UNIQUE IDEAS CREATED BY VARIOUS EXPERTS FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS – ALL TOGETHER AT ONE TABLE

Co-Creation is not about leaning back and observing users while they are creating innovative product ideas. It’s about creating ideal future experiences as all experts in the field sit together at one table and build innovative solutions – in co-creation. Besides the daily user and researcher, medical expert, designer, engineer, technical expert, product manager, vision creator and others actively participated the workshops. As a side effect design research also acts as a stimulis and a source of inspiration for teams, stakeholder as well as users.

ACCEPTANCE PRIOR TO DEVELOPMENT TROUGH PROTOTYING AND TESTING  DURING THE WORKSHOP

By setting up design experiments with low- to high-fidelity prototypes, concepts can be reflected with users and iteratively improved to guarantee high quality, value and acceptance prior to development. Generative research can cover both, exploration and validation – all in one workshop. See one example for refining the Computed Tomography (CT) workflow for medical technicians below.

“My feet hurt at the end of the day because I have to walk a lot.” – Max Mustermann

The reenactment of their current workflow with a mockup of the scanning device showed that medical technicians have to walk a lot between examination room and the room where they start the scan. For them, time walking is time wasted because it’s exhausting and they have to turn away from the patient.

“Drunk patients on night shift could grap my necklace and accidentally release radiation.” – John Doe

In the phase of ideation the participants created several prototypes to improve their workflow and to solve their pain points. The reenactment with their created prototype and the mockup of the scanning device showed weak points of their concepts which they refined in the next iteration of ideation and prototyping.

“I want to be close to the patient and start the scan whereever I am.” – Jane Doe

The ideas aimed to put the interface where the technician is for higher flexibility and patient proximity. Based on the insights the client introduced a mobile touch interface and remote control with mountings in the examination and console room. An overall innovative concept for a new generation of scanners.

A NEW GENERATION OF CT SCANNERS – THE SOMATOM go. CT PLATFORM

See the video on LinkedIn posted by designaffairs GmbH. It shows insights about a series of projects in collaboration between designaffairs and Siemens Healthineers. I supported this project for several years. Therefore I am glad to share this short video.

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES OPEN UP ENTIRELY NEW PERSPECTIVES

“Ultimately, no one seels safe” was one insight we gained during one of our workshop sessions for a medical scanning device. The same insight emerged for different markets (US | DE | CN) but with different motives. Whereas German technicians did not feel safe because they were afraid of lawsuits, Chinese technicians feared physical assaults from patients or relatives. Taking cultural differences into account is crucial for international research projects. Contextual Inquiries in the user’s context of use, e.g. in hospitals or private practices, help to get to know the culture and workflow prior to the workshop.

RATING METHODS EXPAND HORIZONS FOR PARTICIPANTS AND CLIENT

Throughout the workshop day different group constellations are coming up with various ideas and concepts. To ensure that all findings throughout the day have been understood, all concepts are collected and rated at the end of the day. This phase of the workshop is decisive for the observer (client). After the reflection throughout the day, the evaluation of the individual participants not only provides a summary of their needs as basis for innovation but also initial starting points for marketing and sales.

HOLISTIC GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVERARCHING AND PERSISTENT OUTCOMES

The elevation of user insights to a holistic perspective establishes a durable strategy in a rapidly changing society and leverages different opinions in an organization. Based on the insights, design opportunities and guiding principles for product development will lead to a solution corridor in order to translate the overall vision to reality.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESSFUL WORKSHOP

To conduct a successful workshop depends on many factors, for example, recruitment of users, number and type of co-creators, location, facility and process. Moderation, interview techniques, skills to trigger creative thinking and a holistic perpective play an important role. Innovative concepts for the future can only be developed if previous experience and pain points with the product have been reflected. These aspects must be developed individually and in close cooperation between innovator and design researcher. That’s where I will support you with my expertise.

THE ENVIRONMENT IS KEY: MOVIE-LIKE FOR REENACTMENT, CREATIVE FOR IDEATION AND CASUAL FOR RECREATION

It’s not only the location and facility itself that is import for a successful workshop. It’s the overall environment as well as the integration of all senses to unleash creativity.

YEAR 2016 – 2019

CATEGORIES Communication, Cultural Studies, Co-Creation, Design Thinking, Ethnography, Exlorative Research, Generative Research, Healthcare, Holistic Guidelines, Innovation, International, Medical Imaging Procedures, Productivity, Prototyping, Qualitative Research, Quality of Service, Radiation, Service Design

CHALLENGE How do imaging devices, communication, teamwork and workflow look in the future.

SOLUTION Several generative sessions with approaches of co-creation, contextual inquiry

METHODS Generative Research, Co-Creation, Contextual Inquiry, Interview, World Café, Video Streaming, Brainstorming, Creativity Methods

TOOLS Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoints