Apr 27, 2021
Using 7-step canvas framework to solve design challenges.
This blog will be about how to use the 7-step canvas Framework to solve design challenges. Then, we are assigned to a client brief from which we have to design concepts to fulfil the problem outline in the brief.
The Brief:
RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across Australia. However, they found that 62% of Australians owns a pet and most them does not have knowledge about how to take good care of their pets which leads to the increasing number of pet overweight in Australia. In addition, many people struggle to find their pet the right veterinary care and other services (such as grooming, and dog walkers) within their areas.
The audience for this app is anyone who owns a pet, or is thinking of owning a pet within Australia. Thus, RSPCA has come up with an idea to create a mobile app which helps to solve these problems. In addition, the RSPCA team wish to see 3 initial design concept each having their own particular focus.
1. Concept 1 -Context Variation:
The first concept must be catered only to new owners wishing to adopt a rescue pet.
2. Concept 2- Aesthetic Variation
Concept 2 must make use of the Photon design language developed by Firefox.
3. Concept 3- Accessibility Variation
This concept must be catered to visually impaired specifically people having low vision.
With the use of the 7-step canvas framework developed by Artiom Dashinsky, I will solve the problems outline in the client brief and I believe that this exercise will help me in the Ideation process and developed design concepts with the variations.
After this exercise, the next step is to generate ideas for the 3-design concept variation mentioned in the brief.
Concept 1: Context Variation
As mentioned in the client brief, the first concept must be catered only to new owners wishing to adopt a rescue pet.
Summary of concept 1:
As the first concept must concentrate only on people who wish to adopt a rescue pet. I have decided to include the pet adoption feature with the initial features explore in the design challenge which is pet fitness, pet diet and other services etc. When this specific user will go on the app to adopt a pet, they will be prompted to register and create an account on the app. Then the user will choose the Pet adoption option where they will get different categories of pet that are ready for adoption. Users wishing to adopt a pet will have to fill in a questionnaire about their lifestyle and proceed to fill in the application form where formal information such as Full name and Id card will be required for the organization to do background check on the user wishing to adopt the pet. Then the user will have to book an appointment to visit the pet and also meet up with RSPCA agent where all the adoption procedure will conclude. Now that the user is a pet owner, he/she can use the app to monitor the health of the adopted pet by using the pet fitness and pet diet services. For this concept, I have made sure to keep the design consistent to the RSPCA branding.
Concept 2: Aesthetic Variation
In client brief, it is mentioned that for this concept, we must make use of the Photon design language developed by Firefox.
Summary of concept 2:
For this concept, I have explored the requirements that photon design language uses. For example, this design language make use of very bright colors in their interfaces. Also, for the typography, it uses a specific size, for example for title font size must be 20pt and on iOS platform San Francisco font must be used. For concept 2, I continue to work further on the initial idea explore in the design challenge where I have prioritized Pet fitness and Pet diet features. Along with these features, I have made use of the requirements that Photon design language uses to make the app.
Concept 3: Accessibility Variation
For this concept, it is mentioned in the client brief that this concept must be cater to visually impaired specifically people having low vision.
Summary of Concept 3:
For concept 3, I continue to further on the initial idea explore in the design challenge where I have prioritized Pet fitness and Pet diet features. As it targets People having low vision, in this concept I have take into consideration of increasing the font size, make use of contrast and increasing the scale of icons to help this specific user to use the app. While doing this concept, I have found that it increasing font size and using contrast, might not be sufficient in helping these users. Thus, I have decided to include simple features to increase accessibility. I have included a voice narrative feature where the user can hear the information available on certain page instead of reading, for example in the Diet plan page, I have included this feature where the user can hear the diet plan recommended for their pets. Another feature that I have included is the Magnifying tool, where user can zoom in on certain to read certain text.
Conclusion:
To conclude, I have found the 7-step canvas framework very useful to solve the challenges in a small amount of time. For the 3 concepts, each one of them addresses the specifications mentioned in the client brief and also solve the problems of people wishing to adopt a pet, pet overweight and also the problem of not finding adequate services for pets. As this assessment is divided into two parts design concepts and user research, For the user research part I have decided to choose concept 1 which is the context variation of new owners wishing to adopt a pet.
