeline of my employment at this company and perhaps even continue after the completed project . Already ( somewhat unknowingly ) using some methods of visualisation , I feel like I barely skimmed the surface of what this design method has to offer . Therefore I ’ll be attempting to broaden my use of this technique and its implementations across the different phases of the creation of this new machine I ’ve been developing . Application As a more literal application of the title of this course , I ’ll be using the techniques as ways to improve the physical designs I create . I previously explored sketched visualisations of interpretations of a variety of design concepts that could be implemented into the machine . However , I kept these explorations , experiments and developments mostly to myself . This course showed me the possible depth these visualisations can provide if I share my thoughts and processes with others . My first application is to sketch out the ideas that I have into collages , segmented into various design philosophies . I ’ll incorporate various types if imagery ( non - sketched ) into the collage to provide the source of inspiration . Another thing I ’ll add for clarity is the use of various colours to highlight certain sections for importance . These collages should function as a broad overview of the ideas that I have regarding a specific feature . I ’ll repeat this step for a multitude of features ( about 2 or 3 to start off ) . Now comes the part where I involve my colleagues . I ’ll present the collages to a couple of colleagues after equipping them with post - its . Followingly , I give them 15 minutes to provide my collages with feedback through the post - its . After these 15 minutes I gather all involved people and will ask them to explain or give further comments regarding my designs and ideas . The last step is to ask my colleagues to provide their own sketch ( on A4 paper ) of their interpretation of the ideas I came up with . Insight One of the main things I learned from this shared experience with my co - workers is the amazing value of their perspectives on my ideas . I found that their comments provided insight regarding gaps in my knowledge and oversights in my designs . While not always comfortable , I was able to process their commentary in a collaborative effort to create a better common understanding of the project as a whole . We worked together to further make a better design for these subcomponents . Another great benefit of using this technique of collaboration was the strengthening of the bond between myself and my co - workers . Even though we already ( somewhat ) worked together before , we now have a better understanding of each other ’s views on the project and designing as a whole . Approach I can conclude from the previous section that ( a more thorough than before ) visualisation of a certain concept can greatly help with creating a better concept , while also improving other aspects of a project . Further design should definitely make use of more of this collaborative visual process to gain more and more common insight and improvements . A slight alteration for future reference is the increase of the amount of detail within a given design . I noticed that some ideas were n’t sketched with enough detail , leaving too much room for personal interpretation where it was n’t necessarily needed . More detail should give a clearer picture of the idea I ’m trying to convey towards my co - workers .