Micro Sprint 3–Defining a solution: problem, solution, empathy maps, and personas

Deadline

• Date: August 24th, 2024
• Time: 5:00 am (GMT-5)

Deliverables

1. Brainstorming Process

The session began with a brief exploration of the problem, where we discussed the economic, environmental, and social implications of food waste in the city. We quickly transitioned into a dynamic brainstorming phase, generating a variety of ideas that were captured on sticky notes. These ideas were then categorized into four main groups: Rational, Delight, Darling, and Long Shot. Rational ideas included concepts like auctioning food and providing ratings and reviews for establishments, while Darling ideas focused on more innovative solutions such as creating a map to show nearby restaurants and establishing partnerships with local farms. Long Shot ideas, like donating food and organizing food rescue missions, were also explored, along with Delight ideas like loyalty rewards systems and weekly challenges to reduce waste. The session concluded with a quick discussion to refine and prioritize these ideas, setting the stage for the development of practical solutions that could make a significant impact on reducing food waste in Bogotá. Based on the feedback we received, we've decided not to make any further changes to our brainstorming process, as it’s already well-structured. Instead, we focused on refining and expanding certain ideas to enhance the features and continue progressing with the project.

2. Decision Process

The decision process for selecting the final idea for our prototype application began with a structured brainstorming session where our team, consisting of four members, generated a variety of ideas to address food waste in Bogotá. The ideas were quickly categorized into four distinct groups: Rational, Delight, Darling, and Long Shot, based on their feasibility and potential impact. The Rational ideas were those that seemed the most straightforward and feasible to implement, while the Long Shot ideas were more challenging and ambitious. Darling ideas were innovative concepts that the team felt particularly excited about, and Delight ideas were those that users would likely appreciate and enjoy. After this categorization, the team engaged in a voting process, where each member selected the ideas they believed would be most effective and feasible to implement within the project’s constraints.

Following the voting, the team entered the convergence phase, where the ideas that received the most votes were further evaluated for their practicality, alignment with user needs, and potential for impact. The empathy maps and personas we developed earlier played a crucial role in this evaluation, ensuring that the selected idea would address the pain points and motivations of our target users. Ultimately, we decided to move forward with an application focused on helping users find and reserve surplus food from local businesses. This solution was chosen because it directly tackles the issue of food waste, offers a practical and user-friendly approach, and aligns well with both the project's goals and the users' needs.

3. Empathy Maps

Empathy Map 1

Empathy Map 2

Empathy Map 3

micro sprint 3.pdf

Empathy Map 4

4. Personas

Persona 1: Restaurant Owner

Digital Version

Evidence of classwork

Persona 2: College Student

5. Solution

The solution we have chosen to implement is an application that allows users to find and reserve surplus food from local businesses. The application aims to reduce food waste by connecting consumers with restaurants, cafes, and other food establishments that have excess food inventory nearing its expiration or left over at the end of the day. Users can search for available deals, reserve food items at a discounted price, and pick them up from the store. This approach not only helps reduce the environmental impact of food waste but also provides users with access to affordable, high-quality food.

The application is designed to be simple and intuitive, featuring a main page with a search bar, filter options, and essential tabs for navigation. Users can filter their searches based on distance, type of food, and other preferences, making it easy to find surplus food that meets their needs. Each food item listed on the app includes a short description, price, and an image, allowing users to make informed decisions. Additionally, the app integrates a cart system where users can add selected items, review their choices, and proceed to checkout. Once the reservation is confirmed, users can visit the respective store to pick up their food.

To ensure a seamless user experience, the app also includes a profile section where users can manage their personal information, payment methods, and order history. Preferences such as dietary restrictions and notification settings can be customized to enhance the user experience. By providing a practical solution to food waste, our application has the potential to make a significant impact on both consumers and businesses, fostering a more sustainable food ecosystem in Bogotá.