RAPID Design Thinking

RAPID Design Thinking process RAPID Design Thinking is a relatively fast and simple way to design something with (or without) technology. Reveal At its most basic, design is a solution to a problem. So, where do we find problems worth solving? We must reveal them! Start by deciding on a problem you want to solve, Try to think of something specific (e.g., instead of thinking about pollution, focus on a particular kind of pollution, like air, water or plastic). Next learn as much as you can about the problem you have chosen by researching it. Flip the problem into a question – this will help to guide your project. Alternatives Now that you have a question as your goal, you need to come up with a solution to answer it. In fact, you need to come up with many alternative solutions. Start by brainstorming as many different ideas as possible – big, wild, far-out ideas! Once you have finished brainstorming, discuss the different ideas,. Are there any connections between them? Sometimes, two okay ideas can combine to make one great idea. Decide which idea to take forward. Prototype Create a model of your device. A model doesn’t have to 'work', but it can be very helpful to show how something would work. Use whatever bits and pieces are available: pens, pencils, paper, cardboard, straws, tape, etc. Or, if your innovation is not a physical product (e.g., an app or service), draw sketches of how it will work. Iterate Continual feedback is very useful in improving a design. Test the prototype with users while observing and asking questions. Ask testers to give feedback by answering your prepared questions and giving general comments and opinions. Look at your testing and the feedback. What went well? What didn’t? What changes can you make to the prototype? Develop Create a plan to define each team member’s role and work out the resources you will need to complete your project. 10

Planning Your challenge: come up with an idea for a sustainable start-up business linked to your local community You must work together as a team to: ● ● Produce a final concept for a start-up business. The business must be either a PRODUCT or a SERVICE. Write and deliver a five-minute presentation involving all team members. Get started (REVEAL) Start by thinking about some environmental issues. Research the effect of climate change and how this might affect your community in the future. How could you use science or technology to solve these problems? Brainstorm ideas (ALTERNATIVES) In the introduction you explored some ideas for sustainable products and services. These might provide inspiration for a new idea or product for you to develop. • Design a product: Think about products that you use regularly. Are they environmentally friendly? Do they have a lot of packaging? Are they disposable? Are they made from local and sustainable materials? If not, can you think of an alternative? Will your product be made using sustainable materials? You could research how to use local, recycled or upcycled materials. • Services: Think about what services you use on a regular basis. Could you think of a way to offer environmentally friendly transport? Or a sustainable restaurant that produces no waste or only uses local, in-season ingredients? Or an app that helps people to reuse things or buy things locally? Could you provide locally generated energy? TIP! You should think about sustainability in every aspect of your business. 11