Joshua Marie

Design Thinking for Innovation   Reflection – Learning Launch

Challenge

I am currently a college student taking up the course Electronics Engineering at the Technological Institute  of the Philippines. I’m currently a 5th-year level student right now and in order to graduate, the major  requirement is to pass the subject Design Project. Our team’s design project focuses the design of a  hydroponic system of farming. Hydroponic farming is a method of growing plants using nutrient solutions in  a water solvent instead of using soil. Because hydroponic systems have already many existing designs  according to our research, doing our prototype will be like copy-pasting of the existing designs. Hence, our  design project will not be culminating and unique in any sense. Our adviser challenged us that aside from  making our design economically cheaper than the current alternatives, we should include feature/s in the  design that will make it culminating and unique to other designs.    Selection    Our team thought of using design thinking to solve the problem. After brainstorming of different design  tools, we thought of using the Learning Launch tool as the best tool for this challenge. Learning Launch, as  what I’ve learned from the video presentations, is a design tool in a form of a small experiment that tests  the new idea in the marketplace. In addition, I’ve learned that the purpose of a learning launch is not to  prove that the feature that we will add is good but rather to get the truth if the feature that we will add in our  design project will be culminating to the target customers.    Application    One of the trends in technology today is the Internet of Things or IoT. IoT refers to the internetworking  between physical connected devices wherein each device is connected to the Internet for the purpose of  collection and exchange of data. IoT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely across the network,  creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems which  results in improved efficiency, accuracy, and economic benefit.    We used design thinking to think of a feature that will be culminating in our project. After a long discussion,  we thought of using IoT to integrate our hydroponic farm with the Internet using a set of procedures. First,  there will be sensors installed into the hydroponic farm to gather necessary data. Next, all of the data  gathered using the sensors such as water pressure, water level, temperature, and light will be collected by  the Wi-Fi module for transfer over the Internet. Finally, the users can track the data and status on their  smartphones via the Hydroponics App that we have created. The good about this is that the hydroponic  farmers can track their farm anytime anywhere. Moreover, the materials that we used in the project turned  out to be economically cheaper and according to our calculations, we managed to lower down the cost of  the hydroponic system without compromising efficiency.    As this feature was but a small experiment, we used Learning Launch to determine if this assumption  meets the recent needs of the target customers with regards to hydroponic farm. Since this idea was

proven to be culminating and revolutionary to the hydroponic scene, we intend to use design thinking and  learning launch tool again to come up with more unique ideas for our project.    Insight    Using the learning launch tool, our team identified an assumption that will make our project culminating  then we tested this assumption in the marketplace. We could say that we managed to overcome the  challenge since the comments and reactions of the customers were proven to be positive. Making the  prototype economically viable is one thing but the integration of IoT were found to be revolutionary and  unique by the customers and specialists alike since no one has made a hydroponic system with IoT before.  Overcoming this one challenge lead me to believe that design thinking and learning launch both deliver  impact to both the sellers and the customers.    Approach    Since our team proved that learning launch is a very effective design tool for testing ideas, we decided to  use it for future challenges to come. Furthermore, our team decided to incorporate the insight that we  gained during the challenge and since design thinking involves many different design tools, we will always  be ready to conduct brainstorms to determine which ones are the most effective with accordance to the  situation. For the next engineering-related projects that will come into the future, we thought of trying the  Visualization tool since engineers are known best for being imaginative and creative with ideas.


Joshua Marie Design Thinking for Innovation Reflection – Learning Launch Challenge I am currently a college student taking up the course Electronics Engineering at the Technological Institute of the Philippines . I ’m currently a 5th - year level student right now and in order to graduate , the major requirement is to pass the subject Design Project . Our team ’s design project focuses the design of a hydroponic system of farming . Hydroponic farming is a method of growing plants using nutrient solutions in a water solvent instead of using soil . Because hydroponic systems have already many existing designs according to our research , doing our prototype will be like copy - pasting of the existing designs . Hence , our design project will not be culminating and unique in any sense . Our adviser challenged us that aside from making our design economically cheaper than the current alternatives , we should include feature / s in the design that will make it culminating and unique to other designs . Selection Our team thought of using design thinking to solve the problem . After brainstorming of different design tools , we thought of using the Learning Launch tool as the best tool for this challenge . Learning Launch , as what I ’ve learned from the video presentations , is a design tool in a form of a small experiment that tests the new idea in the marketplace . In addition , I ’ve learned that the purpose of a learning launch is not to prove that the feature that we will add is good but rather to get the truth if the feature that we will add in our design project will be culminating to the target customers . Application One of the trends in technology today is the Internet of Things or IoT. IoT refers to the internetworking between physical connected devices wherein each device is connected to the Internet for the purpose of collection and exchange of data . IoT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely across the network , creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer - based systems which results in improved efficiency , accuracy , and economic benefit . We used design thinking to think of a feature that will be culminating in our project . After a long discussion , we thought of using IoT to integrate our hydroponic farm with the Internet using a set of procedures . First , there will be sensors installed into the hydroponic farm to gather necessary data . Next , all of the data gathered using the sensors such as water pressure , water level , temperature , and light will be collected by the Wi - Fi module for transfer over the Internet . Finally , the users can track the data and status on their smartphones via the Hydroponics App that we have created . The good about this is that the hydroponic farmers can track their farm anytime anywhere . Moreover , the materials that we used in the project turned out to be economically cheaper and according to our calculations , we managed to lower down the cost of the hydroponic system without compromising efficiency . As this feature was but a small experiment , we used Learning Launch to determine if this assumption meets the recent needs of the target customers with regards to hydroponic farm . Since this idea was proven to be culminating and revolutionary to the hydroponic scene , we intend to use design thinking and learning launch tool again to come up with more unique ideas for our project . Insight Using the learning launch tool , our team identified an assumption that will make our project culminating then we tested this assumption in the marketplace . We could say that we managed to overcome the challenge since the comments and reactions of the customers were proven to be positive . Making the prototype economically viable is one thing but the integration of IoT were found to be revolutionary and unique by the customers and specialists alike since no one has made a hydroponic system with IoT before . Overcoming this one challenge lead me to believe that design thinking and learning launch both deliver impact to both the sellers and the customers . Approach Since our team proved that learning launch is a very effective design tool for testing ideas , we decided to use it for future challenges to come . Furthermore , our team decided to incorporate the insight that we gained during the challenge and since design thinking involves many different design tools , we will always be ready to conduct brainstorms to determine which ones are the most effective with accordance to the situation . For the next engineering - related projects that will come into the future , we thought of trying the Visualization tool since engineers are known best for being imaginative and creative with ideas .