Service design research · student project
Xpand
A knowledge-sharing platform that turns time into currency
- to deliver a prototype, video, presentation, and poster
- 3 weeks
- questions in the expertise questionnaire
- 25
- comfort-zone categories compared: Regularly, Sometimes, Never
- 3
- the one participant whose vocabulary stood apart from everyone else's
- Kate
Getting started
Our research began with a focus on less than social people. From early interviews comfort zones seemed to be a hot topic among people with difficulty socializing. We found that shared common experiences and confidence in one’s own knowledge can help people overcome social fears. Which is why our team created a knowledge and skill sharing product. Follow our journey.
Secondary and primary research
Secondary Research
Primary Research
Finding the comfort-zone insight
Word Frequency Study Word frequency was established. These word were compared between three categories that were extracted from the question (How often do you step out of your comfort zone?) The categories are: Regularly, Sometimes, Never. The word were then compared with all other responses. We found that one participant from the smallest word pool category (NEVER) had the most unique vocabulary. It as if she spoke a different langue than all other participants.
Participant 14:00:05 we named her (Kate) Through her words we found that a common shared experience or knowledge she and others like her are able to step out of their comfort zone and interact with others. This lead our team to some assumptions that needed to be substantiated through interviews.
Expertise Questionnaire A questionnaire of 25 questions was made focusing on whether or not people felt they had a expertise and if they were willing to share their knowledge.
These are some of our findings
Designing the solution
Pressed for time Although I would have love to continue researching into comfort zone and peoples ways of coping with the need to step out of their comfort zone. Our team had three weeks to create a prototype solution, video, presentation and a poster. We needed to come up with a solution.
From idea to Xpand
Idea generation Through some ideation and story-boarding our team came up with our final design. It is a place for people to learn and exchange knowledge through the hands on experience of completing a desired project. Xpand as it came to be known allows people to market what they know so that other people may learn from their expertise.
Mapping the ecosystem
Stakeholder circle At the center is the user. The circles closest to the user are the stakeholders most accessible to the user. Xpand blends the outer most circle with the ease of entry similar to Thingyverce, Lynda and Youtube.
Experience Journey We found that users became intrigued at the idea of becoming a full time instructor of what they currently do as a passion in their spare time. This pursuit would create a tightly formed group of student and hobbyist withing the particular mastery. This community could bring many positive outcomes to the local city (pop up shops, new markets, more income, tax revenue).
Testing and refining the design
Low-Fi wire-frames
User Testing
Medium-Fi wire-frames
Hi-Fi wire-frames
