Observing Closely: Creating Ideas From All Around Us

“All innovation and design ideas originate out of observation. “

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When you observe something or someone, you'll learn to see the finer details those who are inattentive will easily miss.
Look closely, because even the most mundane thing can create opportunities and solutions you’ve never seen before.

Most mornings at work, I find myself working at my usual spot (the office I work in has a free-for-all desk selection) while my colleagues chat around in the background. Over time, I tried to pay closer attention to them and to my surprise, I realised that my colleagues have a similar discussion each morning: about what coffee they should order. It’s almost like a little morning ritual for them.

It seems to me that ordering coffee or food online have become so commonplace that the conversation itself isn’t something head-turning.

What I’m actually intrigued about was the discussion itself. Because it goes from overhearing a normal conversation to subtly recognising how it will play out. This observation encouraged me to notice patterns in this little morning ritual, because every single morning it would start out with something that goes like:

"Should we get some coffee?"

“What would you like?”

“Which shop should we order from?”

"What should I have?"

As long as I’ve been observing these conversations, the answers usually go along the lines of:

“Same coffee, same place, as always”

“The usual order”

and for the non-coffee drinker: “An ice chocolate for me”.

While it might be a very simple conversation and a daily habit for them to do, I can’t help to think about the possible design opportunities that come to mind. I started to wonder if it’s at all possible to create a better, less repetitive, and shorter conversation; one that is more creative.

Although it’s not really a problem that needs a hero to solve (I must admit that I’m not one either 🧐), I can’t help to think of the different ways it could go: is there a way to make ordering coffee easier? Is there a way to cut down minutes spent discussing the same things every day? Is there a way to somehow “automate” this habit?

Holding on to the thought of "oh, maybe we can simplify this process." I thought of disentangling the back-and-forth process of ordering, modifying ways to quicken the process, and making it readily available for my coffee-deprived-colleagues. 💪

Here are some thoughts that I have gathered and a little exercise to my design process skills so that ordering coffee is easier for my colleagues:

Phase 1: Planning

Before constructing something, the first thing you need to have is a plan.

Initial planning involves deciding a method of which the solution will be executed in. And I’ve decided the solution will be within the range of my current work, which is designing creative solutions through softwares or apps. Which is relevant, right? I am after all, trying to shorten an app related ordering system.

So, I began by creating a list of things I need to tackle to find this 'solution'. And it goes a little like this:

Needs

1. To make the process easier and faster.
2. To make it a “Team-Collaborative” solution.
3. To make it convenient.

Straight forward enough, I think.✌️

Phase 2: Analysis

Part 1: Making the Process Faster and Easier

Firstly, in order to understand the actual ordering process, I brought my listening device in and started to jot down their ordering/ritual process.

Ordering Process : They arrive — Ritual Conversation — Choose Coffee Shop — Choose Beverage — Confirm Orders (Payment and etc) — Pick Up Order

So that’s what I got. Again, it’s not really complicated, but what if we can shorten it in half? 😬

Possible? Maybe.

💡

Ideal Ideal Ordering Process in my head : They arrive — Choose Drink — Confirm — Pick Up

I’ve shortened it, technically.🤔 But then it seems like it’s lacking and missing certain key points and supporting details. Things like choosing where to order or the payment method. And obviously the things I missed out on are crucial to the process, but right now, I want to retain the length of the ordering flow.

So I thought, why not make another?

Accompanying Process : They arrive — Choose Shop — Choose Package Deals — Choose Drink — Confirm (Payment and etc) — Pick Up

The difference lies with shop selection and the additional payment check out right at the end. Another thing that’s different with how it was before is that this flow holds the decision making along with purchasing power. With this difference, I shall consider on how it plays out within the team environment.🤔

Part 2: Making it Team-Collaborative/Friendly

With two different sets of ordering flows, comes two different roles. One role must have a longer process because they have to choose the shop and payment method, the other will receive the shorter end or the ordering flow without difficulty- which is simply choose drinks and thats about it!

Now all I have to figure out is how to make sense of the two roles being able to work together.

Thus who shall have the longer-with-more-steps ordering flow?

I say, the Team Leader! 🌈✨✨✨🎉

[or the team could just set one person to handle this — in which they automatically become a Team Leader in this case.😀]

Here’s a short draft on what each role will do:

Team Leader

• Set up account
• Set up payment
• Set which shop to order from
• Set any package deals (if any)
• Select few Beverages/drinks for the team to order from

Team Members

• Login
• Choose drinks

That doesn’t look too much work, doesn’t it? 🤟🏻✨

Part 3: Making it Convenient

Making a solution as convenient as possible is important. After all, I want the solution to help and not cause unnecessary troubles. So choosing platforms on where and how to create the solution is making me think.

💡

Why not integrate it to the team communication app?

Possible? Maybe.

Since the company I work for is using Slack for our main team communication, what if the solution is to connect to it?

The main reason to connect it comes from the actual need for the solution to be accessed directly and to be seen first thing in the morning.

So what do they check first thing in the morning ? Slack. ✨

Phase 3: Creation

To move forward with a design, first I need to brand this. (I mean, I can’t actually call it The Solution forever, right?)

Branding

Since I’m solving a coffee related issue, Caffeine is what revolves in my mind at first. And to add a dash of tiny creativity, why not make it: Cafein. In which it’ll also mean Cafe — In, dining/ordering in.

We can change the name later, after all, this is a work in progress! 🧐

Tone of Voice

Every branding has its own tone of voice. The tone of voice embodies and shapes the branding, also giving it an extra push of personality beyond typefaces, colours, and graphics could.

And for Cafein, I’ve decided to make it as friendly as possible. Since it’s going to be the first thing the team sees each morning, I think it’s best for it to be as engaging, fun, bordering cute and overwhelmingly cheesy to kick start their day.

🤪🥰🤩🥳☕️☕

Phase 4: Designing

Team Leader

The first call of duty is for the Team Leader first, who will have to sign in or sign up their team.

Let’s say the Team Leader here is called Francis.

Francis sees this upon adding Cafein to Slack

Upon registering, Francis will have to sign up for his team by inputting his contact details and choose the payment method. For now, Francis will have to take the bill for everyone 🤟🏻(and split it manually later).

Francis can input team details and put payment information.

Payment options

Francis will input bank account details for the payment process to go through

Francis’ sacrifice will not be forgotten

Afterwards, Francis has to pick a shop to order from. Cafein will be able to locate a few closest coffee shops to where he is or he can search elsewhere.

Francis will have to decide where to order from

After selecting a shop, Francis will be able to choose beverages from the shop’s menu for the team to choose from. The choice for the team to choose from is limited to 6 beverages, so Francis won’t go broke 🙌🏻. Francis will be able to select sizes (if the coffee shop supports different sizes) and will be able to see the price of each item he chose.

Select Beverages of Choice

Team Members

What the team will see is quite simple and straightforward. Let’s say the person who will see this is called Jane.

What Jane sees in the morning

So, Jane will get this message in her Slack app asking what coffee she wants today. Jane then will be able to choose from the pre-selected drinks that her Team Leader, Francis, has selected from the nearest Starbucks. Jane will also be able to see what her colleagues have ordered. She could also pass for the day!

Two responses to Jane’s Choice

Aftertaste

Well, final words — it’s not too bitter, and not too sweet for now.

This short experience in design process, although for fun, is overall quite enjoyable. I’d say there are still a lot of missing gaps, questions, and designs left out from this short narration. Although I think someday, this solution will create a good starting point for anyone who wants to develop this further.

Furthermore, I think it’s great to be able to recognize and to learn to notice your surroundings better. It’ll make you a better observer of human habits and behavior and a better innovator with senses.

I think a good observation skill will help us designers, creators, writers, and business people alike to create something great.

Even the most mundane conversation can generate ideas, what do you think bigger conversations can generate?