Practical 2: Observation & needfinding

Purpose:
Learn how to develop design ideas beginning with people, using empathy.

Due:
See Learnline

brief

The goal of this

assignment

is to do the groundwork for design ideas that are rooted in real people’s needs/goals/values. There are five steps.
1. Read the project briefs

2. Think about some activities which relate to these briefs. Jot these down

3. Observe two different
people doing the activities (some) you have written down. Pay special attention to breakdowns, unmet needs, and clever work-arounds.

4. At the end of the observation, interview people about anything that you need further information about.

5. Next, use the information gathered to create an empathy map.

6. Finally, based on your user findings and needs identified, go online to find inspiration from existing solutions.

mission: Review the three design briefs (see Learnline/Study Guide/Project Briefs).

Use a design brief (that interests you) to observe people (in appropriate contexts related to your brief) to discover their needs in a specific area.

In next week’s assignment, you will build on materials you collect in this assignment to come up with the actual solution ideas. DON’T LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS JUST YET! LOOK FOR IDEAS!

assignment

STEP 1: OBSERVE

Watching how people do things is a great way to learn their goals and values and develop design insights. This is called
need finding.
This assignment helps you train your eyes and ears to come up with design ideas. Your goal is to uncover user needs, breakdowns, clever hacks, and opportunities for improvement.

You will ultimately be designing a digital mobile product, but your observation may or may not include the person using a mobile device:

· If you are designing a mobile device interface for a task that doesn’t yet exist on the device, you’ll be observing users doing the task as they do it now. You’ll identify opportunities for the software to solve existing problems this way.

· On the other hand, you may be designing a product to improve an existing device interaction. In these cases, you’ll want to observe your user doing the task in situ that is, using their device to do the actual task in the actual environment.

a) Select a specific activity to observe related to ONE project brief.

· Read the three design briefs for this semester. Identify a range of activities associated with one of these design briefs.

· Select some activities that relate to one of the briefs where you can observe people ‘in situ’

b) Select two individuals to observe.

· Choose people who are
NOT SIMILAR
to you, e.g. a friend studying a different degree; a child; an older person.

· Your goal is to observe the successes, breakdowns, and latent opportunities that occur when mobile devices are used, not used, or could be used to support your chosen activities.

c) Ask these 2 individuals to participate in this assignment.

· Get permission from them.

· Be sure you coordinate with your participants to select a time that will be rich for observations.

· Tell the participants to perform the task as realistically as possible, while communicating to you as appropriate.  

· Use the strategies discussed in the learning materials and workshops to help.

d) During the observation:

· Take notes, & digital photographs to document the activities.

· As much as possible – use photos of tasks/ activities only – keep participant’s identity anonymous unless they are happy for you to use phots that show their faces

· NO VIDEO.

e) After each observation:

· spend 5 to 10 minutes interviewing your participants about the activity you observed.

· It should take you approximately 90 mins to complete the two observations if you have planned carefully. It will take longer if you haven’t!

STEP 2: BRAINSTORM NEEDS and/or GOALS

After observing people, go over your findings and use them to create an empathy map (

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/

) for each person.

· Use some of the data analysis skills learned during the peanut butter activity

· Based on your empathy maps, have a go at identifying user goals.

· Then, brainstorm how you could meet these goals ( at least 8) .

· Brainstorming is a group activity and should be fun!

· All ideas are good ones at this stage. You are not looking for solutions yet, focus on user needs and goals only.

An example of a need might be “Sometimes when I am at work, I forget that I have to pick up a child and take him somewhere. I need a way to be prompted no matter what I am doing so the child is not left stranded or frantically phoning his mother when he is late.”

STEP 3: FIND INSPIRATION: RECORD YOUR IDEAS ONLINE

Your next step is to find inspiration for the solutions you will be brainstorming in your next assignment.

· Inspiration can be existing applications, artefacts, products, or services that relate to your concept. Use a Trello Board (https://trello.com/) to organise your ideas

· Create cards for each of your ideas

· Then use web searches (eg Google Scholar, the ACM Digital Library, TechCrunch, Engadget, and Digg; Gizmodo) to help you find ideas for potential solutions. Also check out the Apple/Android apps store and any other sources you know to see what exists already.

· TIP: is important to interpret “related” broadly. Some things will be obvious, but

· It may be that a carrot-peeler or a measuring cup is your inspiration for an elegant and ergonomic design of a software interface.

· You may be inspired to improve upon an existing service or go in a different direction.

· Include a minimum or 8 inspirations.

· For each one note: what was the inspiration:

· how? and why? (This should be done in Trello)

Submit one document

Complete the template that includes:

1. Focus & Rationale:

a. Indicate which of the 3 project briefs your observation falls under.

b. List the potential activities you identified to observe and why

2. Process:

a. Provide an outline of the context of observation, task/s observed and the people

b. Briefly describe how you completed your Observation/Needfinding task: what did you do

3. Observations:

a. A captioned photograph showing each person you observed.

b. The photo and caption should capture a particularly interesting moment/breakdown/work-around from the observation. (You should have at least 3 photos with corresponding captions for each).

4. Analysing Findings:

a. Organise your observations into two empathy maps, one for each person observed

b. Identify the needs & goals

5. Ideate

a. Ideate: brainstorm a list of needs/goals/tasks inspired by what you observed. Go for volume (at least 8). If you brainstormed with others, please include their names in your submission. Include all of these ideas in the empathy map.

6. Finding Inspirations:

· Include a link to the Trello board you created.

· Ensure for each inspiration you explain what, how and why as appropriate

Submit document via the Learnline submission link. Ensure you clearly label your file with your name (in the file and in the document – see footer in template) .

in the workshop

· you will get 60 seconds to share the empathy maps of the people observed, one major insight/goal, and one cool idea (inspiration) found

Practical 2: Observations & needfinding

1. Focus & Rationale:

a) Project Brief: Sport Tech

Information technology which has rapidly been raised in the recent years now applied in nearly all industries, in the field of sport science, information technology promotes the development of sports science and it cannot be separated from the information technologies.

b) Potential activities to observe &why:

Healthy diet chart: As I visited the “Gym@CDU” I noticed most of the people has their own healthy diet chart that they follow in their everyday life to get fit and healthy. As I dig further, I found out this proper healthy chart is essentials not only for professional athletes but for a normal person as well to get their expected results.

2. Process:

a) Context: Students and the members of the gym’s know the importance of having a proper diet chart.

b) Tasks Observed: A number of people and the students yet has their unique diet chart and some of them do not follow the chart properly in spite of being a regular member of the gym and having the personal charts.

c) People Observed: Students as well as outsiders. (Ensure you have permission to observe)

d) Describe how you completed your Observation/Needfinding task:

what did you do?

Ans: I went to CDU gym twice to meet students and outside people. Luckily, I found one of my classmates who introduced me with some of his gym friends.
what questions did you ask at the end?

Ans: Can I contact you guys if I need further information, please?

3. Observations

Briefly explain each observation and interview session

a) Observation 1:

b) Images Observation 1(You can replace this with specific details)

At least 3 captioned photos that should capture a particularly interesting moment/breakdown/work-around from the observation.

c) Observation 2:

d) Images Observation 2(You can replace this with specific details)

At least 3 captioned photos that should capture a particularly interesting moment/breakdown/work-around from the observation.

4. Analysing findings

Complete an empathy map for each person observed. Use your analysis to have a go at identifying user goals. Use the image and source below to help create your maps.

a) Person 1:

b) Person 2:

5. Ideate

Based on the user needs, goals identified, brainstorm a range of ideas to help meet these needs/goals.

Include at least 8

6. Finding Inspiration

Using the Internet, find some potential solutions for the user goals identified. List these in Trello (You will need to create a free account!)

All ideas are good ideas at this stage. You are not looking for solutions, focus on user needs and goals only. Interpret “related” broadly. Include a minimum or 8 inspirations.

For each one note: what was the inspiration or how was it inspirational and why?

a) TRELLO BOARD LINK

Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/

Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/

S284326_Abdul kaiyum Shakil

Practical 2: Observations & needfinding

1. Focus & Rationale:

a) Project Brief: Sport Tech

-Information technology is important in the support for many activities directly or indirectly related to the sport, including improvement or physical activities, sports and all other application areas in sports.

b) Potential activities to observe &why:

· Exercise is the main thing to keep the body fit and good shape. It helps the blood to circulate properly and it gives your sell esteem a boost.

· Healthy diet plan: A healthy diet makes sure good health and proper nutrition. It protects us from many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetics and heart disease.

2. Process:

a) Context: Most of the students are concerned about healthy diet plan and performing exercise to get fit balanced body structure.

b) Tasks Observed: Many students are not concerned about the proper way of exercising.

c) People Observed: (Ensure you have permission to observe)

d) Describe how you completed your Observation/Needfinding task:

what did you do?

· Firstly, I asked my friend about my plan why I was going to observe him and what are the things I will observe. Then he gave me the permission to observe him closely. I saw what were the exercise he was doing and the equipment’s he used throughout the time he spent in the gym.
what questions did you ask at the end?

· Finally, I asked him some question which are given in the following,

1.How long do you want to continue the gym?

2.How will you be benefited by doing this?

3.What’s your goal?

3. Observations

Briefly explain each observation and interview session

a) Observation 1: I started going gym just recently, I saw my friend is exercising in the nearest gym I go. Then I asked him about his exercising plan and what is he focusing on such as I just want my body in good shape. Then I found him having protein shake and a bar of protein. I thought it would be exciting to ask him about is there any side effect of that or not. And I also ask him about his short-term goal and aim of doing the exercise.

b) Images Observation 1(You can replace this with specific details)

At least 3 captioned photos that should capture a particularly interesting moment/breakdown/work-around from the observation.

c) Observation 2: I was going to cdu lab for doing an assignment and then suddenly I saw one of my friends was playing cricket. I just wanted to have a chat with him, and I asked him since when he started playing in the tournament. He was explaining me, and I saw him drinking energy drink. Then I told him I would like to interview him for a university project and an observation. He was quite happy that. I asked him three question,

1. How does he get fit playing cricket?

2. Is cricket more of a physical or mental sport?

3. Is there any side effect of having energy drink?

4. What are the goals and values of playing cricket?

d) Images Observation 2(You can replace this with specific details)

At least 3 captioned photos that should capture a particularly interesting moment/breakdown/work-around from the observation.

4. Analysing findings

Complete an empathy map for each person observed. Use your analysis to have a go at identifying user goals. Use the image and source below to help create your maps.

a) Person 1:

b) Person 2:

5. Ideate

Based on the user needs, goals identified, brainstorm a range of ideas to help meet these needs/goals.

Include at least 8

1. Fitbit – Hi uses the latest model of the Fitbit to track his daily running and exercise track.

2. My fitness app – He always follows his activity in fitness app.

3. Spotify – He listens to the motivated speech and audio songs.

4. YouTube- He watches many videos on the you tube to get familiar with many tricks and techniques.

5. Jefit – It helps to track his exercise with high definition video instructions.

6. Daily Burn – It helps him to lose weight of 1 pound per week.

7. Runtastic running tracker and fitness tools.

8. Google fit.

6. Finding Inspiration

Using the Internet, find some potential solutions for the user goals identified. List these in Trello (You will need to create a free account!)

All ideas are good ideas at this stage. You are not looking for solutions, focus on user needs and goals only. Interpret “related” broadly. Include a minimum or 8 inspirations.

For each one note: what was the inspiration or how was it inspirational and why?

a) TRELLO BOARD LINK

https://trello.com/b/LJSaLdV6/human-computer-intaraction-design

-His goal is to make his body flexible and fit.

-Develop his physical structure.

-He feels its hard to get trained watching videos as he makes mistake sometimes unable to get the exercise.

-He watches many videos on the YouTube to learn more about the workout.

-He thinks he needs a personal trainer.

He wants new equipment’s to use

-He wants more hardworking exercise

Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/

-He feels, he is getting better as he follows Steven smith batting style.

-He watches many previous matches of seniors.

-He is learning a new batting technique.

He is happy playing different kinds of cricketing shots.

-His goal is to play for the national team.

-Is to recognise as a batting genius.

-He thinks he needs a genuine batting coach.

Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/