Observe. (Not stare.)

Okay, so by now you have an idea that we’re figuring Design and Innovation in Mumbai — if not, check out part 1 and 2 of the series we’ve put up. You’ll get a better idea of what’s been brewing in our Lab.

SkipSkip: A month now, and we’ve run around railway stations, markets, parks, docks, and what not — with the sole idea of OBSERVING! You see, as future design strategists, we’re expected to understand more with the little information we have — be it with clients, or just subject matters we’re working for. The person who comes to you for a solution usually does not know what the solution is, and hence comes to you. Considering this, let’s assume a client would NEVER, and I really mean it when I say *never*, (but only to explain this, no offence meant to anyone) understand what s/he wants, it becomes all the more difficult (and maybe easy,) for us to gather more from his small (or large brief,) and put for him the best possible solution. But how does this work exactly? :/

Drawing from the recent lectures on Systems Thinking and Design thinking, it can be stated, at least for me, that innovation will always take place post ‘observing and interacting’ with patterns or themes, be it for humans, animals, machines, etc — only after you have gathered information revolving around the past and the present of the theme/concept at hand, will you be able to make it move ahead, or place your solution for the future/days to come.

Drawing around the same, my 2 cents on the way ahead:

1. Observe — watch and take notes, mental notes. Understand the flow — of the conversation, or the events. There will be major triggers if you miss out on. Patterns and stories need delved into, to understand connections between things — so observe, holistically, and not in parts. The bigger, macro picture, for better understanding.
2. Ask the right questions — figure the whys, not the whats and whens, and so on — you want to know why this, how it is, right now, and why it was, making it how it is, right now. Every why gets you a step closer to the goal. It always will.
3. Listen, before asking — everyone and everything has a story to tell. YOU need to listen, give them space to talk free, get as much as you can, without breaking the speaker’s flow of though and energy.
   Talk less, listen more.
4. Finally, Respond — once you’ve built mutual understanding, you respond. The idea is to make the speaker as comfortable as he can be, ensuring better surfacing of information by him/her, for you. A holistic understanding will help you ask better and respond better, instead of going for faff-ey questioning and random small-talk. Your response should be empathetic and well-informed.

For example: See a cat. It will observe. Listen. Look around. Act at the right time. Pounce at its pray and KILL!

OBSERVE!

WHOA!

Now take note: It observes, acts at the right time, lands safe and smooth. Exactly what we need to learn.

Assessing our recent visits around the city clearly tell us how our observation skills have been poor, and need some refining. Each one of us.

For now, why don’t you try ‘observing’ for a few days — at work, or at home. It’ll help. Trust us. :)

(Psst. — Don’t be a creep and stare! Don’t.)