Puddleshaker
2023
Overview
Puddleshaker is a platform that helps individuals and organizations of all types to innovate more effectively. Grounded in the principles of design thinking, Puddleshaker offers a structured yet flexible approach to ideation and problem-solving, guiding innovators through the intricacies of the innovation journey.
My Role
Scope
The Problem
Without a clear and easy-to-follow plan based on creative thinking, people and groups struggle to come up with new ideas and make them happen, which holds back progress and growth. There is a need for a platform that provides a structured yet flexible framework grounded in design thinking principles which helps individuals and organizations of all types to innovate more effectively.
The Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks countries based on their innovation capabilities and outcomes. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of innovation ecosystems in driving economic growth and competitiveness on a global scale.
James, an early-stage innovator is onboarding Puddleshaker
Onboarding
As James starts using Puddleshaker, he learns about "innovation sandbox." It's a playground where he can try out new ideas without worrying about making mistakes.
Next, James discovers the three main steps of design thinking: Understand, Build and Evaluate.
The app also shows James how to use it effectively. He learns how to move around and use its features to share ideas and work with others. These steps help James feel more comfortable and ready to start being creative with Puddleshaker!
He will begin with Understand Phase, to understand his target audience more
01 Understand
Now, James is diving into the "Understand" phase.
First, he'll use empathy maps and user personas. These tools help him gather data about his target audience—what they think, feel, see, and do.
Once James has a good grasp of his audience's needs and feelings, he moves on to the next step: defining the problem statement. This is where he puts all the information he gathered into words. He clarifies what exactly the problem is that he's trying to solve.
After gathering enough data about his target audience, he will move on to the Build Phase
02 Build
Now, James is moving into the "Build" phase, where he gets to express his ideas and start shaping them into something tangible.
He kicks things off using ideate tool. To help him organize his thoughts, James uses tools like how might we questions, assumption mapping and writing hypothesis.
Once James has a bunch of ideas, he can start sketching them out using a canvas in the prototype tool. This lets him visualize his ideas and turn them into rough drafts of what the final product might look like!
Once high-fidelity prototypes are ready, he can now Evaluate his idea
03 Evaluate
Now, James is at the point where he needs to evaluate his ideas to see if they're really worth pursuing. He does this using a process called "Validate," where he considers three important factors: desirability, viability, and feasibility.
After evaluating his idea on these three factors, James takes a moment to reflect on the process. He thinks about what he learned, what worked well, and what he could improve next time. This reflection helps him grow as an innovator and ensures he's always learning from his experiences.
Insights from Usability testing
Simplify the nested approach and consider incorporating illustrations or clearer design elements to reduce confusion.
Improve the clarity, conciseness, and personalization of UX writing throughout the application.
Address the issue of an empty screen and lack of messaging in the "Explore" section to guide users on what they can do.
Enhance the UX writing in the "Prototype" section for improved usability.
Consider the usability on mobile devices, as users may find the task challenging due to its critical thinking requirements.
Address user confusion throughout the application by providing clear guidance and instructions where needed.
Reflection
Reflecting on my experience with Puddleshaker, I gained valuable insights and skills that enhanced my approach to design. One significant lesson was learning how to collaborate effectively within a team setting. Over the course of just two weeks, our team successfully designed approximately 60 screens, showcasing our ability to work efficiently and deliver results within tight deadlines.
However, despite the progress made, I recognize that the app still requires further refinement and additional rounds of usability testing. There are areas where improvements can be made to enhance the overall user experience and functionality of the platform. This experience has underscored the importance of ongoing iteration and refinement in the design process, ensuring that the final product meets the needs and expectations of its users.