Workbench

Abstract

RESEARCH QUESTION: How can the User-Centred Design practices inform the development of resources that enhance the creative confidence of professional teams?

ABSTRACT: This research project is an exploration of how User-Centred design (UCD) practices can inform the development of resources that enhance the creative confidence of professional teams. The project focuses on developing an online platform (called “Workbench”), that aims at enhancing the Creative Confidence of individuals/ teams who work in startups.

Many startups use the Design Thinking process as a framework for their innovation processes. The skills required for individuals and teams to successfully participate in the Design Thinking process are namely; Visual Thinking, Storytelling, Creative Thinking, Prototyping. The objective of this project is to develop an online platform which assists individuals and teams in developing these skills.

Having self-assurance in their creative abilities helps individuals to contribute to the innovation process effectively and also helps them to enhancing their Creative Confidence. To make the user experience more impactful, the online platform has been designed adhering to the‘User-Centric Design (UCD) practices’. The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of using UCD principles in the process of designing a website/app that enhances the Creative Confidence of professional teams.

Workbench has been designed to support a coherent user experience for both the facilitator (primary user) of the workshop and the participants (secondary users). The website acts as the primary platform which contains all the details for the workshops, while the app serves as a means to hold a ‘live’ workshop and provides notes to the facilitator who conducts the workshop.