RobO-Fixy
The Next Big Thing
"The Next Big Thing" is my third project in Experience Design 1, where we apply recently learned knowledge from lectures in Howest such as Storyboards and SCAMPER brainstorms, and create an interesting and original digital solution to a real life problem.
We were given a problem, and through multiple sketches, brainstorms and storyboards we had to find a great, THE GREATEST, digital DEVINE-worthy solution. Not only that, we also had to make a pitch in the end. We are not only challenging ourselves, our knowledge, our limits, but also showcasing you, the people, our beginner UX designer skills and stating our portfolio.
ROBO-FIXY = NEXT BIG THING
ROBO-FIXY is a self-driving, AI-powered robot, that comes ANYWHERE and ANYTIME when called upon in the special app or on the digital stands across the city.
In a matter of moments, the robot arrives and opens up a door on its side. You put in the broken item, and ROBO-FIXY detects that something is in it, using sensors, and closes the door.
Again, using sensors and cameras, the robot analyses the item and its damage. ROBO-FIXY is equipped with special tools, nano-tech spray and 3D printing, so its takes only just a few moments to fix the item.
After it's done fixing your item, the doors will open again for the user to take it out. And that's it! That simple!
But what was the problem?
Well, funny you should ask...
(I hope you had that question, otherwise I would feel silly)
("The broken shoe")
From all of the problems provided to me, I choose this one - "The Broken Shoe", where two people, a couple, are walking around a city, when all of a sudden one of his shoes gets broken (his favourite), making him sad, but her - worried. A very awful situation. Especially if you have a long way ahed or the weather is not...on your side. Through brainstorms I decided I want to concentrate on immediate action and ask myself How Might We fix his shoe on the spot?
And with this question constantly in my head for days, I continued to brainstorm. In the end the digital solution to this problem being ROBO-FIXY.
Why is it Devine-worthy?
I do not wish to come off as boastful, but I truly believe my digital solution, ROBO-FIXY is interesting, as well as useful, unique and valuable to the end user, the people.
COMFORT
When we go on our day, we have a plan. Go there, do this, pick up that, complete this. We're always doing something somewhere. And when all of a sudden there's an obstacle, our plan crumbles to the ground.
Nothings going to happen if a pen breaks, or your keychain comes off, but what about if your car breaks down, you break your glasses or...your shoes! It ruins the whole day, even a week or year.
The idea of a self-driving robot called ROBO-FIXY that comes with blazing speed and motivation to fix your broken items with a tap of a finger is convenient and comfortable to any user on the way.
No more researching which repair shop is better, cheaper, closer, faster. Users don't have to waste time looking and going anywhere - just send out an SoS on a special app or on a digital stand located around the city, and FIXY will come to YOU.
FAST, FAST, FAST
But the benefits of FIXY don't stop there.
TIME = MONEY
No more booking appointments and waiting for a repair. ROBO-FIXY will come straight to you, when you send out the SoS. You'll just have to wait for a bit, but she'll come.
The robot is equipped with sensors, cameras, special tools nano-tech spray and 3D printer. Combining tools and the robot precision offered by ROBO-FIXY, the repair process doesn't take long. A few moments and the user will be on their way.
Users can get their broken items fixed within moments, saving time, nerves and hassle.
OBTAINABILITY
In my opinion, the obtainability or accessibility plays a significant role in user experience of a product or a service. The option to call the Robo-Fixy not only on the phone, but also on digital stands across the city, allows the user in need easy access to this service.
Phone battery died and no digital stands nearby? Ask a fellow person walking next to you.
EASY
The concept of having your item fixed anywhere and anytime to me seems like a future dream, but that's not all...
Not a lot of buttons, no tech-slang, no communication to a person.
You just call the robot, put the broken item inside, wait a bit and voila - ROBO-FIXY will do everything for you!
But HOW did I reach this solution?
STEP BY STEP
STEP 1: Picking out our problems
We were given 7 real life problems spotted in the whole wide world. The very first decision I had to make was picking out the problem I wanted to work on for this project. This decision was one of the important choices we would have to make, for it changes the assignments perspective.
The problem that spoke to me the most was the "Broken shoe" problem. There isn't really a particular reason why I choose it, but I would definitely not like to have that experience while being on a trip.
Now that I had my problem, I had to dive deep into it...
STEP 2: Immerse myself
I spent quite a few moments reading, re-reading and then again re-reading the given problem. I didn't want to miss a thing. I wanted to really understand the problem and the emotions of the user.
Why was he said? Why was she worried?
STEP 3: Storyboard
One of the things we learned right before the assignment was storyboards. How it combines images and text to create even the most difficult problems clear and understandable via simple storytelling.
Seems easy, right?
Well...
Making the problem storyboard I had to remember a few things. While drawing some lines and some people seem like a very simple thing, I had to it so that it archives three goals in the end:
MAKING IT HUMAN CENTERED
UNDERSTANDABLE INTERACTIONS
PRIORITISING KEY MOMENTS
One of things I didn't expect was that the process will take me longer than I thought. It all started off with primitive sketches to figure out the layout and the story I want to tell people. If I make a bad problem storyboard, then it won't get any better in the next steps, so it was crucial to make a satisfactory visual story.
As I mentioned, It all started with sketches with pen and figuring out what action comes after what, the composition, the poses and emotions.
After the sketches I put my big-boy-pants and did my first problem storyboard for this assignment. Teachers taught us to not be reluctant, to take the thickest marker and blaze it all on the paper, so did just that...
At first I was quite satisfied with the result, but alas I went to a consult and received the much needed honesty - the storyboard wasn't good. Some parts weren't clear, some parts were redundant. So I came home, got my sketching paper and pen and started diving into the problem again.
My second attempt...
Although I believed this storyboard was better, I also felt as though I still haven't gotten across some key moments. I didn't quite like the second illustration, because of the white space, and I also regretted the stars in the 4th illustration.
Still motivated and a bit annoyed, I got my pen and started working again. Third time's the charm, I guess.
(my sketches of different facial expression variations)
And I guess, third time really is the charm! :D
I presented my problem storyboard to many many MANY people, and I was quite happy that about 90% of people got the main story and key moments.
I do know it's not the perfect storyboard, and that I possibly could of made a better one, but I was satisfied with this result, so a lot happier I move on to the next stage...
STEP 4: HMW
Aka "How Might We..." question. In UX design it's a question-structuring technique used to brainstorm potential solutions in a user-centered way.
It's quite helpful in motivating creative problem-solving by shifting the focus from a problem statement to an open-ended question.
To find my perfect How Might We question, I took notes and brainstormed...
These were my first notes on HMW, and this is where I stumbled across my first ever darling. I thought of a great idea, a digital solution, for the problem. I was so excited, because I thought it was quite interesting.
- To insert micro chips into the soles of the shoes, and when shoes are at the risk of breaking, the user gets a notification, warning of the danger, thus preventing the bad experience.
But there was a problem - I reached my solution without brainstorming, and I had the feeling that it isn't exactly what they wanted me to do in this assignment, so I talked to my teacher at one of the consults, and she told me to "kill my darling". To delete it from my head, and reach for something else, something MORE, using the brainstorms. At that very moment I realised how much brainstorming was important.
But before I started brainstorming, I had to find my HMW...
After sketching and taking notes, I found that there could potentially be two types of HMW. I could choose a HMW, thus solution, that is preventing further situations from repeating, and I could choose a HMW question that targets immediate improvement.
Another important decision that will change my direction of my goal.
After much consideration I had my TOP 3 HMW questions:
How Might We…warn or alert users when their shoes are at risk of breaking?
How Might We…fix the shoes on the spot?
How Might We…ensure the users feet are protected until they can be replaced?
After I picket out the TOP 3 HMW questions, I asked myself "Which HMW question do I like better, but at the same time with witch HMW question would I get the best result?". After some thinking and a bit of brainstorming, I choose the immediate action with the How Might We…fix the shoes on the spot?
STEP 5: Brainstorming
After figuring out my HMW question, I could move onto brainstorming. In class we learned about brainstorms called SCAMPER, and I went over each of the brainstorms individually.
S - substitute
C - combine
A - adapt
M - modify/magnify
P - put to another use
E - eliminate
R - reverse/rearrange
I quickly went over each brainstorm and decided to choose three of them that I liked the most...
MODIFY / MAGNIFY
"What can you Modify, Magnify, Maximize, Minimize?"
(using the superhero brainstorm)
COMBINE
Can you combine characteristics from other things
together with your problems features?
together with your problems features?
(using the forced association of a random word using random word generator)
ADAPT
Are there similar problems related to me and have
they already been solved?
they already been solved?
(Adapting to existing solutions)
STEP 6: TOP 3 SOLUTIONS
After the very long process of brainstorming, I picked out the three most interesting and slightly futuristic ideas that could be the main digital solution of the "Breaking shoes" problem.
1st DIGITAL SOLUTION: "SoS"
A compact, portable device resembling a ‘first-aid’ kit, equipped with instruments, sensors and a camera. The device scans the broken item, provides the necessary tools, prints the needed materials and displays a tutorial for repairing the item via a small screen.
2nd DIGITAL SOLUTION: "Molding Box"
In various locations across the city, there are specialized boxes equipped with highly powerful robotic arms available. Users can put anything in them, and by controlling the robotic arms, mold and mend the item inside. For instance, users can place their damaged shoes into these boxes and use the robotic strength to mold and mend the shoes back together.
3rd DIGITAL SOLUTION: "ROBO-FIXY"
A small autonomous machine (aka a robot) arrives when called upon with an app or through a digital stand on the street. User can place a damaged item inside this machine, which then scans and analyses the damages. Using tools and a nano-tech spray, the robot swiftly repairs the item and returns it to the user in a matter of moments, fully restored.
STEP 7: Solution storyboard
After I picket out the TOP 3 solutions, I had to pick one, the main solution that I would have to illustrate in a solution storyboard. That in mind, I asked myself "Which idea would be more interesting?" and "Which idea would I best Illustrate in the storyboard?". Thinking critically, I choose the immediate action with the "ROBO-FIXY" digital solution.
A digital solution in mind, I looked at my problem storyboard and thought to myself "When would be the key moment where my digital solution would come around the corner and save the day?"
I had to figure out how would I show my digital solution in a positive and successful way, so that anyone looking at my solution storyboard would understand it. And not only understand it, but like it as well. What I also had to keep in mind, was the fact that it would be best to show max 12 illustrations, otherwise the storyboard would be too long or boring.
I took my trusty pen and started sketching and brainstorming. The result...
(my final solution storyboard using "ROBO-FIXY")
STEP 8: The pitch
REFLECTION
Our assignment in Experience Design 1 was to take a real life problem and through brainstorms find an innovative idea - digital solution - that would be DEVINE-worthy as well as valuable to the user, and make a solution storyboard.
I believe I successfully reached my goal by brainstorming my idea of a self-driving robot called ROBO-FIXY, that comes when called on a phone or digital stand and fixes a broken item in a quick time. I made two storyboards and in the very end I created a pitch.
At the very beginning I thought that this assignment would be easy and fast to do, but when I started working on it, I realised how time consuming these things really are. Especially if you want to think of a good solution that user would find easy and good.
The most difficult part of the assignment was the brainstorming, to activate your brain and start thinking in a creative way. Unfortunately, it isn't that easy to just flip a switch and the ideas flow out. I spend hours at the table, pacing my room and walking around the city thinking of possible ideas that come to mind. Because I'm a night-owl, the ideas came, unfortunately, more at night. Yey!
Another difficult part was the storyboard drawing, because you can't miss the key moments, because if you do, then you miss the main point of the problem. To archive a good problem and solution storyboard, I made a lot, A LOT, of sketches and drawings. I spent hours figuring out the best possible storyboard, while also showing them to the people in my life, to better understand if I'm doing the right thing.
I definitely learned a lot through this assignment, and now I have a better understanding of the SCAMPER brainstorms and storyboards, thus I am slowly but surely becoming a better UX designer.
On to the next UX assignment...
'
Toms Krastiņš-Rullis student work 2023-2024 Experience Design 1
@Devine: Bachelor Digital Design and Development'
