processes

It's week two of design 100 at the University of Auckland. We are getting used to the design space, getting to know each and learning the all-new language of design. Our first big task during this 3-hour time slot was to do a design sprint in under 2 hours. A design sprint, a new word in my vocabulary meaning “a unique five-day process for validating ideas and solving big challenges through prototyping and testing ideas with customers.” With help from our lecturers, we walked through an entire process from start to finish. Unfortunately, when I was in the rush to leave my accommodation at the University of Auckland I left my worksheet from that lecture in halls. With not much to do in lockdown (apart from my design work of course) I thought it would be fun to redo the same activity of redesigning the wallet on my little sister! I enjoyed the first design sprint a lot and without being able to show my process on my blog site I thought it would be a cool idea to do it again on a family member outside of design. I still made sure I timed the activity and tried to think more critically about my questions the second time around. First I started by drawing my ideal wallet. I still redrew a basic looking wallet as I wanted to replicate this first step similar to the first time I did it. A bland everyday wallet with places for cards and money. Next, I designed and asked my sister questions on what her ideal wallet would look like. She told me about how she keeps her cards and money in her swimming bag. She is a competitive athlete and has many cards e.g. swipe access to the pool, gym, school gym etc. She said she currently doesn't have a wallet but would like one. As I captured my findings I worked out that Jade needs a way to carry her belongings in a convenient and easily accessible way. I sketched out 5 radical ways to meet my sister's needs. I shared my solutions and she particularly liked my magnetic phone wallet but liked the envelope design on another featured wallet. She didn't like the land yard idea as she said it would be impractical to wear it everyday even if it was discrete. I reflected on her feedback and generated a new solution to an envelope magnetic wallet. This way she can keep it in her swim bag so her important items do not get mixed in with her togs towels and goggles. She can clip the wallet on her phone when she wants easily accessible items of her swipe card. By following the design sprint model I was able to specifically design a wallet best fit for my little sister. Unfortunately, I couldn't prototype it for her as I didn't have the right materials but she was really happy with the final product and wanted one for her phone and swim bag! #des100

works cited:

Lo, G. (2018, November 11). What's a Design Sprint and why is it important? Retrieved from https://uxplanet.org/whats-a-design-sprint-and-why-is-it-important-f7b826651e09