ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION - LEARNING LAUNCH

1. CHALLENGE:

Humanitarian crises heighten the risks and vulnerabilities of adolescents and youth for they are

often overlooked as a distinct group with unique needs and concerns. An INGO surveyed youth  respondents who said that majority of them received relief assistance from the government and private  sector but the assistance has excluded their needs. Many humanitarian actors in the private and public  sectors are yet to include and incorporate adolescents and youth into their humanitarian response plans,  programs, policies and budgets. This was the problem that I wanted to address using human-centered  design thinking. By getting the inputs of young people on how to put them at the center stage of  humanitarian response, potential innovative and creative solutions were identiﬁed. Initial steps were taken  like secondary research, the conduct of focus group discussions with young people and online survey  with government agencies, INGOs and private sector. From the ﬁndings, I put together a project proposal  called Kit Booster for Youth (KBY) that would allow to gather the inputs of young people of different  vulnerable groups; the insights of service providers and humanitarian actors to determine what is  currently being offered and their pains; and the plans in developing prototypes and iteration. In order for  me to proceed with the production and establishment of the business, I needed to validate further my  initial ﬁndings by reaching a signiﬁcant number of key actors; developing various prototypes based on  their inputs; market testing the product, assumptions/hypothesis and determining the possible partners  and value chain providers, revenue generation and scalability.

2. SELECTION

To pursue my mission, I decided to use the Learning Launch as a tool to test the relevance and

effectiveness of the prototypes developed. In following the learning launch process, I worked on  identifying key hypothesis or assumptions; ensured equal representation of the different sectors or groups  of young people given their intersectional identities; the project sites where to launch (e.g. recently  affected humanitarian crisis such as typhoons and pandemic); put together a small yet multi-disciplinary  team with a skeptic person to do away with our personal biases; identiﬁed the timeline and costing; and  launched. This also included testing the business model.

3. APPLICATION

Following the Learning Launch Design presented by Darden, I identiﬁed the three main

hypothesis and assumptions that I needed to test along with its respective actors (product users are the  youth; value chain providers are the social enterprises; and business model is B2B). I have identiﬁed the  methods involved such as online and onsite focus group discussions, interviews and feedback gathering.  All key activities were implemented within the period of 4 months. A ﬁnancial workplan was made for the  proposed budgetary requirement. Then, a small team was formed composed of experts, youth reps and  duty bearers. A designer was also invited to package the product that is marketability. The designing of  the product went through an iterative process. Modiﬁcations and reﬁnements were made before  launching the products to the market. Using online channels, we continue to gather their feedback and  improve our product. The business model was proven to be effective after getting insights from the  partners and value chain providers. The Learning Launch was effective for it provided venues for users  and clients to co-create the product designs, features, functions, aesthetics, among others. The positive  results of the business model testing led us to start establishing a social enterprise.

4. INSIGHT

Design thinking offered a better way of creatively looking for practical and effective solutions to

social problems. It allows spaces for innovation and inclusion in the process. It allows you to be ﬂexible,  adaptable and cost-effective. It challenges your personal biases and challenges linear thinking. I like the  term Learning Launch than pilot because it conditions your mind to be open to different viewpoints and  perspectives to make your solution more human-centered than proﬁt-centered; but noting, it has to be  balanced for sustainability and scalability. There is no such thing as failure for every step is a learning  process on how best to develop your idea. Design thinking cultivates innovation; based on the needs and  wants of the people; and it creates, delivers and captures values that can make an impact. There are  other design thinking tools out there that can be used based on the idea you have, on the people you are  trying to reach for, or on the issue. There is also the possibility of combining visualization with mind  mapping, etc. What is important one has to be creative and innovative in every process of design  thinking.

5. APPROACH

I believe that my approach would always be human-centered design thinking for I would want to

contribute to addressing social problems. And identifying responsible  and innovative solutions can only  be gained using the different tools of design thinking. However, I might try other tools like visualization,  storytelling and mind mapping or mix them or develop other tools based on the communities I am dealing  with; based on the problems I am aiming at; based on my ideas and suggestions of the people around  me. I prefer to do this rather than developing a full business plan without going through the process of  iteration, fast prototyping, learning launch, and so on. I also would want to enhance my skills on design  thinking so I can also share what I learn to future young entrepreneurs.


ASSIGNMENT REFLECTION - LEARNING LAUNCH 1 . CHALLENGE : Humanitarian crises heighten the risks and vulnerabilities of adolescents and youth for they are often overlooked as a distinct group with unique needs and concerns . An INGO surveyed youth respondents who said that majority of them received relief assistance from the government and private sector but the assistance has excluded their needs . Many humanitarian actors in the private and public sectors are yet to include and incorporate adolescents and youth into their humanitarian response plans , programs , policies and budgets . This was the problem that I wanted to address using human - centered design thinking . By getting the inputs of young people on how to put them at the center stage of humanitarian response , potential innovative and creative solutions were identiﬁed . Initial steps were taken like secondary research , the conduct of focus group discussions with young people and online survey with government agencies , INGOs and private sector . From the ﬁndings , I put together a project proposal called Kit Booster for Youth ( KBY ) that would allow to gather the inputs of young people of different vulnerable groups ; the insights of service providers and humanitarian actors to determine what is currently being offered and their pains ; and the plans in developing prototypes and iteration . In order for me to proceed with the production and establishment of the business , I needed to validate further my initial ﬁndings by reaching a signiﬁcant number of key actors ; developing various prototypes based on their inputs ; market testing the product , assumptions / hypothesis and determining the possible partners and value chain providers , revenue generation and scalability . 2 . SELECTION To pursue my mission , I decided to use the Learning Launch as a tool to test the relevance and effectiveness of the prototypes developed . In following the learning launch process , I worked on identifying key hypothesis or assumptions ; ensured equal representation of the different sectors or groups of young people given their intersectional identities ; the project sites where to launch ( e.g. recently affected humanitarian crisis such as typhoons and pandemic ) ; put together a small yet multi - disciplinary team with a skeptic person to do away with our personal biases ; identiﬁed the timeline and costing ; and launched . This also included testing the business model . 3 . APPLICATION Following the Learning Launch Design presented by Darden , I identiﬁed the three main hypothesis and assumptions that I needed to test along with its respective actors ( product users are the youth ; value chain providers are the social enterprises ; and business model is B2B ) . I have identiﬁed the methods involved such as online and onsite focus group discussions , interviews and feedback gathering . All key activities were implemented within the period of 4 months . A ﬁnancial workplan was made for the proposed budgetary requirement . Then , a small team was formed composed of experts , youth reps and duty bearers . A designer was also invited to package the product that is marketability . The designing of the product went through an iterative process . Modiﬁcations and reﬁnements were made before launching the products to the market . Using online channels , we continue to gather their feedback and improve our product . The business model was proven to be effective after getting insights from the partners and value chain providers . The Learning Launch was effective for it provided venues for users and clients to co - create the product designs , features , functions , aesthetics , among others . The positive results of the business model testing led us to start establishing a social enterprise . 4 . INSIGHT Design thinking offered a better way of creatively looking for practical and effective solutions to social problems . It allows spaces for innovation and inclusion in the process . It allows you to be ﬂexible , adaptable and cost - effective . It challenges your personal biases and challenges linear thinking . I like the term Learning Launch than pilot because it conditions your mind to be open to different viewpoints and perspectives to make your solution more human - centered than proﬁt - centered ; but noting , it has to be balanced for sustainability and scalability . There is no such thing as failure for every step is a learning process on how best to develop your idea . Design thinking cultivates innovation ; based on the needs and wants of the people ; and it creates , delivers and captures values that can make an impact . There are other design thinking tools out there that can be used based on the idea you have , on the people you are trying to reach for , or on the issue . There is also the possibility of combining visualization with mind mapping , etc . What is important one has to be creative and innovative in every process of design thinking . 5 . APPROACH I believe that my approach would always be human - centered design thinking for I would want to contribute to addressing social problems . And identifying responsible and innovative solutions can only be gained using the different tools of design thinking . However , I might try other tools like visualization , storytelling and mind mapping or mix them or develop other tools based on the communities I am dealing with ; based on the problems I am aiming at ; based on my ideas and suggestions of the people around me . I prefer to do this rather than developing a full business plan without going through the process of iteration , fast prototyping , learning launch , and so on . I also would want to enhance my skills on design thinking so I can also share what I learn to future young entrepreneurs .