Frame Problem and POV
Collaborate in small groups to define your coffee cart's user-centered problem. Conduct quick interviews or observations with a peer, mentor, or community member to gather empathy data (needs, constraints, context). Synthesize insights into a clear POV statement that frames the problem from the user's perspective. Develop 3–5 How Might We (HMW) questions to explore potential directions, and create 2–3 user persona profiles that represent typical customers or partners. Build a simple problem tree or systems map illustrating root causes and relationships affecting the opportunity. Collect empathy artifacts (quotes, notes, photos) and prepare a brief reflection on how the insights shaped your framing. This deliverable prepares you for iterative ideation and prototyping in the next phase.
Lesson plan
9 steps · 90 min| # | What teachers do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction and objective setting for the activity. (20 min) |
| 2 | Form small groups and discuss initial ideas about the coffee cart's potential customers and community impact. (30 min) |
| 3 | Conduct empathy interviews or observations with peers, mentors, or community members. (60 min) |
| 4 | Come back together to synthesize insights and distill them into clear POV statements. (60 min) |
| 5 | Develop 3-5 'How Might We' questions to explore potential directions. (40 min) |
| 6 | Create 2-3 user persona profiles that represent typical customers or partners. (40 min) |
| 7 | Construct a simple problem tree or systems map illustrating root causes and relationships. (30 min) |
| 8 | Gather and organize empathy artifacts (quotes, notes, photos). (20 min) |
| 9 | Prepare a brief reflection on how insights shaped your framing and potential business directions. (40 min) |
Preparation (3 items)
- Arrange logistical details for potential interview locations, including contact with community partner Por Vida Cafe for participant interviews.
- Print and provide templates for POV statements, How Might We questions, and user persona profiles.
- Set up a digital or physical environment for collecting and displaying empathy artifacts and insights.