Terrace is not just a terrace. (My design thinking approach to enhancing terrace experience) 🏦
Terrace is not just a terrace!! Yes, we spend a lot more time there doing various activities in our day-to-day life. I have tried to create a more comfortable and enjoyable terrace space for any family to relax and spend time there. 😊🎉
I am happy to share this case study with you. This design thinking case study is mentored by Anudeep Ayyagari, also known as uxanudeep.
Now you must have a question!
What is design thinking ❓❓
Design thinking is a way to solve problems by thinking about what people need and making the things that help them.
It involves understanding the user’s problem, brainstorming ideas, prototyping, and testing to create solutions that meet their needs in a creative and practical way.
This is an iterative process of learning and unlearning.
”When you start to design, you always think about whom you are designing for” 👥
It is an iterative process. We can refine and improve the product based on feedback and testing.
It is not a linear process. In each stage of the process, designers create and test prototypes, learn from feedback, and use that knowledge to refine and iterate their solutions.
This iterative approach allows designers to rapidly explore multiple solutions, test them in a real-world context, and quickly make improvements until they arrive at an effective and innovative solution that meets the needs of the user.
1. How did I start? It was literally a fight. 🤛
We were divided into groups of 8 people. There are several parts of the home we have to choose to work on. Like, as a balcony, terrace, drawing room, prayer room, utility area, prayer room, bathroom, parking area, and storage area.
You have to fight for the area and have to tell unfair advantage to get the space on which you can work.
This was the phase where I come out of fear and start unlearning and getting confidence. My thinking was changed by 360 degrees.
We get closer to each other. I fought for the terrace as I always like to spend time there. I had a very long battle with my batchmate to get this area and in the end, I won to work on my favorite area terrace to work on.
Learnings:
- Never thought you know everything. Everyone has different experiences and expertise.
- Communication will help you to come out of fear of failure.
2. Empathize: Know your users 👦
It was a bit tedious and frustrating phase. Here as a designer, we have to be prepared with questions that are going to give as much information as we need by interviewing the user.
We can not directly ask users about their problems! 🚫 During conversion or interview, we have to figure out the pain point and the frustration of the user.
This is what the designer’s duty is! Knowing the user, finding the problems, identifying the gaps, user’s needs, and expectations.
I try to get all this information by empathizing with my user.
We have to keep conversion in the story way and find the pain point and problems that they have.
The questionnaire I prepared for my users.
I started taking the interview. In the first interview, I was not that confident but after that, I get used to it.
During the interview phase, I learned that users always don’t think like what we are assuming. So stop assuming things.
Reality will come to know from the users themselves.
Every user has a different story and problem. These questions are not set in the sequence that you have to follow but they will help you to narrate the story. From some users, I didn’t get any insightful data. But that’s fine. I used the data to understand the psychology and behavior of users.
Here is the data I collected from the Interviews. 📚
3. Define — Defining the user’s problem 🚩
This is the time to identify the user’s problem they are facing from the insights we get in the interview phase.
There are many problems identified in this phase but we need to eliminate the surface-level problem from here. We really need to think that certain problem is for the majority of people and solve that problem what is the impact we are creating on society?
As a result, I list down 10 problems that I feel need to be solved and why.
Learning:
- Please don’t think about the solution at this stage.
- We don’t need to solve every problem.
- Prioritize the problems that affect the most user group.
4. Ideate — Come up with the solution 💡
We have a list of problems now. It is time to come up with ideas so we can solve these problems.
To make this easy I use the crazy 8 methods. Where I try to list down around 8 solutions for a problem. It was not as easy as I thought. Even though I was not getting 8 ideas, I try to list down as many ideas as I had. Here you can find the result of this process.
From these ideas, I picked the top 3 with why they need to be solved first.
Build a shelter to sit and stand in any weather.
- Most people want to enjoy the sunrise and sunset on the terrace.
- People can enjoy the rain without getting wet.
- Old people can spend time there.
- People can stand for some time in summer when we are on the terrace to collect dry cloth or things.
- Privacy will be there if we want during exercise or reading.
- We use it to dry cloth during the monsoon.
Fence or railing around the wall of a terrace
- Protecting kids from falling down is very important.
- It can be useful to stop monkeys from coming on the terrace.
China mosaic surface on the terrace
- It will increase the terrace’s lifespan
- The terrace heating issue will be solved
- Easy to clean the terrace
- Kids will not get injured if they fall down
5. Prototype: Build the first version of the product 🔭
We have 3 ideas for the solution. Among them, I go with the first idea.
Build a shelter to sit and stand in any weather.
Why I choose this idea:
Most of my users have this common problem.
My user mostly uses the terrace in their free time to sit and relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and dry clothes.
This idea helps to cover most of the above problems. It is movable so you can place it in any corner of the terrace.
It has a solar lamp which can be useful during the night.
This roof is going to be used in all seasons with multi-purpose like sitting, exercising, drying clothes, reading, etc.
Here is the first prototype:
6. Usability Testing: Know how users interact with the product🧪
In this stage, I have connected with the real user of this product. At this stage, you come to know how your product is usable and will come to know whether this solution will work or not.
Keep in mind that you ≠ user.
Feedback is a gift.
The feedback I got from my users:
- If we can make it foldable then it will be easy for users to install it themselves.
Reason: For now it requires an ironworker specialty to make the shed. - The size of the shed should be small so that it can be moved easily.
Reason: I have made a movable shed. If it is heavy in weight then creates difficulty in moving. - Make the string removable that we have kept there to dry the clothes.
Reason: It can make hassle-use the shed. - Solar panels can make the shed heavy and that can be difficult to move.
Reason: Solar panels have more weight. Also, it will make the shed costly. - Instead of a big solar panel, use a small solar bulb.
Reason: It will solve the light problem for night use. - If we are using solar panels additional costs will be added like AC-DC converter, battery, etc.
Reason: Removing solar panels will make shed pricing cheap. - Lightweight roof material can be used.
Reason: It will make the shed lighter and easily moveable.
7. Iteration: Work on feedback 🛠️
I already have feedback now. It is time to work on that and make the product more effective.
- I have removed the solar panel and installed a small solar bulb. It will reduce the cost as well as the weight of the shed.
- I changed the roof material. Earlier it was a green fiber sheet. Now I am using a tensile fabric roof. It will reduce the cost as well as the weight of the shed.
Here is version 2.
8. Learning from the project 🌿
👉 Try to design a product that works for a large group of people rather than individuals.
👉You can not solve all problems of the world.
👉 Don’t put an answer or solution in the user’s mouth during the interview.
👉Try to solve one problem at a time.
👉Biases can never be eliminated, they can only be minimized.
👉There is always a chance to improve yourself.
👉 I am not the user.
Thank you for reading the case study. 🙏
Your comments and suggestion will be appreciated. It will help me to make myself a better person. 🙌
You can reach out to me at shashikvekariya@gmail.com or on Linkedin
