Posts

Final Post

Now that I have completed my design thinking journey and created a customer-focused innovation, I have been reflecting on what I learned throughout the semester and how the entire experience unfolded. One part I really enjoyed was how interactive the course was. Going into stores, interviewing people, and working with my group made the project feel much more engaging than a regular assignment. Because we were collecting real insights, it was exciting to watch our idea grow into something that could genuinely improve the grocery shopping experience. That hands-on approach also made some parts of the course challenging. From the start, we had to learn how to deal with ambiguity, which was difficult. Our project began with a broad question, and it took patience not to jump right into solutions. The design thinking process taught me to slow down and trust that clarity would come from the research. This became clear during our ethnographic observations in grocery stores, when we paid close ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blog #4

Option 5: The Blindspot Discovery: One major blind spot our group didn’t notice until after prototyping and testing was that our concept focused too much on making the grocery shopping experience a bonding activity for families and not enough on helping the stores make money. In the beginning, we decided on having adventure stations with different activities, but we didn’t think about the cost of setting it up or whether stores would invest in something that clearly didn't drive sales. After talking through the idea more, it became obvious that grocery stores need a clear financial benefit or they won’t add a new feature, no matter how enjoyable it is for parents and their children. After realizing this blind spot, we changed our concept to something that still feels fun for families but also benefits the store. We shifted to a passport-style rewards booklet tied to promotional items, so stores could earn more money while customers still feel engaged. In future projects, we’ll pay ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blog #3

1.  How did applying multiple discovery tools (e.g., netnography, field observation, in-depth interviews) reveal either consistent or contradictory customer insights? When discrepancies appeared, how did you interpret or reconcile them, and what does this process suggest about the reliability and limitations of each method? Using multiple discovery tools, such as field observation, digital ethnography, and in-depth interviews, helped us see both similarities and differences in how parents shop for groceries. All methods showed that parents value efficiency and view grocery shopping as a task, not a relaxing activity. We did find some contradictions. In the store, we saw parents' mood was positive when the staff were friendly, but online posts show frustration and stress when shopping with kids. Interviews helped explain this gap. Parents said their mood depends on the time of day and the store setup. They worry about costs but will still pay more for convenience. Overall, observat...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blog #2

1 . What was your biggest takeaway or “aha” moment from the design thinking bootcamp? How did this experience impact your view of innovation or customer-centric problem solving? My biggest takeaway from the design thinking bootcamp was how important empathy is when asking questions. When I interviewed my partner about their ideal cell phone, I realized how important it was to first listen carefully and then ask open-ended questions about their personal experiences. By doing that, I discovered needs I wouldn’t have realized otherwise. My partner wanted a phone with raised edges to protect it from breaking, since they’ve had bad experiences with dropping their phone. This process helped me realize that innovation isn’t about adding big features, but about understanding how people feel about a product so it can better improve their everyday lives. 2. Referring to the shopping cart video, identify two “rules” that guide IDEO’s creative process. Why are these rules vital to innovation? Two ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blog Post #1

 1.  To me, the “jobs to be done” theory means that people don’t simply buy a product for what it is, but for the job it helps them accomplish in their daily life. It focuses on the progress a person is trying to make. For example, before swim meets, I would often “hire” a Celsius energy drink. The job I needed done was boosting my energy levels right before racing. I didn’t buy it for the taste, but because it helped me feel ready to compete at my best. Instead of focusing on things like flavor or price, I think we should think about what athletes really want, which is energy or focus. Companies should focus on those qualities to design more customer-centered products. 2.  Marcel Proust’s quote relates to human-centered innovation because it emphasizes seeing familiar things in a new way and noticing details others may overlook. In the sport of swimming, “seeing with new eyes” could mean realizing how time consuming it is for swimmers to constantly put on and take off re...
Post a Comment
Read more