Tasks and Duties
Task Objective
In this task, you are required to develop a comprehensive strategic planning blueprint that aligns with the Design Thinking methodology. As a Virtual Design Thinking Collaborator Intern, you will craft a plan that outlines the vision, target areas, and strategic initiatives aimed at driving innovation through design thinking principles.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file detailing your strategic plan with sections clearly marked.
- Well-defined problem statements and objectives.
- A roadmap highlighting milestones and key performance indicators.
- Visual aids or diagrams (conceptual sketches) incorporated into the DOC file.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Context Analysis: Begin by performing a detailed analysis of a hypothetical business or product scenario using publicly available information. Identify challenges and opportunities connected to design thinking.
- Define the Vision and Objectives: Articulate clear and measurable objectives based on the analysis.
- Develop the Strategic Plan: Outline the initiatives and activities that address the identified challenges. Include timelines, roles, and responsibilities in the document.
- Integrate Visual Research: Create diagrams or flowcharts that visually represent the strategic plan. These visuals should emphasize the iterative nature of design thinking.
- Review and Polish: Verify that your DOC file covers all required sections, is logically structured, and uses coherent language.
Evaluation Criteria
Your submission will be evaluated based on clarity, creativity, depth of analysis, and how well the strategy aligns with design thinking principles. Ensure that your work reflects originality and provides a detailed, actionable plan.
Task Objective
This week, focus on building empathy by creating detailed empathy maps and conducting virtual user research. The goal is to understand user needs, pain points, and motivations, which are fundamental for design thinking innovation.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file that encapsulates your empathy maps, user personas, and research findings.
- A set of user stories and scenarios derived from the research.
- Clear visual representations and tables supporting your findings.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Research Planning: Outline a plan for how you will gather user insights. Use publicly available sources if needed.
- User Interviews and Surveys: Simulate and draft a set of user interview questions or survey templates addressing key areas of user experience. Document hypothetical responses where applicable.
- Create Empathy Maps: Develop at least two detailed empathy maps that capture what users say, think, do, and feel.
- Persona Development: Based on the maps, construct one or two detailed user personas that represent targeted user segments for a design challenge.
- Synthesize Findings: Write an analysis that connects your research to potential design opportunities and recommendations.
Evaluation Criteria
The DOC file will be assessed based on its depth, structure, the relevance of user insights, and overall alignment with the design thinking approach. Creativity in presentation and the clarity of your findings are essential.
Task Objective
This task focuses on the ideation phase of design thinking. You will simulate a brainstorming session to generate innovative ideas and solutions to a pre-defined design challenge. As a Virtual Design Thinking Collaborator Intern, you will need to generate diverse ideas while engaging in structured creative exercises.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file outlining your ideation process, brainstorming techniques, and a curated list of ideas.
- Descriptions of creative exercises used, such as mind mapping or role-playing.
- Diagrams or sketches that visualize your brainstorming process.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Define the Problem: Start by restating the design challenge and identifying its core issues.
- Plan the Brainstorming Session: Describe the framework you will use (e.g., SWOT analysis, SCAMPER, or mind mapping) to generate ideas. Include a schedule and guidelines.
- Generate Ideas: Document at least 10 innovative ideas or solutions along with brief explanations for each.
- Visualize the Process: Draw diagrams or mind maps that clearly show relationships between ideas.
- Reflection: Summarize which ideas are most viable and why, and propose next steps to refine these ideas further.
Evaluation Criteria
Your submission will be evaluated on creativity, thoroughness in documenting the ideation process, logical organization of ideas, and the clarity of your visual aids. Ensure that the DOC file flows logically and provides evidence of iterative thinking.
Task Objective
This week, you will focus on turning ideas into tangible prototypes. Your task is to develop low-fidelity prototypes and storyboards that depict user interactions and the envisioned design solution. As an intern, your goal is to simulate how a rough idea can evolve into a visual narrative for future development.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file containing the prototypes, storyboards, and detailed explanations for each storyboard frame.
- Annotated sketches or digital drawings (embedded as images within the DOC file) that illustrate the user journey.
- A narrative that explains the context and rationale behind the design decisions.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Conceptualization: Choose one or two ideas from your prior ideation task and outline their basic functionality.
- Sketching Prototypes: Create low-fidelity prototypes that represent the idea using paper sketches or simple digital tools. Embed these images into your DOC file.
- Storyboarding: Develop a storyboard that maps out a typical user journey interacting with the prototype. Each storyboard frame should detail key interactions, emotions, and environmental factors.
- Documentation: Write commentary for each frame explaining the rationale behind design choices and how it addresses user needs.
- Review Process: Ensure the narrative connects logically with the visual elements and overall design philosophy.
Evaluation Criteria
This task will be evaluated based on the clarity of prototypes, the detail within the storyboards, and the coherence between narrative and visuals. The DOC file must be well-organized, demonstrating a clear evolution from initial concept to visual prototype.
Task Objective
The aim of this week's task is to bring a critical eye to your prototyping work by developing a simulated user testing process. As a Virtual Design Thinking Collaborator Intern, you will learn how testing and iterative feedback can refine a design solution, making it more user-centric and effective.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file that captures the entire testing process, including the testing plan, simulated feedback, iterations, and final adjustments.
- Detailed descriptions of the testing process, mock user feedback, and action points resulting from the feedback.
- Annotated pictures or diagrams showing iterations and adjustments.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Develop a Testing Protocol: Design a testing plan that outlines goals, metrics, and methods for gathering feedback. Explain how you intend to simulate or draw upon publicly available user feedback.
- Simulate User Testing: Create a scenario where hypothetical users interact with your prototype. Document their feedback and highlight areas for improvement.
- Feedback Analysis: Analyze the feedback and suggest concrete iterations that would improve the prototype.
- Implement Iterations: Detail the changes made to the initial design. Use before-and-after comparisons to highlight improvements.
- Reflect on the Process: Conclude with a summary that explains the lessons learned from the user testing process and potential next steps for enhanced user experience.
Evaluation Criteria
The DOC file will be assessed on thoroughness of the testing plan, relevance and quality of simulated feedback, clarity of iteration processes, and logical structure of the final submission. High emphasis will be placed on the iterative nature of design thinking and transparency in documenting feedback implementation.
Task Objective
In the final week, consolidate your internship experience into a comprehensive final presentation. Your goal is to synthesize the knowledge gained from previous weeks, reflect on the design thinking process, and outline future recommendations for advancing the design solution. This task requires you to present your iterative journey from ideation to prototype testing as a cohesive narrative.
Expected Deliverables
- A DOC file that serves as a final presentation document, covering every phase of the design thinking process you worked on.
- A reflective summary of challenges, learnings, and success stories encountered during the internship.
- A proposal section that outlines future strategies and potential pivots for further development based on design thinking insights.
Key Steps to Complete the Task
- Recap the Journey: Begin by writing a comprehensive overview of the projects completed over the previous five weeks, emphasizing the evolution of your ideas.
- Analyze and Reflect: Present a detailed reflection on the challenges, insights, and successes of each phase, providing a clear self-assessment of your approach.
- Synthesize Knowledge: Draw connections between the different phases and highlight key learnings that have impacted your design decisions.
- Develop Future Recommendations: Propose next steps and potential improvements. Outline what changes you would implement if the project were to continue, using design thinking criteria.
- Design a Final Narrative: Ensure the submission is presented as a cohesive, well-structured document combining text, visuals, and reflective insights.
Evaluation Criteria
Your final DOC file will be evaluated based on its comprehensive nature, clarity of thought, and ability to capture the iterative journey. Emphasis will be placed on the quality of reflection, the effectiveness of synthesizing information across tasks, and the viability of your future recommendation section. The overall organization and visual presentation of your final submission are also key factors in the evaluation.