Need Finding Research Summary

As a team, we were tasked with identifying a unique white space problem to explore, in which an unmet and practical problem could be solved over the course of our quarter-long class. To achieve this, we employed various methods allowing us to generate a list of over 100 unmet needs. Our aim was to incorporate a wide range of perspectives from different groups of people, including friends, peers, family members and more. Through this process, we ensured that our list of needs was diverse and encompassed a broad range of experiences. Once we amassed these unmet needs, one key challenge was determining which needs to prioritize and ultimately address through our eventual solution.

To do this, we used a number of codes to eliminate the initial 100 down to a final single idea. Throughout this process, we ensured that we were as impartial as possible. Ultimately, this report outlines the various steps we took to identify a unique white space and create a solution to address an unmet need, including undertaking surveys and interviews.

Methodology

We undertook the following methodologies to source our original ideas, following a number of processes to determine the final problem we hoped to solve. This process allowed us to go from our initial surveyed ideas, and, like a funnel, output one final problem we hoped to explore.

Surveying

Coding

Interviewing and additional Coding

Conclusion

Through this process of finding our white space project, we determined that the ultimate problem we would be exploring would be adding easily accessible and usable lighting systems to skateboards/scooters. Additionally, this process confirmed the need for a solution, especially given the number of times this problem, or derivatives of it, appeared throughout our questionnaire.

References

A: Problem Finding Research Survey

B: Questionnaire