OPENLAB: UX - RESEARCHER, DESIGNER, DESIGN LEAD
Openlab is a community of citizens, universities and organisations from the public and private sector which aim to create the conditions for Stockholm to be a global center for societal innovations. Their mission is to spread the theory, practice and mindset of User-centered Design through facilitating master and professional courses. Openlab hopes to spread User-centered design thinking as an effective way to help individuals develop products, services and solutions which positively impact society for social good.
BRIEF
With a need to strengthen and develop their brand, Openlab needed to align and insure that their user-centered design thinking values and principles were consistently communicated through out the participants experience during the course.
Our main focus for this project was to bring solutions which focus on the Openlab facilitators and also the participants partaking on the 2 Day Introduction course into Design Thinking.
PROCESS & CHALLENGES
During the research phase, by interviewing past participants and the facilitators of the Openlab Intro course, we found that
- many of the participants needed tools to help them continue learning and applying the Design Thinking into their everyday problem solving process
- the Intro Course encourages low fidelity prototyping to bring and test ideas fast and quick. The tools used are mainly post-it notes, lego blocks and the trusted pen and paper
These were the two major insights we have found. We felt that these could be areas to develop our solutions on bearing in mind it's feasibility and effectiveness.
Challenges that we had was finding a solution that enhance the experience of participating the intro-course, both for participants and the facilitators which is
- easy to maintain keeping in mind the limited time and labour resources that Openlab had
- a solution that consistently re-aligns the intro-course experience with Openlab’s values and principles
SOLUTION - WEBSITE RE-DESIGN & DECK OF CARDS
Through the research, we found that it was possible to improve the user interface of the existing website to
- have information easily accessible and find the right
information in the right places
- create a better flow of information
At the same time, we also found a way to bring out the fun and low-fi concepts that Openlab is about. This is through the 'Design Thinking: deck of cards'.
Our solution came in the form of an analogue toolbox, an Openlab branded deck of cards. The deck of 48 cards reflects the philosophy of Openlab (exploring and experimenting, working together and at everyone's ability) and Design Thinking (to prototype, low fidelity prototyping, creativity, to be hands on and to have fun).
The cards are divided through the 5 phases of the Design Thinking process. Every phase has it own colour which makes it easier for the user to identify where it belongs. Every card represents a Design Thinking method which consists of an illustration, a short description, specifications and step by step guidance on how to apply the method.
ADDITIONAL FEATURE: CHATBOT
If the users of the cards need some help with a method and feel like the information on the card in not enough, they can chat with a bot on Facebook. The user can discover and find out if a specific card is suited for a specific process. They can also receive a jpg file of a lost card and even receive more information about it.
REFLECTIONS
The deck of cards helped bring the philosophy of Design Thinking into the participant's problem solving process before, during and after the course and to also create an engaging way in talking about the concept and the application of the Design Thinking methodologies.
The deck of cards also enabled the facilitators to discuss and introduce the Design Thinking methodologies easily as well as enabling Openlab's colourful, creative and playful personality and brand to shine through.