Concept Generation & Fleshout (ongoing)

By Wei Gong, Emily Chan, Alice Fang

After the initial research, we decided to focus our design scope on an unfacilitated exhibit that can be placed in the living room, museum, classroom, or any other open space. 

Brainstorm
Based on the research findings, we generated the initial HMWs and conducted a brainstorming session, after which we sorted our initial ideas into several categories.

HMW: 

• How might we engage the kids to interact with the bugs in a tactile experience?
• How might we show the kids the intrinsic value of macroinvertebrates through storytelling?
• How might we leverage the resources we have now?
• How might we motivate kids in difficulties?
• How might we apply the technology in the design with the contextual constraints in mind?

Concept Boards
After the brainstorming session, we generated 6 design concepts in total and collected feedback at the macroinvertebrate.org launching event with the educators.

​Among our 6 ideas, Jigsaw and Balance the stream are the most popular and received some helpful feedback

Jigsaw:

• Can see the potential of collaboration among kids, they can do a group activity, which is fun.
• Suggestion 1: Simulated Pokemon Go
  • Every time they complete find an insect, they can get one point
  • Collect all the insects for more points
  • End: show a video
• Suggestion 2: jigsaw for parts of the insect — wing, foot, tails, etc.
• Puzzle game: pollutant and healthy streams, locate insects in different places

Balance the Stream:

• Compare two streams: one is healthy and one is unhealthy, show different insects distributed in these two streams
• Compare different parts of the stream: fast vs. slow, deep vs. shallow, and show different insects distributed in these parts
• Add a factory or pollution: remove or add some insects (see how the pollution is affecting the insects)
• Stay away from the right answer and the wrong answer, make kids explore the difference

​Design Challenges

With the concepts and feedbacks from the educators, we consulted Jessica and Marti for feedbacks and suggestions on next steps. We consolidated their feedbacks into several design challenges:

1. How to make the experience design cater to the learning objects?
2. How to break the general learning objective into small pieces and break down what builds the story?
3. How to provide a breakthrough conversation between the audience and the exhibit?
4. How to hook the audience through interaction?

These questions helped us flesh out the current ideas we have, generate new elements, clarify the design direction, and narrow down the scope.

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On going...