Problem
In this project, I was tasked with completing the entire design process, from concept to digital product.
My challenge was to create a speculative design based on an existing product or technology, projecting its evolution 100 years into the future in the exciting field of food printing.
The primary goal of this project was to spark curiosity in viewers about the product, creating a strong desire for it. Additionally, the project aimed to prompt users to consider the potential risks and capabilities of the machine.
As a personal challenge, I also set out to pitch the device as if it were available for sale, helping me to develop my pitching and sales skills.
My Role
In this project, I fulfilled both the roles of a researcher and UI designer.
Researcher
- Focus groups, Wizard of Oz
- Secondary research, Storyboards
- Semi-structured interviews
- Data consolidation (affinity maps, MSRC)
- Derive insights & iteration
Visuals
- Ideate & wireframing
- Prototyping: Figma & Adobe Suite
- Presentation: Canva
Approach: Research
To understand the users’ problems, I conducted three sets of research methods.
One focused on understanding the problems with food printing today. Another involved a deep dive into the usability of the device. The last one focused on the actual presentation and pitch.
Research included:
- Secondary research in the form of internet searches and in-store visits
- A survey to gain a broader understanding of customers and their usage habits
- Semi-structured interviews to dig deeper into the data gained from the survey
Approach: Design
The design solution was generated by iterating in four steps:
Conceptualization of the setup and presentation and thorough use of post-its. Based on secondary research that tries to understand the technology and the challenges it faces today.
Tested for opinions on the technology through pitching, interviews, and MSRC Reflection resulted in pen-and-paper wireframes that were later digitized in the Marvel-app.
Live pitch to present the idea and digital wireframes to support the Wizard of Oz test. The test concluded with a discussion.
I iterated and created mid-fi prototypes in Figma, based on their feedback. Digitally tested in the final pitch and prototype.
The Concept
The project concluded with me presenting it to individuals who were not involved in its early development. Feedback indicated that the presentation was a complete success because the audience was interested and intrigued by the product.
However, during the concluding discussion, they raised many concerns about access and general usability of the device. This discussion was crucial to what the project needed to achieve its secondary objectives.
