SEP 760
Assignment 1 Design Exercise
This design exercise was adapted from material provided by the Stanford d.school for McMaster’s W Booth
School of Engineering Practice and Technology Design Thinking course.
You should spend about an hour on this design exercise. Each step should take four to five minutes to complete,
though you might need a bit more time to create your low resolution prototype. It may feel rushed – that’s OK!
This is your chance to experience the design process.
Your Mission: Redesign the ‘waiting’ experience for your partner. Start by GAINING EMPATHY.
1. INTERVIEW:
Ask your interviewee to introduce themselves by
walking you through a recent experience – virtual or
actual – where they needed to wait for a service (e.g
doctor’s office, coffee shop). Ask questions.
Write your notes here
2. DIG DEEPER:
Find out more about your interviewee. What are you
curious about? Forget about what they waited for and
dig for specific stories.
Write your notes here
Reframe the problem.
3. CAPTURE FINDINGS:
What are the things they are trying to do? (needs)
How do they want to feel? What is their worldview?
(insights/meaning)
Write your notes here
4. DEFINE A PROBLEM STATEMENT:
_________________________________ (name)
needs a way to ___________________________
_____________________________ (user's need)
because/but -- surprisingly -- ________________
________________________________________
_________________________________ (insight)
Ideate: generate alternatives to test.
5. SKETCH at least 5 radical ways to meet your interviewee's needs.
Problem Statement: _____________________________________________________________________________
6. SHARE your solutions with them and capture feedback.
Iterate based on feedback.
7. Reflect: What new things have you learned about your interviewee's needs? Generate a new solution.
Sketch your big idea and note details!
Build and test
8. BUILD YOUR SOLUTION:
Make something your partner can interact with!
9. SHARE YOUR SOLUTION AND GET FEEDBACK.
What worked?
What could be improved?
New questions?
New ideas!
ADD PHOTO OF YOUR PROTOTYPE