Week 2 To-Do’s

Readings

Each student must individually select at least one starred item and at least one other item from this week’s reading list to read/watch. More details are available on the Information page under Deliverable 1c.

Define the value proposition

Define the value proposition of your future product. Your design document should contain:

1. A screenshot of the completed value proposition canvas. Please see the Resources page for the template of the value proposition canvas.
2. A short 250 - 500 word background and summary “writeup” about your value proposition.

   • For background, include some description of the sources you used as research.

     • Sources could be current products in a similar space, online articles, youtube videos, research papers, demographic tables, etc.
     • Explain how these sources help you understand background information and theories about your selected topic. And/or how does this knowledge help you better frame the problem you are addressing.
     • What existing solutions/products have you looked at to understand the status quo of your design topic? And how would you make sure your proposed solution will still be necessary, unique, or advantageous (at least in in certain respects).
     • You don’t need to formally cite sources, just describe them at a high level, like “Youtuber Mark Rober’s videos on package theft”, or “July 2021 Article in the New York Times”, etc.

   • For brief summary, imagine a reader doesn’t study your final value prop canvas carefully.

     • summarize the key ideas you want your readers to take away from your value proposition canvas. This can include any or all of:
     • What will you do? Describe the high-level problem that you are trying to solve, and observations that led you to identify this problem. How can your project address this problem? Take this as an opportunity to describe what motivates you personally to work on this specific project topic.
     • Why you? Describe the potential value your solution can bring, above and beyond the solutions that currently exist.
     • How will it help? Without coming up with any solution yet, describe what user needs you are satisfying and the desired outcomes.

Describe personas and create empathy maps

Create at least 3 distinct personas of your future application (their behaviours should not significantly overlap). Describe the demographics, goals, motivation, and pattern of user behaviour that each persona represents. For each persona, your design document should contain:

1. A screenshot of the completed persona.
2. A screenshot of the completed empathy map.

The templates for the persona and empathy map, as well as other materials, are available on the Resources page. It is up to you exactly how you want to complete the persona templates and empathy maps. You can print out the templates and complete them by hand. You can also fill in the templates digitally.

At the end of the persona and empathy maps subsection, add a short 250 - 500 word “writeup” with the collective background and summary of your personas and empathy maps.

• Like the value propostion, include some description of the sources you used as background research.
• Summarize for the reader your three personas: names, high level differences, why these three are important, why you chose these three, high level “findings” or “directions” they might suggest, etc.

Team meeting and design document

Conduct this week’s team meeting or discussion in and/or out of class. Update the Team Contract section based on what you did last week. Also update your design document with the meeting minutes and the outcomes of this week’s activities. More details are available on the Information page under Deliverable 2a.

Due next week

• Team contract (1b)
• Week 2 reading reflections (1c)
• Design document section #1 (2a)

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