EXAMPLE REFLECTION - VISUALIZATION

Laura Poli

CHALLENGE  Describe your challenge, including all relevant information.  I advise people in their work transitions as they navigate from one job to the other.  In some  cases, people want to take advantage of the transition to think about doing something else,  something different, from what they´ve been doing in the past.  This is often not easy to pin  down, especially when people have many interests or there is fear or doubt.  My challenge was  to facilitate their thinking about career possibilities by using Design Thinking techniques.  In line  with what was taught in class, I tried reframing the challenge beyond career possibilities to  expand it and include what is that they really want in life.     SELECTION In your own words, briefly describe the tool you selected (what it is and why you  selected it, including video references).    I selected the Visualization Tool, which is the representation of thoughts through images such  as photos, drawings, collages, etc.  I chose it because of its ability to “unlock different parts of  the brain and access parts we normally don´t use during conversation,” and enrich the  exploration phase, as discussed by Ana Meyer (designer), in the lecture video.     A second benefit I saw in utilizing the Visualization Tool is that it would allow me to take out the  guess work in the process, by helping me actually “see” what the subjects were envisioning.    And, because it would help keep me focused on exploring as well (vs. directing) as we worked  through the images and questions.       APPLICATION     I used a number of visualization tools which turned out to be effective.  I started out with the  Wheel of Life exercise, which is essentially a circle divided into categories important to one´s  life, such as family, work, etc., where the person has to rate their current level of satisfaction  (see image below).  I then asked them to do the same exercise in another wheel, but projecting  their ideal satisfaction levels in the same categories.  Once completed, we reviewed the results,  and left the tool aside for later reflection.

Wheel of Life

Source:  coactive.com

As homework, I asked them to do a mood board or collage, consisting of images, texts, etc.,  much in line with what we saw in class lectures, focused on today and 3-5 years from now.  This  exercise was a freer exercise, with a wider scope, as they could include interests, dreams,  success factors, inspiration, or any images that resonated with them as they thought where  they are now and where they wanted to be in the future.       We spent a lot of time understanding and discussing the ideas and inspirations.  We then put  the collage up, and looked at it from afar and try to see connections, mood, colors, and things  that resonated most.  We then tried to unify the canvass learnings or insights with the life  wheel ecercise.  For example, we tried to how some of the items in the collage would add  satisfaction to levels to the original Life Wheel by sticking Post-its with the activity or dream in  the respective category.  We then chose the categories where the “collage” post-its raised the  satisfaction levels to that sought in sought in the second, “Ideal”, life wheel.    INSIGHT    I found visualization very effective and powerful because it allowed us to play around, question  assumptions, and spark conversations that allowed us to actually feel the energy levels behind  certain activities or situations in the collage.  It was also easier to detect common themes and  powerful insights easier.  For example, we saw a lot of outdoor activities that generated  conversations around certain criteria in a new career that hadn´t been considered before.      Since it was the first time I was doing this, and playing with post-its, I was a little bit out of my  comfort zone, but it was interesting to see that the participants were not.  They were actually  enjoying the discovery exercise.  I also wasn´t sure if we had broadened the challenge correctly,  but I kept on thinking, “if it doesn´t work, you tweak”, and we ended up working our way  through.    APPROACH Describe what you might do differently next time, applying the same tool you  sleected or a different one, and the reasons why.     Next time, I would certainly use visualization.  What I would do differently is play around to try  different variants and see what works and flows better.  This will help me identify which specific  tools I should use for specific types of situations.  Secondly, I need to work more on  “broadening the problem” as I think is critical, but have a hard time knowing whether we are  reframing it correctly.  Keeping focus on the task is important as I found that I would go off on  tangents a lot, and needed to reel us in to keep focused and get the ideas flowing to finish the  task.


EXAMPLE REFLECTION - VISUALIZATION Laura Poli CHALLENGE Describe your challenge , including all relevant information . I advise people in their work transitions as they navigate from one job to the other . In some cases , people want to take advantage of the transition to think about doing something else , something different , from what they´ve been doing in the past . This is often not easy to pin down , especially when people have many interests or there is fear or doubt . My challenge was to facilitate their thinking about career possibilities by using Design Thinking techniques . In line with what was taught in class , I tried reframing the challenge beyond career possibilities to expand it and include what is that they really want in life . SELECTION In your own words , briefly describe the tool you selected ( what it is and why you selected it , including video references ) . I selected the Visualization Tool , which is the representation of thoughts through images such as photos , drawings , collages , etc . I chose it because of its ability to “ unlock different parts of the brain and access parts we normally don´t use during conversation , ” and enrich the exploration phase , as discussed by Ana Meyer ( designer ) , in the lecture video . A second benefit I saw in utilizing the Visualization Tool is that it would allow me to take out the guess work in the process , by helping me actually “ see ” what the subjects were envisioning . And , because it would help keep me focused on exploring as well ( vs. directing ) as we worked through the images and questions . APPLICATION I used a number of visualization tools which turned out to be effective . I started out with the Wheel of Life exercise , which is essentially a circle divided into categories important to one´s life , such as family , work , etc . , where the person has to rate their current level of satisfaction ( see image below ) . I then asked them to do the same exercise in another wheel , but projecting their ideal satisfaction levels in the same categories . Once completed , we reviewed the results , and left the tool aside for later reflection . Wheel of Life Source : coactive.com As homework , I asked them to do a mood board or collage , consisting of images , texts , etc . , much in line with what we saw in class lectures , focused on today and 3 - 5 years from now . This exercise was a freer exercise , with a wider scope , as they could include interests , dreams , success factors , inspiration , or any images that resonated with them as they thought where they are now and where they wanted to be in the future . We spent a lot of time understanding and discussing the ideas and inspirations . We then put the collage up , and looked at it from afar and try to see connections , mood , colors , and things that resonated most . We then tried to unify the canvass learnings or insights with the life wheel ecercise . For example , we tried to how some of the items in the collage would add satisfaction to levels to the original Life Wheel by sticking Post - its with the activity or dream in the respective category . We then chose the categories where the “ collage ” post - its raised the satisfaction levels to that sought in sought in the second , “ Ideal ” , life wheel . INSIGHT I found visualization very effective and powerful because it allowed us to play around , question assumptions , and spark conversations that allowed us to actually feel the energy levels behind certain activities or situations in the collage . It was also easier to detect common themes and powerful insights easier . For example , we saw a lot of outdoor activities that generated conversations around certain criteria in a new career that hadn´t been considered before . Since it was the first time I was doing this , and playing with post - its , I was a little bit out of my comfort zone , but it was interesting to see that the participants were not . They were actually enjoying the discovery exercise . I also wasn´t sure if we had broadened the challenge correctly , but I kept on thinking , “ if it doesn´t work , you tweak ” , and we ended up working our way through . APPROACH Describe what you might do differently next time , applying the same tool you sleected or a different one , and the reasons why . Next time , I would certainly use visualization . What I would do differently is play around to try different variants and see what works and flows better . This will help me identify which specific tools I should use for specific types of situations . Secondly , I need to work more on “ broadening the problem ” as I think is critical , but have a hard time knowing whether we are reframing it correctly . Keeping focus on the task is important as I found that I would go off on tangents a lot , and needed to reel us in to keep focused and get the ideas flowing to finish the task .