ProjectThe objective of the project is to give you a chance to apply the concepts, principles, and processes we are learning to a real-world innovation target. You will form a design team with 6-7 people to conduct this project. You select the team members, but the more diverse the backgrounds, experiences, and world views of the team members, the better! Remember: the main objective is to learn by doing. Your goal is to apply the principles, methods, and tools we have covered in this class so that you can really learn them and learn how to use them.
You will have two final reports. The first is the final project report for the sponsor. In addition, you will provide a final report to Matt + each of the following deliverables:
Research brief. Your team will create a research brief using the tools & templates as guides. It is OK to have gaps as along as you identify what those gaps are and have a plan for addressing them. The design consultants will be there to help. This deliverable is due January 19th. Bring one copy to class, but keep a copy (digital or hard) for your final report to Matt.
Secondary research & research plan. Your team will create a summary of the key insights and lessons you gained from your secondary research and then prepare a detailed research plan describing the methods and tools you will use to gather information about your user and the project focus. This deliverable is due January 24th. Bring one copy to class, but keep a copy (digital or hard) for your final report to Matt.
Research notes. These are all of the notes, pictures, videos, transcripts of interviews, sketches, etc. that contain the information you gained through your research. This is a large section of your project documentation because you have gathered lots of observations, data, interviews, etc. Notes from your initial research is due January 31st, but all of your notes will be a part of your final report to Matt.
Observation synthesis and guiding design objectives. The objective here is to synthesize the insights you gained from your observations and then to present your guiding design objectives. Of course, you will need to generate ample observational data (e.g., field notes, photographs, videos, interview summaries,) as the basis for this synthesis. The key is to find, in all of the observational data you obtain, the unmet needs, hidden problems and/or unarticulated opportunities that will be the basis for your guiding design objectives and your innovations. This deliverable is due February 7th, but keep a copy (digital or hard) for your final report to Matt.
Ideas & refinement activities: This summary report will convey the breadth and depth of ideas that your team generated, and it will demonstrate the range of refining activities your team engaged in to select, test, and hone your best ideas. This deliverable is due February 14th. Bring one copy to class, but keep a copy (digital or hard) for your final report to Matt.
Final report: This is the final report that you will give to the sponsor. It includes a concise review of all phases of the project, but highlights a set of final ideas, some that are more incremental and some that are more radical. Each idea should be described in sufficient detail that a reader will understand both the idea and why you are proposing it. It is important to link each idea back to your observations guiding and design objectives. Your goal here is to present and describe your ideas in a manner that convincingly shows why they are truly innovative. This deliverable is due March 1st.
Idea pitch & final report. You will have 10 minutes to pitch your ideas to a panel of design leaders. You decide the format that best conveys the essence of your ideas and also shows them off in a compelling manner. You will have to decide which ideas to include; you may not have time to pitch all of them. Your audience will be a panel of innovation and design experts, so the pitch should be compelling, innovative and polished. Your audience is accustomed to seeing novel ideas, so a traditional business presentation is less likely to impress them. You will have 10 minutes for your pitch followed by a 15 minute Q & A session. This deliverable is due March 1st.
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