Ja Hassan
About
My path as a designer has been a unique adventure. I had no idea what I wanted to do in the world of technology. I just knew that I wanted to learn and become an expert at something. I went on quest to find my niche.
Along this path my curiosity allowed me to acquire a breadth of knowledge that spans industries in a variety of roles. I am a facilitator of discussion, a researcher of opportunities, an analyst of the root cause , and a consultant to decision makers.
Regardless of whichever hat I am wearing that day I follow a design thinking approach that is human-centered. The following are a sample of methodologies that I may employ.
Facilitation
A collaborative session where a group of people, that include the implenting team, stakeholders, and sometimes users, come together to brainstorm, explore ideas, and create solutions for a specific design challenge. The goal is to gather diverse perspectives, align on objectives, and generate actionable design concepts. Here’s an overview of what typically happens during a design workshop:
Define the Problem
The group works to define and refine the problem that needs solving. This could involve mapping out user needs, identifying pain points, or reviewing project goals.
Ideation
Participants generate ideas, often using techniques like mind mapping, sketching, or even individual or group brainstorming.
Prototyping
Teams may create wireframes, sketches, or digital mockups that represent the core concept. The goal is to make ideas tangible and testable.
Feedback
Participants share their prototypes and ideas with the group for feedback. The team discusses strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement, often iterating on designs.
Prioritization
The group narrows down the best ideas and prioritizes them by voting on which concepts are most viable, relevant, or aligned with the project goals.
Research
Research is crucial for ensuring that the information we gather is reliable, valid, and interpretable. A purposeful research project will employ multiple methodologies to provide a full view of the topic. Methodologies can provide a structured approach that ensures findings are trustworthy and based on sound evidence. They can help refine research questions and guide the researcher in seeking answers. They can also outline how data should be collected, analyzed, and interpreted to answer research questions.
Interviews
Interviews can uncover hidden insights that may not surface in other data collection methods. Participants often share personal anecdotes and experiences that reveal underlying motivations and emotions. This depth of understanding can lead to more nuanced interpretations and conclusions.
Observations
Observations provide authentic insights as they witness behaviors and events in their natural contexts, minimizing the influence of artificial settings. It enables the capture of spontaneous actions and interactions, which can lead to a more accurate understanding of how individuals behave in real-life situations.
Focus Groups
Focus groups consist of guided group discussions where participants share their opinions, experiences, or ideas about a specific topic. This method fosters interaction, helping researchers capture diverse viewpoints and generate rich qualitative data.
Surveys
Surveys use structured questionnaires to collect data from a large group of respondents, typically in the form of quantitative responses. They are efficient for gathering standardized data on specific topics across a wide population.
Analysis
Analysis is the critical step of examining all aspects of the issue in order to identify patterns, causes, and potential impacts. It allows the problem to be broken down into smaller, more understandable components. The purpose of analysis is to provide insights that guide decision-making, ensuring the solution addresses the true cause rather than just the immediate problem. This leads to more accurate and effective solutions.
