Discover

This activity requires us to provide a solution for our clients with their chosen activity problems.

INITIAL PROBLEM FINDING

These were my Expertise and overall Problem. We were to choose 3 Expertise to write a short story about that activity.

• First, Sport. The first time I did a specific sport was around 3 years ago. I really enjoyed it and it was something new to me. At first, it was very enjoyable and my then best friend kept being hyped and encouraged me to do my best. Getting a higher level was also something I was really proud of. However, throughout the years I've gotten injuries and sprains that may never go away. Despite the injuries, I thought I still should push myself to try my best but it just got worse. Doing it for 3 years was very repetitive and tiring. Since University and work started it's also hard to find the time. I’m no longer friends with my then best friend so I just felt kind of awkward being there because she was close with the others first. So I’m currently taking a break from it and may not come back even though I’m very close to finishing it.

• The second main thing that I will talk about will be learning languages. I am multilingual and I speak three languages. I loved learning languages and I just think that it was very entertaining. I first started learning Korean due to having no friends when I first got here 7 years ago. The first person I met only spoke Korean and, as I was new and young, I also had no idea how to speak English. Therefore, my solution was to learn her language so we can communicate. It didn't take me long to become fluent but since then I really enjoyed learning languages for fun and during my spare time. However, recently, when I try to learn more language, it doesn't seem as fun anymore. What I mean is that the routine on how to learn the language was repetitive and long. I also had no purpose in learning it except for fun so I completely lost motivation. Even when I always come back to wanting and trying to learn, it seemed boring and not the way I use to see it.

• Third chosen point is Dancing. I've always loved dancing and I still very much do. I don't go to extra curricular dancing lessons or so, but I did dance when I was in high school. It's usually my go to activity when I have nothing to do or just for fun. But I have a specific genre that I prefer over any other genre. If it's not that, sometimes I just find it bothersome. Not only that, if I did go to a dance studio to learn, it will cost money and time. It takes a lot for me to want to dance on my own time. I think because there's so much going on recently that I have no time for dance and since I lose motivation and interest so quickly, it affects my hobby very much.

The last thing to do was to choose a final problem space that affects me or bothers me the most. I chose Lack of Motivation. When I lose motivation, I really can't be bother doing anything else and it really stops me from enjoying the normal things that I used to do. It's not just a temporarily lost of motivation but sometimes it's for a very long time. For example, on one of my expertise, I chose cooking. I used to love it and still remember how to do so but due to lack of motivation, I really just dont enjoy it anymore and will only do it if I really had to.

CLIENT INTERVIEW - KEEPING STUDY SPACE TIDY

I have interviewed my client, and I concluded that what affected her the most was the fact that her study spaces were messy for her preferences and not being organised bothered her. Another thing is, although it's not the main thing she's concern of, she loves to do painting but tends to get messy. Therefore, having places for her art equipment is also difficult. This has stopped her from getting work done and created a stressful space on her desk.

I asked a few questions base on her problem to try and find a solution or something to help her with it.

1. What are some troubles that hold you back from studying?

2. Do you procrastinate a lot? If so, why?

3. Does a messy desk affect your studying? If so, how?

4. What do you do when your desk is messy?

5. How long does it take you to clean your desk?

6. How often do you clean your desk?

7. What can motivate you to study or to do anything in general?

8. Is there any aesthetic preference you have that helps you when studying? If so, what is it?

9. Do apps help you focus more on studying? eg. locking your phone, study timer, reminders.

10. Or do you prefer something more physical? eg. calendar, cage for your phone.

11. If disorganisation is one of your problems, would more storage space help?

Her response to these questions was:

1. A messy space will stop me from working

2. I procrastinate a lot because I stress myself out, or because I have other things I would rather do, like hang out with friends, watch Netflix, often I don’t do work because I feel overwhelmed by the amount

3. It does affect me if I have a messy area I can’t focus on my work until I have a clean desk space. I think it’s because I need a clear area to have a clear open mind

4. When my desk is messy I procrastinate more. I find other reasons to not do my work or if I’m feeling more motivated I will clean my desk and do work.

5. It takes probably 5-10 minutes to clean my desk depending on how fast / productive I’m being.

6. I clean my desk every two ish days depending on how messy it is or how much time I have

7. Deadlines motivate me to do work, also I get motivated if i’m enjoying the work I'm completing and I’m excited to do it

8. I like blue tones like dark ocean tones. For aesthetic I like calm and clean spaces , I also like sage green

9. I like the forest app that you grow trees on, so that you can’t be distracted by your phone

10. I like writing to do lists on a physical paper to help me figure out what i’m doing

11. Yes a well organised space would help

EMPATHY CONVERSATIONS

I have created a survey that I sent out to different students to obtain more information. I sent the form to a few 1st-year students, a 3rd-year student and a high school student. This way, I thought it could give me various options and answers. I asked them the same questions as what I had asked my client so that I could keep track of it.

Response from the survey :

(This link can take you to the google form that has been made)

PHOTO JOURNAL

I have asked my client to take photos of their work space or the things that mostly bothered them when working. Using photos that my client has provided me, I have taken notes on how it could help her or so.

They have sent me photos of their working space and their cupboard near their desk.

LAST ACTIVITY

• THE FIVE WHYS - Problem Analysis

I have created 5 questions from what I have seen on the photos she has given me in an attempt to raise awareness.

1. Why do you tend to leave work last minute?

2. Have you tried cleaning your desk right away ? Did it work or not? Why?

3. Despite your efforts of using an app and writing schedule, has it helped you organised better? Why?

4. It seems like you already have a lot of organiser bins but you're still struggling, why do you think that is?

5. Have you ever thought of separating your things from your clothes? If not, why?

Her response to these questions were:

1. I leave my work 'till last minute because I prefer to watch youtube, or spend time with friends. Be social.

2. When I have a clean desk and I know I need to do work it helps me to just sit down at the clean area and work

3. No I don’t think it has, I think I need to set a new way that I organise myself and my work. At the moment what I’m doing doesn’t work for me and I end up procrastinating

4. Even though I have lots of organiser bins there’s no real system to my draws/storage areas and I would prefer something that’s more laid out so that I know where everything goes each time

5. Because of living in the dorms space, the only storage i have is in the same spot in my room, a wall of cubbies (all of my stuff is in the same area, but I need some way to separate them)

OBSERVATIONS & INSIGHTS

My observations for this problem space from her respond, the photo I have and from the surveys I sent out are :

1. It seems like everyone tends to leave their work until the very end.

2. Their motivations are mostly because it needs to be done.

3. Messy desk can affect mostly everyone.

4. Motivations drops and can't focus properly when working space is messy

5. Majority sets their mess aside instead of actually cleaning it up right away.

6. There are more people who said that they dont clean very often.

7. There are surprisingly a lot of people who said nice equipment helps them get the work done with specific art style.

8. Majority claims that apps on phone actually helps them study.

9. As expected people find physical planner or such less helpful.

10. More storage space seems to also be helpful.

From these observations, I came up with 5 insights that could possibly be a help :

1. Originally, my idea was to create an item that has a lot of storage space and is easy to organise so that they don't get stress when they're working on it. One that has a lot of maybe organiser bins. However, my client already had a lot of organising bins and it seemed like it still was quite difficult. It does appear that my client doesn't have storage on her desk so maybe organisers only specific things can be put on will help.

2. Along with the storage on the desk, since they tend to leave things last minute, it would not be good if they still have to clean and the due date is not too far alone. They push their mess aside but it could still bother them so maybe a container they can put the mess is and later on empty (put away the items inside) when they have spare time.

3. An app appears to be helpful. Maybe an app that could balance break and work so that they don't get stress with over working.

4. An app that will get them to do their work earlier or a reminder that they won't be able to ignore.

5. A mood board that can inspire them or lift their energy to start working. On the observations, a lot are actually interested on neat hand writings, bright and clean spaces. Lights or items that can brighten the space would be a good one too.

These shows some options or ideas of what could be helpful that can counter their problems.

SUMMARY

I have concluded the final problems and listed what I think could be helpful for my client. Although this isn't the final thoughts as there will more ideas coming through whilst building the perfect all rounder solution, this could be the starting ideas that will later on create the final product.