Reflection – Visualization

NB

1. Challenge: First, I would like to tell you that I am working in a development agency, this

perspective is slightly different than the business sector. Even though, I feel design thinking  process is useful to applied to development problems. The challenge is to reduce the structural  vulnerability of the buildings of my city, using in this reflection the design thinking tools. The main  problem identified is the current high vulnerability of building constructions in the city, in a very  high seismic hazard environment, mainly due to: 1) Lack of population memory regarding past  seismic disasters in this city. 2) Residential houses deficit. 3) Most vulnerable population in urban  areas is living in very unsafe building constructions due to the lack of knowledge, technical  support and control of local authorities. All these description is part of the “what is” definition of  the problem.

2. Selection: I select the visualization tool, to start collecting tangible ideas and concrete solutions or

possibilities, based on the reflection of “what if”, I proposed a group of engineers and  stakeholders to reflect about this problem and do a brainstorming of possible solutions. I also  explore different solutions done abroad through a web research, trying to find innovative way to  tackle this issue. Then we organize all the elements in a visualization poster trying to find key  elements, relations between ideas, opportunities and weaknesses.

3. Application: I start the process preparing a visual methodology to reflect the ideas of every single

participant in the workshop but at the same time organizing these ideas to prioritize, based on  some criteria predefined. I prepared a PowerPoint presentation with basic information of the  problem. It was an introductory talk to the participants of 15 minutes. Then, I present a poster  with three questions: What else characterize this problem? Experiences you may know, done as  pilot project or in other city/country? Which elements were important in the experience you  describe? (political issues, environmental, social commitment, others). I divided the 25  participants in groups of 5 persons, each of them receives a poster with the three questions and  empty cards boards. Each group has one hour, first they need to talk about each question, and  then write in the cards to complete the posters of information. They need also to choose a  reporter to report out.

I post all the poster in the salon and give each participant three color sticks to prioritize the  experiences and the elements to consider. This one was the first workshop.

Based on this prioritization, I did a research to understand more deeply the good experiences  prioritized by the participants. On the second meeting I start preparing some information about the  three most voted experiences. Just as a start point to continue with the question of: what if? I again  ask the participants to divided in groups and applied a brainstorm exercise, connected with the  problem we are trying to tackle and based on the information done before.

4. Insight: When you applied a methodology based on visual thinking, the participants share their

experiences in a different way. Everybody can look and reflect based on the visualization tools  and the work is more fluently and collaborative.

5. Approach: I really will apply the different methods and the four questions of design thinking to

design my development projects in the future. I really feel is useful to take some time to design a  methodology to conduct a participatory approach during the design process. It is more motivated  to find solutions or new approaches in a participatory way. The use of visualization is really very  important to connect the ideas in a different way.


Reflection – Visualization NB 1 . Challenge : First , I would like to tell you that I am working in a development agency , this perspective is slightly different than the business sector . Even though , I feel design thinking process is useful to applied to development problems . The challenge is to reduce the structural vulnerability of the buildings of my city , using in this reflection the design thinking tools . The main problem identified is the current high vulnerability of building constructions in the city , in a very high seismic hazard environment , mainly due to : 1 ) Lack of population memory regarding past seismic disasters in this city . 2 ) Residential houses deficit . 3 ) Most vulnerable population in urban areas is living in very unsafe building constructions due to the lack of knowledge , technical support and control of local authorities . All these description is part of the “ what is ” definition of the problem . 2 . Selection : I select the visualization tool , to start collecting tangible ideas and concrete solutions or possibilities , based on the reflection of “ what if ” , I proposed a group of engineers and stakeholders to reflect about this problem and do a brainstorming of possible solutions . I also explore different solutions done abroad through a web research , trying to find innovative way to tackle this issue . Then we organize all the elements in a visualization poster trying to find key elements , relations between ideas , opportunities and weaknesses . 3 . Application : I start the process preparing a visual methodology to reflect the ideas of every single participant in the workshop but at the same time organizing these ideas to prioritize , based on some criteria predefined . I prepared a PowerPoint presentation with basic information of the problem . It was an introductory talk to the participants of 15 minutes . Then , I present a poster with three questions : What else characterize this problem ? Experiences you may know , done as pilot project or in other city / country ? Which elements were important in the experience you describe ? ( political issues , environmental , social commitment , others ) . I divided the 25 participants in groups of 5 persons , each of them receives a poster with the three questions and empty cards boards . Each group has one hour , first they need to talk about each question , and then write in the cards to complete the posters of information . They need also to choose a reporter to report out . I post all the poster in the salon and give each participant three color sticks to prioritize the experiences and the elements to consider . This one was the first workshop . Based on this prioritization , I did a research to understand more deeply the good experiences prioritized by the participants . On the second meeting I start preparing some information about the three most voted experiences . Just as a start point to continue with the question of : what if ? I again ask the participants to divided in groups and applied a brainstorm exercise , connected with the problem we are trying to tackle and based on the information done before . 4 . Insight : When you applied a methodology based on visual thinking , the participants share their experiences in a different way . Everybody can look and reflect based on the visualization tools and the work is more fluently and collaborative . 5 . Approach : I really will apply the different methods and the four questions of design thinking to design my development projects in the future . I really feel is useful to take some time to design a methodology to conduct a participatory approach during the design process . It is more motivated to find solutions or new approaches in a participatory way . The use of visualization is really very important to connect the ideas in a different way .