Stephanie Johnstone IN PDF

Reflection

I choose one of the most powerful tools regarding the Design Thinking, the Mind Mapping. Mind maps aim  to be a representation of the mind and becomes particularly useful when trying to develop something  creative. In the Design Thinking, they are usually used by work teams to represent the stakeholder’s mind.  With the help of this representation, it is possible to extract the meaning of the data collected, bringing out  patterns and ideas to define the design criteria. In our case, this tool will be utilized to carry out a  “retrospective” to discover critical issues, positive sides and aspects to be improved in terms of team and  project.

Application  For our first Mind Mapping, we focused on the structure/execution of our activities in the project and how  we were facing them.

In particular, we wanted to see if we could structure our jobs, project and processes in order to optimize  them and improve the qualitative side, intended as the best quality of the work done, and how to improve  the gratification of the worker in performing that job. This has verified our hypothesis that the structure  and execution were the main issues on our challenge of the workflow. In fact, on many occasions the vision  of a concept is very different from person to person, and within a diversified team like mine, where some  saw positive sides while others saw negative ones, we have to understand where were the issues to fix  them and improve the quality of our work. So, we gathered in a room, took some post-it and a billboard:  from there our mind mapping started. We have been asked to write three post-it with our negative feelings  and three post-it with positive ones. After a first moment of reflection we were asked to put these post-it  on the board, dividing the negatives on one side and the positives on the other. Shortly thereafter, we  started identifying the common themes to these post-its and then grouping them together. Finally, we  were asked to highlight each team member the most relevant / important post-it note.

Insight & Approach

As I said, the mind map is over, however the mental mapping process of design thinking is still incomplete.  Now we need to turn these observations into intuitions, trying to find out what the observations could  imply. In the board, we created a new column entitled ''Actions to be taken'' where we discussed the  possible solutions of the post-it placed on the negative side of the board.

Once you have the design criteria in hand, you will be ready to move on to thinking about possible solutions  to your design challenge.

The design criteria are the basis of What-if?

We focused on possible solutions, testing them monthly and repeating mind mapping.

Since our team has already gone through several design activities/tools, Mind Mapping seems to be the  appropriate tool. As mentioned above, our team will have to review the information gained within our  firsts mind mappings. The future mind mappings should focus, in addition to the intuitions acquired (both

positive and negative), on the "actions to be taken" to understand if these have been undertaken and in  what modality, to see if the intuition has been corrected, etc.

And finally repeat the cycle.

This points out how fundamental mind mapping is for the design thinking process, and how it can trigger  creativity and intuition.


Stephanie Johnstone IN PDF Reflection I choose one of the most powerful tools regarding the Design Thinking , the Mind Mapping . Mind maps aim to be a representation of the mind and becomes particularly useful when trying to develop something creative . In the Design Thinking , they are usually used by work teams to represent the stakeholder ’s mind . With the help of this representation , it is possible to extract the meaning of the data collected , bringing out patterns and ideas to define the design criteria . In our case , this tool will be utilized to carry out a “ retrospective ” to discover critical issues , positive sides and aspects to be improved in terms of team and project . Application For our first Mind Mapping , we focused on the structure / execution of our activities in the project and how we were facing them . In particular , we wanted to see if we could structure our jobs , project and processes in order to optimize them and improve the qualitative side , intended as the best quality of the work done , and how to improve the gratification of the worker in performing that job . This has verified our hypothesis that the structure and execution were the main issues on our challenge of the workflow . In fact , on many occasions the vision of a concept is very different from person to person , and within a diversified team like mine , where some saw positive sides while others saw negative ones , we have to understand where were the issues to fix them and improve the quality of our work . So , we gathered in a room , took some post - it and a billboard : from there our mind mapping started . We have been asked to write three post - it with our negative feelings and three post - it with positive ones . After a first moment of reflection we were asked to put these post - it on the board , dividing the negatives on one side and the positives on the other . Shortly thereafter , we started identifying the common themes to these post - its and then grouping them together . Finally , we were asked to highlight each team member the most relevant / important post - it note . Insight & Approach As I said , the mind map is over , however the mental mapping process of design thinking is still incomplete . Now we need to turn these observations into intuitions , trying to find out what the observations could imply . In the board , we created a new column entitled '' Actions to be taken '' where we discussed the possible solutions of the post - it placed on the negative side of the board . Once you have the design criteria in hand , you will be ready to move on to thinking about possible solutions to your design challenge . The design criteria are the basis of What - if ? We focused on possible solutions , testing them monthly and repeating mind mapping . Since our team has already gone through several design activities / tools , Mind Mapping seems to be the appropriate tool . As mentioned above , our team will have to review the information gained within our firsts mind mappings . The future mind mappings should focus , in addition to the intuitions acquired ( both positive and negative ) , on the " actions to be taken " to understand if these have been undertaken and in what modality , to see if the intuition has been corrected , etc . And finally repeat the cycle . This points out how fundamental mind mapping is for the design thinking process , and how it can trigger creativity and intuition .