product design challengeFall 2014

the theme

Any product that uses Computer Science to create it

Possible areas: Safety

Entertainment

Family/relationships

Organization

Comfort

Utility

the challenge

You’ll select a problem to solve, and design a solution for it

The problem is likely not new/unique, but your product should be

Document the process and the solution

Present it Prize for the team with the best

product based on class feedback

the process

1. Select a problem

2. Design a solution

3. Present your solution

select a problem

Research and Brainstorm problems Problems come first! Products that don’t solve a

problem don’t sell

During Brainstorming, all ideas are good, none are bad

Capture everything in PowerPoint, decide what’s good to move forward with later

Once you have a list, rank them Practicality

Cost

Potential market

Difficulty

Feedback from real people

Select a problem to solve

know your user

Consider: Who is your target user?

What is their income? Can they afford your product?

Is the problem relevant/important for them?

know the activities

Focus on the activities the user wants to do

Ask real people, and try the activities yourself

Document and rank the activities

the design

Focus on solutions to the most important activities first, then less important ones

Affordances - things that are obvious by looking at them Metaphors – it looks and works like this other thing Consistency – Are your controls consistent with each

other? With expectations your user may have from other things they use?

How do you make your solution unique and desirable? Divide and conquer: Consider whether and when to

have individuals on your team tackle the pieces of your problem

the design

What do they expect? What is their mental model that they bring with them?

How many, and what choices will they have? What choices do they want you to make for them?

How do users interact with it?

How does it provide feedback to the user (on actions, information, etc.)

What does it look like?

design:prototype and iterate

1. Sketch out sample ideas – use paper, Photoshop/Illustrator, Sculptris or other software

2. Do they allow the user to accomplish their goals?

3. Test it out: Talk through in detail what and how the user does EACH STEP of an activity

4. How would you make it simpler? How would you eliminate steps?

5. Go back to step 1, multiple times

final design / presentation

Create a PowerPoint deck Come up with a great product name Define your user and activities Document the details

The problem

Target users

Core activities/scenarios

Interaction/feedback

Show the details of the solution Draft ideas / drawings

Product description, cost estimate, MSRP

Final sketches or drawings

rubric

30pts: Research PowerPoint filled with brainstorming, ideas, research, etc.

70 pts: Summary/Presentation PowerPoint (40) Content – organization, detail, realistic

product

(10) Design / aesthetics / readability of slides

(20) Presentation (individual) Voice: volume, clarity, inflection, speed

Eye contact

Gesturing, body language