Discovering Design Thinking

We started our morning learning about Design Thinking and how to use the process when applying it to a issue in our school community.

“Spark” was an interactive ice breaker to get us on our feet and talking to one another. First, we created a secret handshake with someone in the room. Second, we created a nickname for a different person in the room. Some examples were “Lime Boy,” “Mr. Snickerdoodle McStuffy Kinz,” and “Tigger.”  Lastly, we invented a motto for the other person to live by (If life gives you lemons, you can’t make lemonade without water and sugar).

We spent the rest of the morning going through the steps of Design Thinking in a Flash Lab.

These steps are: Discover, Empathize, Experiment, Produce.

The design challenge was “How might we re-imagine the lunch experience for MFS Students?”

We made an idea web and brainstormed as many different ideas as we could to solve this problem. We went for volume when brainstorming these ideas. Then we shared our ideas to our 4 person groups.

After we had all of our ideas, we were assigned a “user” to conduct an empathy interview. We were able to get to know their needs and wants about their lunch experience at MFS.

Then we created a prototype in 2D and went through a few rounds of feedback.

Once we had a solid 2D design we turned it into three dimensional prototypes using various materials. See some of our work below:

Here were some solutions to the lunch experience we came up with:

  • Redesigning the line system in the Dining Hall, including queue structure.
  • Mobile app ordering and pick up
  • Larger tables for more socializing
  • Feedback and interest levels for certain menu items

But this was only the morning challenge, to get us familiar with the Design Thinking process.

At noon, we traveled to the Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) to meet Jason, Stewardship Coordinator. Jason informed us about the problems in the Pinelands that we are going to attempt to address and solve over the next week using our Design Thinking Skills. We were introduced to the problem of off road, motorized vehicles are driving illegally in protected areas, destroying sensitive ecosystems. 

“I learned that 500+ miles of track are being destroyed by these vehicles.” -Liam

“I didn’t think it was that big of a problem … I didn’t know it was so easy for people to ride and not get caught in these areas.” -Safia

We asked a few follow up questions before heading back to MFS. We can’t wait to start brainstorming and interviewing at the beginning of next week, so we can help solve this problem!

2017 Experiences, Design Thinking: Problem Solving with Purpose