Sharing Experiences on the Application of Design Thinking to Create Youth Spaces

Experience Sharing

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I thought young people loved hi-tech gadgets or colourful décor. But in fact, they only care about basic settings such as wi-fi and power chargers. They also prefer earthy tones rather than colourful hues. It’s thus important to engage the young people in the process.

Social worker of LevelMind@JC

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The place finally looks like a youth centre! It used to be like a space for primary school kids. And now it is a proper space for the youths.

Co-creation participant of LevelMind@JC

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Here, I can be the master of my own universe.

Hub user of LevelMind@JC

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When we were building the wall, some youngsters asked me if they could tip the boxes against each other. I asked myself: "Why are there so many rules in society? Why does everything have to be put in apple-pie order?" I let them loose and the result was amazing. Creativity thrives when they are allowed to think out of the box.

Social worker of LevelMind@JC

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Although some of our ideas – such as installing a mini-basketball hoop – did not materialise, the process made me understand that, sometimes, things have limits.

Co-creation participant of LevelMind@JC

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There is a common area, just as if you’re sitting in your own living room. You can sit back, or lie back, with no agenda.

Hub user of LevelMind@JC

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I have learnt from this to appreciate young people’s ideas. After all, the services are provided for the district’s youth.

Social worker of LevelMind@JC

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Chit-chat might be something you do every day, but a comfy place makes it easier for us to express ourselves.

Co-creation participant of LevelMind@JC

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The Hub is like a heaven.

Hub user of LevelMind@JC

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At home, these youngsters may have their own bedrooms. But that doesn’t mean they can cry and blubber aloud there.

Social worker of LevelMind@JC

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I can talk about everything, like my worries about life and family.

Co-creation participant of LevelMind@JC

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I don’t feel a close connection with my family. Sometimes, I don’t want to go back home for various reasons. Other times, I just feel tensed up. The Hub is a perfect place to chill and lie back.

Hub user of LevelMind@JC

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Although some of them are experiencing distress, the project allows the youngsters to "paddle their own canoes" and express themselves.

Social worker of LevelMind@JC

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You’re afraid that you might do something wrong at home. But here, you can have some hearty fun.

Co-creation participant of LevelMind@JC

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The Hub gives me a space with no intrusion. There is nothing to do at home and I feel happy and free here.

Hub user of LevelMind@JC

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The social workers were very friendly and more than happy to accept different opinions. We worked well together and I felt confident about the project.

Design Execution,
Ginny@In-visible Creative

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The youths looked so thrilled - they know this is a place that truly belongs to them. I felt happy for them too.

Design Execution,
Sarah@One Bite Design Studio

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By analyzing the interview results, the social workers were able to dig deep into youths’ needs and felt so enlightened. That made my day.

Facilitator,
Yuen@Education for Good

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Design Thinking can really help to identify the blind spots in our service, hence driving youth service innovation effectively.

Project Manager (Design Thinking),
Terrence@Education for Good

Project Manager (Design Thinking), Terrence@Education for Good

think that hub provides a friendly and non-stigmatizing environment to teens

are satisfied with the hub interior design and facilities, as well as service provided.

think that their mental health has improved after joining LevelMind@JC project.

Source: LevelMind@JC Hub Friendliness Survey (HKU, Dec 2020 and Jun 2021)

Case Studies

CHAIWAN + SHATIN

St. James' Settlement
(Chai Wan)

#freedom #trysomethingnew #metime

Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
(Sha Tin)

#cityescape #becreative #confessions

LCK+WTS

The Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association
(Lai Chi Kok)

#getaway #senseofbelonging #self-study

Hong Kong Playground Association
(Wong Tai Sin)

#comfortable #harmonious #senseofbelonging

SheungShui+KwunTong

Hong Kong Children and Youth Services
(Sheung Shui)

#freedom #autonomy #resonating

Hong Kong Playground Association
(Kwun Tong)

#commonlanguage #senseofbelonging #cozy

TsuenWan+KwaiTsing

Caritas HK
(Tsuen Wan)

#freedom #chatcomfortably #metime

Caritas HK
(Kwai Tsing)

#secured #icebreaker #workfriendly

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St. James' Settlement (Chai Wan)

#freedom #trysomethingnew #metime

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Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (Sha Tin)

#cityescape #becreative #confessions

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The Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association (Lai Chi Kok)

#getaway #senseofbelonging #self-study

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Hong Kong Playground Association (Wong Tai Sin)

#comfortable #harmonious #senseofbelonging

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Hong Kong Children and Youth Services (Sheung Shui)

#freedom #autonomy #resonating

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Hong Kong Playground Association (Kwun Tong)

#commonlanguage #senseofbelonging #cozy

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Caritas HK
(Tsuen Wan)

#freedom #chatcomfortably #metime

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Caritas HK
(Kwai Tsing)

#secured #icebreaker #workfriendly

Design Thinking Methodology

Design Thinking is a systematic approach for creative problem solving.
By making use of designers’ tools to innovate and EMPATHY to gain a deep understanding of users’ needs, we can create HUMAN-CENTRIC spaces and services.

Design Thinking Explained

In a nutshell, Design Thinking is a human-centric approach to solving problems creatively.

Design Thinking helps us solve daily problems and address underlying needs. It consists of a set of frameworks and toolkits that are backed by theories and are easy to follow.

Design Thinking Framework: Double Diamond Model

There are several Design Thinking models. Despite their differences, they share similar concepts. We follow the Double Diamond Model introduced by the Design Council in the United Kingdom, one of the most popular models in the world. There are four stages in this Design Thinking journey.

The four stages are displayed in two diamond shapes, each symbolising a separate process of exploration and consolidation. The first process defines the problem statement accurately, while the second generates the different ideasto solve the problem.

This is also known as the “4D Model”, as suggested by the initials of the four stages, namely, Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver.

Step 1: Discover the Problem (Diverge)

When we notice a problem or an unsatisfied need, we are always seeing just the tip of the iceberg. We should first explore and understand more about the problem in an empathetic way. Putting aside assumptions while collecting necessary information enables us to put ourselves in the user’s shoes. As we identify the issue, then the deeper we dig, the more accurately we can define the problem.

Step 2: Define the problem (Converge)

After gathering the relevant information, it’s essential to process and consolidate the materials to come up with a “Defined Problem”. A well-defined problem allows us to ideate a wide variety of possible solutions. It also ensures that the solution effectively addresses users’ needs.

Step 3: Develop the Idea(s) (Diverge)

Now it’s time to brainstorm ideas wildly. Be open-minded about exploring different possibilities, and set aside any concerns about feasibility at this stage. We need a handful of creative ideas to proceed to the next stage of idea selection and testing.

Step 4: Deliver the Service(s) (Converge)

This step is another convergent stage – we screen the ideas and narrow them down to a few suitable ones. We need to identify what the ideas share in common and integrate them into a modified solution. We can then conduct testing to validate the effectiveness of the solution, and go on to continuously fix and improve it.

However, Design Thinking is not a linear process. It is iterative. We will encounter obstacles and failures, but we can continuously improve and “Fail Forward”. Going back and forth between different steps refines the solutions even better.

Design Thinking is not:

“Designers Only” – Everyone can be a Design Thinker, as it’s a set of problem-solving skills. We do not need to be artistic or good at drawing to use it. Design Thinking allows individuals, project teams and users to utilise their creativity and turn good ideas into reality.

For making a flashy design – We “design” in order to solve problems and address unmet demands. So be sure to stick to the problem and keep empathising to derive an effective solution. Design Thinking is about visualising good ideas.

Don’t just “listen” to opinions – Design Thinking is an excellent way to understand our users, but it is more than just a tool for collecting opinions. By responding to our users’ needs, we can create powerful designs to solve their problems. The project team needs to have in-depth understanding of the end users.

It is not for correcting mistakes – If you wish to apply Design Thinking to amending an existing design, you may not get very far. It’s an experiential journey that requires you to reconsider your design and users’ experiences from the top. After all, Design Thinking focuses on handling the key user problem(s).

Different Levels of Design Thinking Application

So you vaguely recall the term ‘Design Thinking’ but are unsure of your level of understanding?

Take a look at the charts below and see which stage you are at at the moment– what kind of information will you need to advance your understanding? What else can you do to get to the next level?

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Design Thinking Level 0: New to Design Thinking

I focus on…	Own expertise I prefer to focus on my own expertise and knowledge, but I seldom analyze problems and solutions from multiple perspectives.
	Project being solely led and completed by the team I generally collect quantitative data to support the team’s hypothesis
I am used to..	Focus on execution I put emphasis on the Key Performance Index (KPI) and look for immediate solutions when problems arise
	Minimum users’ involvement and engagement My solutions are created based on secondary sources within a short period of time, but they may not be able to respond to users’ needs.
Suggestion	Small attempts on Design Thinking Try to understand what Design Thinking is and try some of the simple steps, such as connecting with real users and collecting feedback from them.

Design Thinking Level 1:
Basic Application

I focus on…	Being human-centric I understand the problem with multiple perspectives and try collect stakeholders’ feedback
	Welcome users’ (youths’) participation I recognize the importance of users’ engagement throughout the innovation process and am willing to co-create with them.
	Accepting feedback to constantly improve my solution(s) I understand that Design Thinking is an iterative process and it helps me to generate effective solution(s).
I am used to..	Connecting with and collecting ideas from users, but seldom consolidate the data Despite my effort in collecting users’ opinions, I may not be able to consolidate and conclude data into the direction(s) of innovation.
	Being confused about the project direction after data collection Various ideas developed but indecisive for the final decision due to practical concerns and changing circumstances, probably due to the lack of understanding for the underlying user needs
Suggestion	Understand the underlying reasons and needs behind users’ opinions Instead of learning about the initial thoughts of the users (youths), try to dwell into the underlying reasons and needs by asking ‘why’.

Design Thinking Level 2: Intermediate Application

I focus on…	Empathizing with my users and discovering their underlying needs I can put myself in my users’ (youths’) shoes and understand their hidden needs.
	Discovering the existing service gap accurately Broaden the team’s horizon and bring up new possibilities
	Bridging the gap by identifying and providing demanded services that are not yet available Inspire the team with other organization’s case studies
I am used to…	Consciously scrutinizing the real needs of users Asking ‘why’ to confirm users’ hidden and underlying needs, but sometimes struggle to prioritize different needs.
	Improving my solutions based on real-life discovery and test results Observe the users and validate my hypothesis with real-life evidence so that I can improve the previous solution(s).
	Sharing successful case studies to stimulate my team Facilitate my team’s imagination with various case studies and analyze their model(s) of success.
Suggestion	Cultivate a culture of innovation within the team by building a common language and methodologies for continuous innovation!

Design Thinking Level 3: Advanced Application

I focus on…	Establishing a Common Language Establish a common language and open environment for innovation within the team
	Focusing on the major needs of the center and the youths’ Discover users’ (youths’) hidden needs while acknowledging my center’s core values. Define accurate users’ problems and ideate user-centric solutions accordingly.
	Maintaining a critical yet constructive mindset I am able to give critical and constructive ideas during the ideation process.
I am used to…	Applying Design Thinking flexibly Have a full picture of the Design Thinking innovation process and am capable of making suggestions in the team’s application at different stages.
	Discovering and defining users’ needs accurately Grasp the target users’ (youths’) needs and generate constructive ideas accordingly.
	Combining ideas into a better solutions Integrate the ideas feedback from different stakeholders, then combine them into better solution(s).
Suggestion	Consolidate your model and experience of success for others’ references!

Application

The Design Thinking process to create youth spaces is divided into 7 steps:

1/ Plan

2/ Prepare

3/ Discover

4/ Define

5/ Develop

6/ Deliver

7/ Build Community

“Behind the Hubs” of LevelMind@JC

“Behind the Hubs” is a platform for sharing resources on Design Thinking. It integrates and consolidates successful stories of LevelMind@JC hub design into case study, introduction of Design Thinking tools, and application of Design Thinking. This platform hopes to encourage more methodical design in creating human centric designated spaces.

Click here for more information of LevelMind@JC.

Reach out to Education for Good for more on Design Thinking.

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