Step 1: Create a Persona
Meet our user persona, Amy Robson!
Step 2: Create a Mindmap of Problems
Above is our mindmap that documents the problems we experienced performing our one-handed tasks in the kitchen.
Step 3: Problem Areas & Solution Goals
Problem Area #1: Opening jars, cans, bags, containers, and other food packaging.
- User Needs: User needs ease and timeliness when opening packaging, while also protection against spills and dropping of items.
- Solution Goal: Easy opening and closing, prevention of spills and dropping, alternative to the hard-to-open containers and packaging that food comes in
Problem Area #2: Cutting, chopping, food preparation for involved meals
- User Needs: User needs a secure and easy way to prepare food; Wants to be able to chop evenly, produce less food waste, and drop less on the floor.
- Solution Goal: A product or line of products that will allow for food preparation efficiency and neatness while not taking up too much room to store in cabinets.
Problem Area #3: Maneuvering, lifting, and straining large pots that are hot.
- User Needs: User needs an easier and safer way to carry heavy pots and strain out the contents without losing food or burning themselves.
- Solution Goal: An adaptive product made for boiling and straining large volumes, easily maneuverable, would work with your standard stove and kitchen sink
Problem Area #4: Current products in the market are pricey and/or electric and bulky to store
- User Needs: adaptive products that are more affordable for the average household, not having to pick and choose instead of having a more complete set of products
- Solution Goal: cut down on cost to make these products, a unified line of products that may work together or share parts, adaptive add-ons that can work with existing products
Step 4: Problem Statements
Problem Statement #1: Design a product that allows easier and more effective way to open and close packaged food, without dropping or spilling the food.
Problem Statement #2: Design an easily storable product that secures food and/or plate whilst one prepares the food.
Problem Statement #3: Design a product that safely allows maneuvering, lifting, and straining large, hot pots with ease, while maintaining compatibility with stoves and sinks.
Problem Statement #4: Design products that are less expensive, high quality, and in an all-inclusive product line with the ability to share parts or add-ons.
Step 5: Reflection Statement
Defining the problem required us to dig into all the different layers of what the actual problem was, in this case kitchen tasks for one handed people. In fact, the first step was not directly related to the problem. We learned that making a user persona first allows us to get a clear picture of what the needs are. Instead of jumping right in and defining the problem, taking the time to think about the user allowed us to get an in-depth idea of what this person’s life is really like. Gaining insight into the goals and motivations of a model user made some very realistic needs come to light that made sense. Then, making the mind map narrowed down the different problem areas which we were then able to make into problem statements. The problem areas were translated into user needs and solution goals which were both generic and as simple as possible. It was nice that we didn’t have to make any big and/or specific decisions so that we can focus on nailing down the problem and allowing for an apt solution. We ended up with two problem statements which focused on opening and closing food and then securing food to cut or chop. This allows our project to go in a couple directions which is nice since we have options. The project is coming along well, we are brainstorming ideas and the end-goal is becoming clearer day-by-day. Although the specific problem we’re going to solve and what product we’re going to make isn’t clear yet, we are right on track. Some connections we have been able to make with lecture topics is the idea of making a product with shared components for some of the problem areas such as cutting food or maneuvering pots to reduce pricing and to increase overall ease of use.