Day 31— Creativity series 7/7: “Bodystorming”
How do we build empathy with users, when the product we design is not a desktop app or website? How do we understand user behavior better, and be create better if what we’re designing is a physical product? Instead of sitting around a meeting table, we can get up and move, trying things out with our own body to come up with fresh ideas; and we call this: “Bodystorming”,
Context Matters
When we are designing interaction of a physical product, or a in-person experience in a dedicated space, it’s imperative to understand the relationship between the product, user, and the space. For example, if we’re designing a eReader or a tablet, it’s important to think about where users might use it. In a subway car, the space could be a bit shaky, therefore a better grip on the device could be handy. In a bedroom, the lighting might be dim because user’s partner might be sleeping, therefore some kind of self illumination could be enlightening.
Seeing what others don’t
This creativity technique is especially helpful if the product is used in multiple context/ environment, or the environment is some place you don’t spend more than an hour a week. For example, ATM machine, ski equipment, medical equipment, etc. When designing product like these, this technique helps us imagine what it would be like if the product existed, and act as though it exists, so we can observe and understand the constraints from the context, and come up with creative solutions.
3-Step process
A simple 3-step process can help kick start the Bodystorming exercise:
Step 1: Observation
Have your team visit the environment where the product/ service is being used. If you can, actually use the product/service/ prototype. Observe if there is any contextual issues (e.g. loud noise, crowded space, sub-optimal lighting, other distraction). Write down these issues and exchange what you observed with the team, and discuss if there’s anything interesting that can use more in-depth observations.
Step 2: Visualization
Bring these observations back to a place (lab, big meeting room) that you can run a the fun “Bodystorming” creativity exercise. If you can, decorate the lab/room with key environmental constraints. Put those observation post-it notes on the wall, and start mimicking the user journey by “acting” as a user using the product/service. Now, discuss with team if there’s any other way to
- Remove the environmental constraints if possible;
- Explore if there’s any add-on features can optimize the existing experience;
- Generate with brand new ways to achieve the same goal. By doing so, we can get a list of new ideas ready for our next step — evaluation.
Step 3: Evaluation
Once you collected some ideas from the team, two evaluation process might help you take it to the next level:
- Pre-prototype evaluation: This is a quick exercise to examine the technical feasibility of each new ideas, and decide what are the ideas you want to adopt in the prototype.
- Post-prototyp evaluation: Bring the prototype back to the actual context, and see how effectively these ideas can solve the problem or how much value it brings to the user experience.
Integrate with participatory design
Nothing beats real. Although bodystorming is great to generate contextual solutions, we still want to incorporate real users into the process. Therefore, instead of carrying out the whole exercise by the designers, it will be even more powerful if real users is involved in at least one of the 3 stages: Observation, Visualization, and Evaluation. Similar to general #DesignThinking framework, the early you engage with users, the more chance you can solve the right problem.
All Creativity Techniques
In this Creativity Series, we introduced Bodystorming, Random Words, Design Thinking, Disruptive Questions, Good Guys Bad Guys, and SCAMPER. Which one is your favorite? Which one would you like to try? Let me know!
Other creativity resources
ABC. Always be clappin’.
