1. product design challenge
Fall 2017

2. the theme Any product that uses Computer Science to create it
Possible areas:
Safety
Entertainment
Family/relationships
Organization
Comfort
Utility

3. the challenge
You’ll select a problem to solve, and design a solution for it
The problem is likely not new/unique, but your product should be
Document the process and the solution
Present it
Prize for the team with the best product based on class feedback

4. the process
Select a problem
Design a solution
Present your solution

5. select a problem Research and Brainstorm problems
Problems come first! Products that don’t solve a problem don’t sell
During Brainstorming, all ideas are good, none are bad
Capture everything in PowerPoint, decide what’s good to move forward with later
Once you have a list, rank them
Practicality
Cost
Potential market
Difficulty
Feedback from real people
Select a problem to solve based on the rankings

6. Designing a solution: know your user
Consider:
Who is your target user?
What is their income? Can they afford your product?
Is the problem relevant/important for them?

7. Designing a solution: know the activities
Focus on the activities the user wants to do
Ask real people, and try the activities yourself
Document and rank the activities

8. Designing a solution: the design
Focus on solutions to the most important activities first, then less important ones
Affordances - things that are obvious by looking at them
Metaphors – it looks and works like this other thing
Consistency – Are your controls consistent with each other? With expectations your user may have from other things they use?
How do you make your solution unique and desirable?
Divide and conquer: Consider whether and when to have individuals on your team tackle the pieces of your problem

9. Designing a solution: the design
What do they expect? What is their mental model that they bring with them?
How many, and what choices will they have? What choices do they want you to make for them?
How do users interact with it?
How does it provide feedback to the user (on actions, information, etc.)
What does it look like?

10. Designing a solution: prototype and iterate
Sketch out sample ideas – use paper, Photoshop/Illustrator, Sculptris or other software
Do they allow the user to accomplish their goals?
Test it out: Talk through in detail what and how the user does EACH STEP of an activity
How would you make it simpler? How would you eliminate steps?
Go back to step 1, multiple times

11. Present your solution Create a PowerPoint deck
Come up with a great product name
Define your user and activities
Document the details
The problem
Target users
Core activities/scenarios
Interaction/feedback
Show the details of the solution
Draft ideas / drawings
Product description, cost estimate, MSRP
Final sketches or drawings

12. rubric
30pts: Research PowerPoint filled with brainstorming, ideas, research, etc.
70 pts: Summary/Presentation PowerPoint
(40) Content – organization, detail, realistic product
(10) Design / aesthetics / readability of slides
(20) Presentation (individual)
Voice: volume, clarity, inflection, speed
Eye contact
Gesturing, body language