Reflection-Mind Mapping.

Challenge/ Background:

I work for developing a small household business. These businesses are  typically managed by a sole proprietor who lacks the resources and who are  technologically challenged. I help improving their business. Recently I was  working for a home-based fashion designer by creating a platform to develop  to diversify her business. The primary advertisement source was word of  mouth. She was a homemaker. Being a busy homemaker, she never gave a  priority to her passion for designing customized ethnic clothes for special  occasions like weddings. She opened a business at a very low level to pursue  her passion. She started working from home in her boutique and her reach of  customers was very low. The challenge was to influence potential customers  and convert them into clients using social media and digital platforms. Along  with that creating an innovative platform for providing a service which can be  affordable and suitable for customers.

Selection:

I decided to choose a ‘mind-mapping’ tool to overcome this challenge. It's a  starting point since I feel it's a place to download all the information that you  have in your head. Mapping is a guide to start the visualization process.  Whereas mind mapping fills the gap between what is and what if. It basically  enables a supply of ideas. It helps in reviewing the goals and collect key ideas.  Mind mapping is interactive and more stimulating. Ideas can be presented with  easy reference using a mind mapping tool.

Application:

As the task was to improve the current business and diversify the business. I  decided to use a mind mapping tool to generate ideas. Ideas to improve  current business and promote the business digitally as well. I did quick  research among 50 women of 15-50 age group and asked them about their  views on choosing a fashion designer over a retail store, renting an outfit than  purchasing it for different occasions, the capacity of spending money for an

outfit and what do they expect from their experience in shopping, the  approach of choosing a shop or a designer too.

Overall data suggest that many young people choose designers over the retail  stores as the clothes are customized and made especially for them, unlike  retail stores where there are different sizes and pieces available in the market.  They are very much influenced by social media. Customers use the internet to  check reviews and work of the designers. Women are willing to rent outfits and  ready to spend more money on specific occasions like weddings.

After analyzing the data and brainstorming I created a map of the possibilities  of different ideas that can help us create a platform. While brainstorming, I  had an idea to launch a new outfit rental service for the customers who don't  want to invest in clothing or those who have already invested the money in an  outfit but don't have it in use. I drew a map and linked it with possible ideas.  Ideas like customer categories, occasions, types of outfits, offers, renting deals,  buy backing the outfit, customer reviews, etc.

It was easy for me to define the objectives after creating a mind map. I defined  them as primary and secondary objectives. Improving social media, creating a  blog and website, engaging and influencing current customers, and reaching  out via marketing to even more customers were among the primary objectives.  Working on designing a website where a customer can choose to purchase or  rent an outfit of their choice. Trying and evaluating the business model was  also included in the secondary objective.

Insight and Approach:

This tool helped me determine and review the goals. Mind mapping helped me  in creating a diagram of renting an outfitting service. It helped me make the  picture clear because of which the objectives and requirements were clear.  This clarity helped me in completing the project. Idea creation was possible  simply because of Mind mapping.

Mind mapping is essentially a method that helped me put everything in my  head, every business insight in a form of a flowchart, and then using that  flowchart I created a relationship that eventually helped me create a different  platform. I can gain valuable knowledge (relationship) more easily about the  customer's journey rather than taking the time to recognize it. It also gave me  an idea of space to improve where necessary.

Mind mapping is the base of visualization, I am going to use the visualization  process to improve my business model.

The matter of fact next time, I would like to start designing process by  storytelling as it is an effective tool which touches people's mind and their  thoughts. One can understand the emotions behind the idea and instantly feel  connected. Storytelling helps us finding the core value of the business. One can  stand in other's shoes and that connection makes the business more  successful.

Design thinking has given me a new perspective and a structured way to  develop and design a business that is very important in my profession.


Reflection - Mind Mapping . Challenge/ Background : I work for developing a small household business . These businesses are typically managed by a sole proprietor who lacks the resources and who are technologically challenged . I help improving their business . Recently I was working for a home - based fashion designer by creating a platform to develop to diversify her business . The primary advertisement source was word of mouth . She was a homemaker . Being a busy homemaker , she never gave a priority to her passion for designing customized ethnic clothes for special occasions like weddings . She opened a business at a very low level to pursue her passion . She started working from home in her boutique and her reach of customers was very low . The challenge was to influence potential customers and convert them into clients using social media and digital platforms . Along with that creating an innovative platform for providing a service which can be affordable and suitable for customers . Selection : I decided to choose a ‘ mind - mapping ’ tool to overcome this challenge . It 's a starting point since I feel it 's a place to download all the information that you have in your head . Mapping is a guide to start the visualization process . Whereas mind mapping fills the gap between what is and what if . It basically enables a supply of ideas . It helps in reviewing the goals and collect key ideas . Mind mapping is interactive and more stimulating . Ideas can be presented with easy reference using a mind mapping tool . Application : As the task was to improve the current business and diversify the business . I decided to use a mind mapping tool to generate ideas . Ideas to improve current business and promote the business digitally as well . I did quick research among 50 women of 15 - 50 age group and asked them about their views on choosing a fashion designer over a retail store , renting an outfit than purchasing it for different occasions , the capacity of spending money for an outfit and what do they expect from their experience in shopping , the approach of choosing a shop or a designer too . Overall data suggest that many young people choose designers over the retail stores as the clothes are customized and made especially for them , unlike retail stores where there are different sizes and pieces available in the market . They are very much influenced by social media . Customers use the internet to check reviews and work of the designers . Women are willing to rent outfits and ready to spend more money on specific occasions like weddings . After analyzing the data and brainstorming I created a map of the possibilities of different ideas that can help us create a platform . While brainstorming , I had an idea to launch a new outfit rental service for the customers who do n't want to invest in clothing or those who have already invested the money in an outfit but do n't have it in use . I drew a map and linked it with possible ideas . Ideas like customer categories , occasions , types of outfits , offers , renting deals , buy backing the outfit , customer reviews , etc . It was easy for me to define the objectives after creating a mind map . I defined them as primary and secondary objectives . Improving social media , creating a blog and website , engaging and influencing current customers , and reaching out via marketing to even more customers were among the primary objectives . Working on designing a website where a customer can choose to purchase or rent an outfit of their choice . Trying and evaluating the business model was also included in the secondary objective . Insight and Approach : This tool helped me determine and review the goals . Mind mapping helped me in creating a diagram of renting an outfitting service . It helped me make the picture clear because of which the objectives and requirements were clear . This clarity helped me in completing the project . Idea creation was possible simply because of Mind mapping . Mind mapping is essentially a method that helped me put everything in my head , every business insight in a form of a flowchart , and then using that flowchart I created a relationship that eventually helped me create a different platform . I can gain valuable knowledge ( relationship ) more easily about the customer 's journey rather than taking the time to recognize it . It also gave me an idea of space to improve where necessary . Mind mapping is the base of visualization , I am going to use the visualization process to improve my business model . The matter of fact next time , I would like to start designing process by storytelling as it is an effective tool which touches people 's mind and their thoughts . One can understand the emotions behind the idea and instantly feel connected . Storytelling helps us finding the core value of the business . One can stand in other 's shoes and that connection makes the business more successful . Design thinking has given me a new perspective and a structured way to develop and design a business that is very important in my profession .