First Concepts and Design Challenge Redefinition
Last updated
Last updated
Having a solution direction and target audience, I had all the needed information in order to start conceptualizing.
I had been lying down ideas during the process of the research. The mind map is visible in the attached image. My ideas for projects were targeting different approaches to providing mind rest and a more creative environment. They were both giving rest breaks (meditative room), personalization (desk objects that are personalized like a LED cube), and active break stimulation (through interactive installations triggered by movement). However, any of the ideas did not completely cover the solution direction of "Reducing the noise through promoting more active and engaging breaks". Therefore I needed to combine (maybe create new) ideas that would cover the solution direction.
After some thinking and more reflection on the research, I came up with a concept that combines a few of the shown ideas. In order to explain the concept, I would mention in more detail the problem I was focusing on. The image below represents an often-seen situation at the building. What is seen is a very basic representation of the floor TQ 4.1 layout. There are group tables (marked grey rectangles), isolated focus rooms (yellow cubes), and personal desks (purple rectangles). On The purple area, a coffee machine is put and the area is supposed to be social. Therefore the expectation for a good environment would be that people take their breaks in the purple (social) zone and keep quiet in the working area. What was happening in reality, however, was that people would subconsciously stay at their desks and talk to each other whenever they did not feel like working, which led to the noise disturbance.
As I have decided to direct my solution towards reducing the noise through breaks, I needed to create a way to promote more people to use the floor layout in the expected way. In order to achieve that I had to:
Encourage people to take often breaks to prevent mental fatigue which leads to procrastination.
Inform people when they are being too loud so that they are aware of their actions.
Encourage the movement of those people away from the working area when they are being too loud.
On top of that, I also wanted to have personalization and a creative-looking environment so that the floor's visual representation could also have benefits.
The created concept that was covering all the mentioned points was the following. I was going to create a desk break buddy for groups that acts as a personalized break managing device with a few features:
timer feature for timed concentration blocks
noise level tracking for bringing awareness of the current situation at the table
break suggestions (the device needs to charge) either when the break time came or when people have been too loud by subconsciously already taking their break at the table.
In order to create a personality for the concept, I wanted it to have a unique character and be more than just a countdown timer. Therefore I decided that the timer would be an actual little device with just a face (see the image) and it would just as a living person need a break from time to time. Therefore, I would need to take time off in the social area (where the devices' charging stations stay). Just as a Tamagotchi, the group would need to take care of their "electronic friend" and take it to the break area, where they can also enjoy a short break. The group can do and go wherever they want while the charging is lasting. I could describe it as "daycare for the device". After the group (and the buddy) has had enough breaks they all can get back to being productive.
Visually, the Break Buddy would not be complex. It would be pixelated and simple face so that it does not distract the table users but brings some character and liveliness. However, the charging station would bring the character to life. Whenever the buddy is put on its charging station, the buddy would digitalize on the wall in a 3D space where the group can see the recharging, now happier buddy. That installation with multiple charging buddies would bring character and indication of the rest area on the floor.
In summary, the concept has three main components that are needed for the desired result:
As I had an even more precise concept and target group (groups that wish to be social but sometimes do it in the wrong area), I needed to update my design challenge.
"Design an innovative experience to enable student groups in the Strijp TQ Building to have interactive encouragement to take their breaks away from their working table with the goal of reducing the overall floor noise in the OIL working space."
The concept was pitched to both my client and first assessor, and after approval, I could continue on with the next phase.
The redefinition of the Design Challenge was the step needed to conclude the Define Phase. It was time to start with the second part of the Double Diamond and Develop the concept further.
Stepping Stones: Concept
Stepping Stones: Design Challenge
It should be mentioned that the concept was a bit broader in the beginning - covering groups and individual students. After ShowRoom: Co-reflection with the client and the assessor, me and the parties agreed to scope down the concept to targeting just groups as they normally were engaged in more noisy discussions.
Showroom: Pitch
