Kickstarting UX Career with a Design Thinking Project

I never studied design. I am an engineer, and well, that’s nothing more than a tag for me. I always wanted to do something creative, something that is more than MSExcel and formulas. In that way, I believed Marketing would be a great fit for me. So I went on pursuing an MBA degree as:

1. I had worked for 1.5 years as a Marketing Manager
2. My parents would be proud and could flaunt the IIM tag (Guilty)
3. 💸Lucrative offer(Guilty)

and well, the most important, learning more of Marketing-the cool trendy domain. What could go wrong?

Blinded by the shine, little did I know it would turn into a real hell for me, so I ran away, desperately explored roles where I’d fit, found UX, and quickly enrolled in a Bootcamp (Growth School Design) lead by some super cool and talented folks who aim to inculcate values that make one a quality UX designer without following the textbook approach. It was the first time in my life that I was actually excited to LEARN, and the classes were Oh-so interesting! (I GOT LUCKY)🤩

Not knowing anything about this field yet excited because I had taken a leap, and what more could go wrong? I began my first project given to us — a Design Thinking project where I had to optimize the kitchen experience of ONE of the three users I interviewed.

Wait, WHAT?😲 Why not the fancy Behance/Dribbble friendly screens or wireframes exercise? It wasn't easy to comprehend the relevance of this project to UX. Also, what if the users’ kitchen is perfect? What if they don’t even use it? We are sitting at home, and honestly, we have our mums! But once I finished the project, I realized my learnings were profound. This mini-project was a transcendental experience!🤯

Why a Design Thinking Project?👀

This is what they told us that it was a little exercise to

1. Learn to empathize with your users
2. Understand the Problem before jumping to solutions
3. Come up with functional and feasible solutions

I was skeptical but began with the project trusting the higher power😅

The Process

We knew the process but not the problem statement.

Empathize

I interviewed 3 of my campmates for user Research to understand their Kitchen usage and find out their challenges. The users belonged to the 18–40 age group. I prepared 2 sets of questions keeping in mind that it’s the pandemic. People are living with their family and therefore might not use the kitchen very often. (Bringing in my bias of my mum cooking for everyone, Definitely hoping otherwise😷) I spent hours framing “the right questions,” questions that were open-ended yet specific to the kitchen to gain maximum insights. Before the user interviews, I connected with my friends, took quick “mock interviews,” and feedback on the questions.

I did not restrict myself to these questions in the interview and continued to dig deeper.

User Research Questions (Draft)

Define

After interviewing all the users, making interview notes, and going through the interview recordings again, I jot down all the challenges I could understand the users were facing.

I wanted to choose a problem for which the solution was not obvious like “Go buy a Chimney,” “Install an exhaust,” but something that would require some “jugaad”. The problem with storing ingredients in the kitchen was common among 2 users, and I already had some crazy ideas (not okay).

Problem Statement:

Same Jar different Ingredients

The jars used are stainless steel, and hence the user has to open each of them to check what’s inside.

The ration is bought monthly and stored in large containers, which are also stainless steel; as this jar is not used daily, the user forgets to keep track of the quantity left inside.

Why Stainless Steel: Stainless steel jars are preferred over plastic jars in India due to their durability, budget price, and low contamination properties

💡Ideation

I stayed off the internet to come up with original ideas. 🧠

• Use of transparent jars
• A jar with transparent metering
• wall mounted jars for big ones
• Use of UV sensor on the cap to identify when the jar is about to get empty and needs a refill
• A nozzle on the jar, so it’s easier to retrieve ingredients
• Color coding the cap of jars for easy identification

Prototyping:

Low-Fidelity Prototype, Stage 1

👉🏽Transparent Meter: to find out the type and quantity of ingredients for both small and big jars

❗Testing Results: The user would have to change every jar in her kitchen

👉🏽IR Sensor: I had this crazy idea of adding an IR sensor on the inner side of the cap of the jar, which will light up once the ingredient needs replenishment. (courtesy: my Electronics undergraduate Degree)

❗Testing Results: not feasible❌ if the jar is used regularly or is transparent. The transparent meter is enough.

👉🏽Dispenser: A dispenser can be incorporated to take out ingredients without moving the jar around easily.

❗ Testing Results: Different ingredients have different densities and hence might settle at the bottom and not come out of the dispenser without shaking or tilting the jar

The jar needs to be kept at a higher altitude for the dispenser to work.

Iteration — Prototype 2

Low Fidelity Prototype, Stage 2

👉🏽Labeling-for big and small jars

Using paper to label containers and securing it with cello tape, so it remains waterproof.

The label can be easily replaced if it comes off. Sticking multiple labels if the jars are kept on different levels and position

👉🏽Transparent Meter can be incorporated in big jars as they are fewer in number.

🔪Problem 2

I went on working on another problem statement as I wanted to challenge myself. I knew this problem was pressing but was afraid to pick this up as I couldn’t instantly think of possible solutions earlier.

Problem Statement:

The water from the tap in the sink was bouncing off from the dishes while washing them. The Pooja (prayer) Room is on the Right-hand side of the sink, and therefore water from the floor runs inside it. It was hindering a peaceful Prayer session TWICE A DAY!💦

🔨User’s solution: The user would spread a towel in front of the Pooja Room’s door for water absorption, but it wasn’t entirely helpful.

Problem

I went on conducting another set of interviews with the user to understand the problem more. He was kind enough to share the pictures with me.📷

💡 Ideation

• use of plastic curtain
• change position of a person washing utensils
• hang a plastic sheet on a string
• a mobile pole to hang a plastic sheet
• use of cloth hanging over a pole that absorbs water
• installing a small plastic fence on the edge of the sink

Prototyping

Low fidelity Prototype, Stage1

A hard and thin plastic sheet is folded in L-shape and then fixed on the wall behind the sink using a strong adhesive. It will stick to the surface of the sink using the same L-shape technique.

The water will bounce back in the sink after hitting this fence.🚧

Testing Results: It could be a little longer to avoid water spillage over the fence. It could be transparent to have a better view.

Iteration — Prototype 2

I incorporated the changes as suggested by the user, which worked well for him in the end.

🤯Learnings

1. An idea is not supposed to be fancy but something that works even if it’s straightforward and obvious (the label)
2. Think about the feasibility of your idea and what could go wrong. Be a self-critic. (the replacement of all jars)
3. Dig deep to find out the core reason for the problem. (another set of interview)
4. Ask open-ended specific questions.
5. Don’t try to impose your idea on the user because you like it. (The IR sensor)
6. Find out the root problem that the user is facing by asking more questions.

Let’s connect on LinkedIn and have a design chat.🌈