BUILD

From ENT3607 Innovation by Design

Methods > Design Thinking > Plan > Empathize > Ideate > Build

In this module, the designers take on a "mad scientist" mindset as they work to quickly bring their ideas to life through low-fidelity prototypes and rapid, frequent iteration using user feedback to learn what works and what doesn't and altering the prototype until they reach success.

Note: Design Thinking activities can be conducted live and in person with sticky notes and whiteboard, or virtually online utilizing collaborative tools such as Zoom and Miro with virtual sticky notes and whiteboard.

 Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping is the key to many innovation frameworks including Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Agile Development. The concept is simple and logical: rather than sinking a ton of money and time into a single prototype that customers may end up hating, create quick, low-fidelity, crude prototypes that demonstrate the basic principles being tested (sometimes called a minimal viable product), gather feedback, and iterate adding features and adjustments based on frequent user feedback. This ensures that when the development process is finished, customers will love your product.

Through Design Thinking you may create a solution that is software/app, or a physical invention, a service or a system (a way of doing things). Depending on the form your product takes, you will utilize one or more of the following types of prototypes.

2. Paper Prototyping

Paper prototyping can be used to quickly create physical models, or visual models of digital products. It is the first step in turning an app idea into an actual app. It's a great way to get user feedback on an idea before investing a lot of time and money on developing the product or app. Also, users are more likely to give candid feedback if they know a lot of investment hasn't already been made in the idea. Give it a try!

• Watch the video to gain an understanding of how a paper prototype works.

• Use this template to draw your prototypes - either print it or use it as a guide to draw your screens on blank paper.

• Work as a group to design your apps home screen in a roughly 2.5" x 4.25" rectangular screen - three screens to a page (as in the template). Try to keep your app simple with as few options as possible to keep the number of click-paths to a minimum. You should consider downsizing and narrowing the scope of your app if it has more than one or two primary functions. It doesn't have to solve your design challenge completely. It could just focus on one element of the challenge. Apps that try to do it all are too complicated for users and end up failing. Consider the functionality of your favorite apps and the narrowness of their scope.

• Use the home screen size as a template for all other screen drawings.

• Continue working as a group to design the flow of screens for one sequence of user interactions (as in the video).

• Assign other sequences of user interactions to team members to complete all possible interactions more quickly.

• When finished have all group members take a photo of all of the screen prototypes.

• Use a phone overlay (as in the video) to demo your app for classmates to critique or in a Flash Feedback session as described at the bottom of this page.

4. 3D Modeling

There are many forms of modeling using a variety of materials: paper, cardboard, wire, clay, legos, whatever it takes to quickly create a low-resolution model/prototype of your idea to get feedback on your design idea. If you’ve never used crafting materials to build a prototype you should give it a try! Getting your ideas out in physical form is a great way to get your idea across and collect valuable feedback.

3D models allow you to more easily tell the story in a way that people can visualize.

When designing actual physical products, designers often start with crafting materials to collect feedback on a rough design. Then, as the design is refined, they might move to developing a more detailed 3D design software. Tinkercad is easy-to-use online software that allows users to design physical objects. Once designed, the object can be exported for printing on a 3D Printer.

Note that 3D design and printing tutorials are available on the Innovation Hub website at www.innovation.fsu.edu/learn. You can print your design at the Innovation Hub using the online submission form at https://www.innovation.fsu.edu/3d-print-now.

6. Testing

Prototyping and testing are cyclic events. Testing should occur at every stage of prototyping and guide design challenges in the next iteration.

One simple and quick method of testing is Flash Feedback. In Flash Feedback, groups perform demonstrations for each other.

• Each group should send a couple reviewers to another group to hear their pitch, retaining two group members at the group's home base to pitch your solution.

• Pitches should last 3 - 4 minutes and should be uninterrupted.

• Feedback should last the same amount of time, again they should remain uninterrupted unless questions are asked.

• Resist the temptation to defend your ideas, instead listen closely with one team member taking notes.

• If time allows, reviewers can move on to another group to hear their pitch. The more feedback collected the better.

• When finished, discuss the feedback you received with your entire group.

Other tools for testing include:

• Future Journey Mapping: Create a Journey Map that illustrates how your Persona's journey has been vastly improved by implementing your solution.

Ultimately, you will need to share your solution with decision makers and stakeholders. Before you do, consider options to make available, how much your solution will cost, and what return on investment it will provide. Once these are established you can work with decision makers to frame the solution:

• Convene key decision makers and stakeholders.

• Explain the Design Challenge and Problem Statement, include the story from the persona's perspective, pain points and critical moments in the journey map. Include all of your research.

• Explain how your Design Solution addresses the problem.

• Facilitate a discussion on solution options, costs and benefits.