University of Bahrain | College of Engineering

Department of Architecture & Interior Design

BSc. In Interior Design Program | Second Semester | 2024/2025
INTD 427 | design thinking and service design

LIY Loop Assignment

Fatima hassan-202006124
SAKEENA A.MOHSEN-202102509

DR.reem sultan
1
What is it? Why is it important?

Understanding users deeply Helps create truly user-centered solutions

Seeing the world from their perspective Reveals hidden problems and real motivations
Learning their values, emotions, and needs Leads to better and more meaningful designs

Empathize
How to empathize?
Key Principles:
Look beyond words → Actions reveal deeper insights
Observe → Watch users in their real environment
Discover hidden needs → Users may not express them clea
Engage → Talk, interview, and interact with them
Immerse → Experience their challenges firsthand Use empathy to innovate → Design based on real emotions

2
3
What is it? Why is it important?

Understand people's feelings (empathy) Makes sure you're solving the right problem
Find a real problem to solve Helps understand users better
Write the problem in a clear way

Define
How to do it?
Strong POV has:

State the problem clearly (What’s wrong?) Emotion (Focus on people’s needs)
Look at it differently (New insights) Clear words (Easy to understand)
Use it to find ideas (Think of solutions) Deep insight (Real meaning behind the problem)
Many ideas (Opens the door for solutions)

4
What is it? Why is it important?

Generate many creative ideas Helps find unique and innovative ideas
Think in all directions (wide, not narrow) Moves from problems to solutions
Explore many possible solutions Encourages teamwork and different perspectives

Ideate
How to ideate?
Key Principles:
Think beyond the obvious (Be creative!)
Flare & Focus → First, explore widely, then refine.
Encourage variety (Many ideas = More chances for a great one)
Go wide first, then narrow down (Brainstorm freely, then refine) Quantity & Diversity → More ideas = More innovation.
Avoid early judgment (Crazy ideas can lead to breakthroughs) No Filtering Too Soon → Let ideas grow before judging

5
What is it? Why is it important?

Turning ideas into something real Helps visualize and test ideas
Can be a sketch, model, or role-play Lets users interact and give feedback
Starts simple and low-cost Improves solutions through testing

Prototype
How to prototype?
Key Principles:

Gain empathy → Understand users better Make it tangible → Move from idea to reality
Explore ideas → Try different concepts Keep it simple → Start with low-cost versions
Test solutions → Check what works and improve Get feedback early → Let users interact and respond
Inspire others → Show your vision in action

6
What is it? Why is it important?

Gathering feedback on prototypes Helps understand users better

Learning from user interactions Reveals hidden insights and problems
Refining and improving solutions Ensures solutions actually work

Test
How to test?
Key Principles:

Create real experiences → Let users interact naturally Test like you’re wrong → Be open to changes
Observe and learn → Build empathy through testing Iterate & improve → Keep refining ideas
Refine prototypes → Improve based on feedback Watch users closely → Their reactions are valuable
Check the problem itself → Maybe the issue needs rethinking

7
What is it? Why is it important?

Let go of biases Avoid misconceptions

Observe with fresh eyes Understand users better
Build deeper empathy Discover new insights

Assume a Beginner’s Mindset

How to do it?
Using “What? How? Why?”

Don’t judge – Observe without assumptions What? – Observe user actions objectively
Question everything – Even what you think you know How? – Describe how they do it (effort, speed, expression)
Be curious – Approach with wonder Why? – Make informed guesses about their emotions & motivations
Find patterns – Look for themes in user behavior
Listen deeply – Absorb, don’t just respond

8
Interview Preparation Why isfor
Interview it important?
Empathy

Plan before talking to users Ask "why" – Even if you think you know

Write many questions Avoid "usually" – Ask about real experiences

Group similar questions Encourage stories – They reveal insights

Remove extra or unclear ones Notice inconsistencies – What they say vs. what they do

Ask “why” & “how” questions Observe body language – Nonverbal cues matter

Use open-ended questions for stories Embrace silence – It leads to deeper answers

Ask neutrally – Don’t suggest answers

9
 Extreme Users Why
Story is it&important?
Share Capture

Gather your team – Share user stories

dentify extremes – Find users with unique needs Highlight key points – Write quotes & insights on post-its
Observe & engage – Watch how they adapt Find patterns – Group similar ideas to uncover themes
Spot work-arounds – Learn from creative solutions Analyze deeply – Understand user needs & behaviors
Find patterns – Extreme needs may apply to many Start designing – Use insights to shape solutions
Get inspired – Use insights to design better solutions

What is it?
Journey Map A tool to break down a process into steps and find insights.

How to create a journey map?

Why is it useful?
1-Choose a process – Example: A user’s morning routine
Helps understand user experiences
2- List all steps – Capture every detail (small & big) 10
Reveals hidden needs & opportunities
3-Organize visually – Use a timeline, pictures, or cards
Guides better design solutions
4- Analyze deeply – Find patterns & unexpected insights
 Powers of Ten What is it?
A method to look at design challenges from different scales to find new insights.

How to use it?

1- Change the scale – Zoom in and out on the problem (small details to big picture)
2-Test insights – See if user behavior changes at different scales
3- Alter constraints – Ask “What if it cost $1M?” or “What if it was tiny?”
4- Find patterns – Identify where insights hold true or break down
Why is it useful?
Sparks creative ideas
Reveals hidden patterns
Helps refine solutions at different levels

2x2 Matrix

1. Draw a 2x2 matrix: Create a grid with an x-axis and a y-axis.

2. Choose two opposite spectra: Pick two contrasting factors (e.g., "Low to High Quality" or "Synthetic to Natural").
3. Plot items: Place products, ideas, or users on the matrix based on these factors.
4. Look for patterns: See where things group together or where there are empty spaces.
5. Analyze and explore: Use the patterns and gaps to uncover insights or opportunities. 11
6.
 Why-How
Laddering

Start with a user need – Write it at the bottom of a page.

Ask "why?" – Ladder up by asking "why" to uncover deeper, abstract reasons.
Repeat asking "why?" – Continue until you reach a broad, abstract need (e.g.,
"the need to be healthy").
Ask "how?" – Climb back down and ask "how" to find specific, actionable
solutions to address the needs.

Point of View (POV)

1. Describe the user – Use detailed, colorful language to capture who your user is.
2. Highlight a key insight – Pick the most powerful shift or surprise from your research.
3. Define a game-changing solution – Explain what would make a significant impact for
the user, without specifying the exact solution.
12
 Design Guidelines

Translate insights into actionable guidelines – Turn user needs into design
strategies.
Work backwards from potential solutions – Identify key aspects of a solution
and create guidelines.
Guidelines should be solution-agnostic – They should apply regardless of the
final solution.

“How Might We”

Questions
1. Start with the challenge – Identify the main problem.
2. Break it down into smaller parts – Focus on specific needs.
3. Ask "How Might We" questions – Create questions that spark ideas, like:
4. HMW improve...?
5. HMW make it...? 13
6. HMW change...?
 Stoke

Category, Category, Out! – Name a category (e.g., cereals), and players take
turns naming items. If they fail, they’re out.
Sound Ball – Throw an imaginary ball with a noise, and the catcher repeats it
and makes a new one.
Yes, Let’s! – Act out random instructions like "no gravity" while everyone
shouts "Yes, let’s!"

Brainstorming

1. Set a goal to generate ideas – Focus on creating as many ideas as possible, without
judging them.
2. Capture every idea – Use a whiteboard or post-its to write down all ideas, no matter
how big or small.
3. Time it – Spend 15 to 30 minutes in "brainstorm mode," fully engaged. 14
 Facilitate a
brainstorm

Keep energy high – Start with a compelling question to kick off the session. If
the team gets stuck, shake things up with a new prompt or variation.
Add constraints – Create limitations (e.g., "What if it had to be round?" or "How
would Superman do it?") to spark creative ideas.
Prepare the space – Ensure the room has vertical space for writing and that
everyone is standing, with post-its and markers ready.

Brainstorm selection

1. Don’t narrow down too quickly – Even wild ideas can spark useful insights.
2. Use selection techniques:
3. Post-it Voting: Each member votes on ideas, and the most voted are selected.
4. Four Categories: Pick ideas in four categories: rational, delightful, darling, and long shot.
5. Bingo: Select ideas for different prototypes—physical, digital, or experience-based. 15
6. Focus on variety – Choose a range of ideas to move forward with, not just the obvious or
safe ones.
 How to select brainstorm ideas:
Post-it voting

1 Each team
member gets
three votes.
The post-its
with the most
marks get
selected
Choose
ideas
what
Four categories inspire
1.Rational
2.The most attracted
likely to
choice
delight this idea?

4.The long
3. the darling
shot
Focus on what initially drew you to the idea, then test
3
that aspect or incorporate it into a new solution.
2 Select one or two ideas within each category

16
 Ideation Prototyping Time

Developing
a checkout service?

Constrain time to force

output.

Prototype it with
cardboard, post-
its, and a sharpie.

Designing
During a brainstorm, soccer cleats?
Your shoe, tape
temporarily add a and thumb
solution constraint tacks. 17
Empathy
in
Design

18
How to prototype for empathy

Ask users to draw something and talk

about it afterward. “Draw how you get Simulate an aspect of the user
to work.” experience to better understand it
yourself

Create a game to probe issues you want

If users garden while
to explore. Use a simple card game to
carrying a baby, put on a sling and
force users to make choices related to
carry ten pounds while gardening
19
your design challenge.
TO LIFE

20
assign roles to the team to bring your
concept to life

Now and then, break

the scene to discuss what’s working,
what’s not
21
Where should a user ideally
encounter
your concept?

22
 Let your user experience the prototype. 4 Follow up with questions
Show don’t tell. Put your prototype in the user’s “Show me why this
would (not) work
hands (or your user in the prototype) and give only for
the basic context they need to understand what to you.”
do.

HAVE them talk through their experience. Can you tell me how this
made
Use prompts. “Tell me what you’re you feel?” “Why?”
thinking as you do this.”

Answer questions with

3 Actively observe. questions. “Well, what
do you think that
Don’t immediately “correct” button does?”
your user. Watch how they use
(and misuse) your prototype.

23
 3-5 prototypes
Capture and Iterate on
Feedback:
Document insights and use
them to refine prototypes,
repeating the testing process
as needed.

Build Quickly and Low-

Resolution:
Distill the Design Problem: Focus on speed and simplicity
Break down the design problem using minimal materials for rapid
into discrete elements. prototyping.
24
 Gather User Feedback
Prototype with Purpose Involve users in testing to
Focus on user needs gather diverse insights and
and insights. preferences.

Non-Functional
Prototypes
Identify Variable Selection
Test aspects like weight
Choose one variable of
without full functionality.
your concept to test.

Build Iterations Narrow Down for Clarity

Create low-resolution Focus on the selected
prototypes for testing. variable to refine your
design.
25
 How to create a user driven prototype:
Examples of User-
Balance Provision and Scaffolding Elements Driven Prototypes
User Input Contrast a traditional
Find the right mix of prototype (e.g., mockup) with a
guidance and user user-driven one (e.g., blank
paper for designing a custom t-
creativity. Users can draw scenarios,
shirt website).
Include empty boxes or create objects, or compile
prompts to guide users relevant artifacts.
Scaffold for Generative Thinking
Design prototypes that encourage creativity while providing
structure.

Encourage User Engagement

Website Example Use colors and visuals to make
the prototype appealing and
accessible.

26
 Determine what to test Simulate Functionality

Use existing tools and human

intervention to create the illusion of a
fully functional product.

Then figure out how to fake that

For example, instead of coding an interface, utilize messaging systems with
functionality and still give users an
team members managing interactions behind the scenes.
authentic experience.

3 Expand Beyond Digital

Apply the Wizard of Oz concept to

physical prototypes as well. For
instance, you can simulate a vending
machine's operation by having a
person discreetly deliver items,
allowing you to test user
interactions without building the 27
actual mechanics.
 Set Up the Matrix
Divide a blank page or whiteboard into four
quadrants.
Organize Feedback
As feedback is given or received, fill in
each quadrant accordingly. Place positive
observations in the upper left,
constructive criticism in the upper right,
questions in the lower left, and new ideas
Label them with a plus sign (+) in the upper left
in the lower right.
for positivesa delta sign (Δ) in the upper right for
constructive feedback

a question mark (?) in the lower left for

💡
questions, and a light bulb ( ) in the lower right
for new ideas. Encourage Comprehensive Input
When providing feedback, aim to
contribute to all quadrants, emphasizing
the upper sections to ensure a balanced
perspective. This approach fosters
constructive dialogue and promotes a
well-rounded understanding of the
subject.

28
 How to tell stories
Follow the structure of a story spine to flesh out the narrative arc of your user-centered story

Remove Scaffolding
After crafting your story,
eliminate the prompts from the
narrative. For example, don’t
start with "once upon a time"
when presenting to an audience.

Craft a Compelling Narrative

Use the Story Spine Structure: Outline your
Focus on creating a believable
user-centered narrative using these
and engaging user story that
prompts
resonates with your audience,
free from the initial story spine
User as the Hero structure.
Ensure the user is the central
character in your story. Your
concept should support their
transformation and alleviate
tension, but it should not
overshadow the user.

29
 How to use I like, I wish, what if

Let the team decide which Share dozens of headlines You don’t need to respond
topics to in a session to every one.
discuss as they arise. (be sure to pick someone to Let the team decide which
capture). topics to
You don’t need to respond discuss as they arise.
to every one.

Let the team decide which topics to

discuss as they arise.

30
 How to gather empathetic data
Contextual Testing: Use a functional prototype and place it in a setting where users typically
interact with your product or service. Ideally, find an environment that allows users to compare
the current offering with the new prototype.

Choose a setting that minimizes

pressure on users, encouraging
them to provide open and honest
feedback. This comfort can lead to
more authentic insights.

3 Capture Data Effectively: During the Involve Decision Makers: Bring key
testing session, document usage stakeholders along to observe and
counts, user quotes, and reactions interact with users. Their presence can
through notes or video recordings. Aim enhance understanding and foster a
to create a substantial data sample to collaborative approach to refining the
inform and improve your prototype. product based on real user feedback.
31
1 Create a 2x2 Matrix: Plot
“depth of insight” (shallow to
deep) on the x-axis and
“disruptiveness of concept”
(incremental to
breakthrough) on the y-axis.

2 Evaluate Projects: Position 3 Prioritize Unexplored Ideas:

each project in the matrix, Focus on concepts that
noting that deep insights are tackle previously
easier to advance to unconsidered problems, as 32
breakthrough concepts than these are more likely to lead
shallow ones. to innovative breakthroughs.
 How to conduct an empathy probe

Design cards to spark interaction and storytelling."

Engage Users
Seek Relevant Stories
"Encourage users to share thoughts."
"Follow up on interesting comments." "Uncover rich emotional
material."
"Ask for specific
instances."

33
How to describe your concept

specify how
Make it your
your product or
Select an idea goal to desired user
service does
articulate a impact.
what it does.
single function

Pro tip: If your concept either 1) doesn’t relate to your user or 2) doesn’t bring you to a
34
game-changing idea, don’t worry, you’ve made a common mistake. Revisit your brainstorm
and pick another idea that’s more user centric
How to make the surprise to insights leap

35
 Give team members a
couple minutes to write
down
Write down a game-changing idea on a
whiteboard
Then lead the team through a
series of “Yes, And!” brainstorms
for each idea. Ask team members
to build on the
ideas by saying “yes, and” before
they contribute.

If some of the builds spark other ideas,

Have them briefly share feel free to capture those too. Repeat
their novel ideas and place them on the the process until everyone’s idea has 36
been built upon by everyone else at
board
least once.
 Identify and explore
specific aspects of
your design

this can help the team Saturate a space with

share inspiration, or bring photos and
in the analogous insight quotes from your
later in the process. analogous space
Gather a team to talk about what
aspects of your challenge you’d
like to explore further Make an analogous inspiration
board
brainstorm spaces that
are tangential to the
design challenge that
share enough
attributes where there
may be insight cross- 37
over.
 An infographic outlining the essential steps for shooting video.
Include the following elements

Know your intention— Maintain a tight frame of Overshoot—capture

focus on the key your subject & Be aware more footage than
takeaway for the of light sources and needed, allowing for
audience shadows storytelling during
editing

Use a clean, modern Point the microphone Keep the microphone

design with engaging away from unwanted close to the subject
visuals for each step noise. Use a clean (preferably boom mic)
38
 Step 1: Ensure the
audience understands
the visual narrative; tep 5: Know where
prioritize clarity over your video will be
cleverness. played; adjust
Step 3: "Kill the Step 4: Balance
Step 2: Make an initial compression
darlings"—focus on audio; ensure music
rough cut, structuring settings accordingly.
what best tells your complements
the beginning, middle, Use a clean and
story. visuals without
and end. engaging design with
distraction. visuals for each step

39