Empathize. Define. Ideate. Prototype. Test.

Through DSEL and Consumer Behavior design sprints, I have achieved a basic understanding of the design thinking process:

• Empathize
• Define
• Ideate
• Prototype
• Test

These five steps have been the foundation to several projects throughout this semester. By working through this model repeatedly, I learned several things that I would not have otherwise. First, I learned that there is no "right" way of doing things. When working in groups, I used to get frustrated when others didn't think or tackle problems in the same way that I did. In my mind, "it was my way or the highway." Using this method, I often go stuck pursuing illusory solutions. Because this model encourages students to re-ideate and pivot, it is easy to avoid the "wrong" answers and stumble onto brilliant ones. In a way, the process helps students discover what they don't know that they don't know.

The second piece I learned from using the design thinking process is to build empathy for your user. Having empathy for others is a strength of mine, and it was exciting to apply this quality to a tangible product or service. In our final assignment, it was relatively easy to build empathy for our users because we were so similar in regards to age and lifestyle. Our group pushed the boundaries of the empathy piece by researching students with food insecurity, and also international students. We discovered that 1 in 10 Americans suffering from food insecurity is a college student. From interacting with two group members from outside the US, we gained an understanding of the communication barrier. Imagine having to translate each ingredient of a recipe while cooking!

In conclusion, this course has made me a more flexible and empathetic group member. I am excited to bring these qualities with me into future group work situations. Thank you for an excellent year!

Feng Shui [ fung • shway ]

In Chinese thought, feng shui is "a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when sitting and designing buildings." (Google Search) The concept of feng shui entered my mind while exploring JABS last week. The effective use of space, and flow of people through it, is a central idea in both the JABS assignment and the tradition of feng shui. As I conducted research on feng shui, I began to notice that the rules of feng shui are not dissimilar to environmental nudges utilized throughout JABS, and explained in "Nudge."

Learn 50 tips to make your classroom more "qi" here.

Last week in class we also had an enlightening class discussion about what makes a perfect personal study space. The were dichotomies between students who preferred familiar versus unfamiliar spaces, loud and busy versus quiet and empty places, and several other factors. Although, in my mind, there is no "right" answer to the question of a perfect study space, feng shui tradition presents us with an interesting spacial solution. Below is an image of a desk arranged in feng shui fashion, accompanied with a bagua map to explain the purpose of each color coded section.

According to the feng shui bagua map, each part of your working place corresponds to a different aspect of life. The characteristics and elements of each life aspect are outlined below. By properly harmonizing each of the bagua areas on your desk (or within your home), you will be harmonizing each area of your life. 

1. ABUNDANCE & PROSPERITY - "The back left corner of the desk represents prosperity. Target this space to attract money and abundance. It's a great place for a plant, but if your green thumb is more on the brown side, consider placing a valuable item in this corner. This could also be a good spot for a well-functioning computer."

2. FAME & REPUTATION - "Want more than 15 minutes in the spotlight? In the center back of the bagua map, you'll find the space for fame. Place business cards or a nameplate here. Cerrano also recommends motivational images that highlight who you are and your accomplishments (think your hard-earned diploma)."

3. LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS - "To find a little love today (or in the future), focus on the back right corner. Single? A fresh flower, which can bring luck and maybe even spark romance, goes here. Already have a special someone? Place a photo of the two of you here."

4. FAMILY & COMMUNITY - "Although it is a cliche desktop feature, a family photo, according to feng shui principles, fits well on the left center of the desk. A wood frame enhances the energy of this particular space."

5. MIND, BODY & SPIRIT - "Although a sitting desk doesn't do much for your health, there are a few ways to promote health even while working. Keep the center area of the desktop free of clutter to attract good energy to the area. In addition, Cerrano recommends taking short breaks throughout the day to reduce stress and maintain focus."

6. CREATIVITY & CHILDREN - "Boost creativity by adding inspiration to the right center of the grid. Aspiring writers place a journal or book here. A blank sketchbook would be idea for artists, while a metal object may work well for others. But really anything goes here - just be creative!"

7. WISDOM & SELF-AWARENESS - "Struggling to learn new material, or just want to be wise beyond your years? Focus on the front left corner of the desk. Place a reference book (or maybe a picture of Albert Einstein) here."

8. CAREER & LIFE PURPOSE - "Front and center is the career space - definitely appropriate for a desk. Keep this spot free of clutter. Cerrano suggests displaying affirmations or motivational quotes around the office; this would be a great place to stick one of those."

9. HELPFUL PEOPLE & TRAVEL - "If you are in need of a little help from your friends, focus on the front right section. This is a good spot to put a phone or an address book (do people use those anymore?). This area also represents travel, so a travel guide or a photo of a dream vacation locale would work well here." (Feng Shui: The Ultimate Guide for Designing your Desk for Success)

My (extremely broad) takeaway here? Keep your eyes on the prize, whatever that may be to you, and use environmental nudges to help you achieve your goals. Has anyone had positive or negative experiences using feng shui? I would love to hear about them...

401 "C"

Start Saving for Your Future in College

According to one Wells Fargo study 37% of people expected to work until they die. Quality 401 k plans are designed to allow individuals to enjoy a comfortable retirement. However, not all 401 k plans are equal, and it takes a certain level of understanding to make an optimal decision to choose the most beneficial plan. 

The average college student in America (according to a 2015 study) graduates college with approximately $28,950 of debt per borrower. Although many college students are educated about the importance of managing finances and the alternatives available, many still graduate with financial woes.

In Consumer Behavior class this morning, our group was tasked with coming up with a innovative way for college students to save money while in college. Our solution was the 401 "C." According to our plan, instead of receiving credit cards from banks during Cat Fest freshman year, students would receive special savings accounts. These accounts could be physical, or digital (through a financial institution). Students would be motivated to deposit money into these accounts through a contest. At the end of four years (or until graduation) the student with the highest amount of money saved into this special account would receive a 100% match deposited into their account. The catch: once students deposited into this account, funds could not be removed prior to graduation. 

One potential problem to this solution is the ability of some students to make deposits donated from relatives. To discourage this hack, student ID numbers would be required to access accounts. Our solution is not flawless, but this positive financial incentive would pose significant reduction in stress upon graduation, if students followed the plan. 

Would you participate in this college savings plan?

Tend & Befriend

We've all heard of the "fight or flight" response to stress. Recently, researchers have discovered another paradigm called tend or befriend. This response is most often attributed to women. This paradigm is just now surfacing because the initial studies on stress were conducted on men. The tend or befriend model was developed in part by Los Angeles psychologist Shelley Taylor.



According to the "tend and befriend" theory, when placed in threatening situations individuals will protect offspring (tend) and seek out a social group for mutual defense (befriend).

When our group was developing target audience profile for our content marketing project last week, the wants and needs of our target included fitting in, and social acceptance. Although we identified this desire, we did not ask ourselves "why" this social desire existed. 

Why do we really want to "be cool" and "fit in"? Connection is a necessary part of a healthy human existence, but could certain social desires be a subconscious response to stress or other perceived threats?

Even Beyonce Satisfices

Beyoncé

The Best Thing I Never Had

I imagine you have never though of the rich and famous as satisfiers! Read the lyrics below and see how many concepts from The Paradox of Choice apply to Beyoncé:

(Concept: Try to satisfice more than maximize)
What goes around comes back around (hey my baby)
What goes around comes back around (hey my baby)I say what goes around comes back around (hey my baby)What goes around comes back around...


(Imagining alternatives as better than they are in reality)
There was a time
I thought, that you did everything right

No lies, no wrong
Boy I must've been out of my mind
So when I think of the time that I almost loved you
You showed your ass and I, I saw the real you


(Concept: Have an attitude of gratitude)
Thank God you blew it
I thank God I dodged the bullet
I'm so over you
So baby good lookin' out


(Concept: Make decisions non-reversible)
I wanted you bad
I'm so through with that
'Cause honestly you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
You turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
And I'm gonna' always be the (best thing you never had)
Oh yeah, I bet it sucks to be you right now

(Okay - there is a little bit of social comparison going on here... but Beyoncé seems to be using it in a positive way. Concept: think of what makes you happy right now. Also see: schadenfreude.
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now

Satisficing on Socks

The Paradox of Choice 

Why More is Less

This book provided many examples that related to everyday scenarios. The biggest thing that I learned through reading is that I am a maximizer - in nearly every aspect of life. The suggestions to overcome the paradox provided at the end of the book seem extremely relevant and practical. Here are author Barry Schwarts' suggestions outlined:

1. Choose when to choose. Make rules and pre-decide where appropriate.
2. Be a chooser, not a picker. Pickers pick from options, choosers evaluate needs.
3. Try to satisfice more than maximize.
4. Think of the cost of opportunity costs. Don't compare too many options.
5. Make decisions non-reversible. When we think there is an option to back out, it stays on our mind.
6. Have an attitude of gratitude. Make a list of 5 things you are thankful for every night.
7. Regret less.
8. Anticipate adaptation. Think of how good things are right now.
9. Control expectations.
10. Curtail social comparison. Think of what makes you happy right now.
11. Learn to love constraints. Work inside of them.

After finishing this book, I was prompted to think of ways I satisfice. Two items came to mind: ordering and socks. I see consumption as a necessity not something "to live for." When dining out, I often let either the waiter or my company order for me and I am usually completely satisfied with my meal. This is one example of satisficing.

Although I enjoy the result of clean clothes to wear during the week, doing laundry is another task I see as a necessity and do not maximize on. I satisfice while doing laundry by refusing to pair my socks. Rather than dedicate time to finding the pair to each different length/color/pattern of sock that comes out of the dryer - I choose to put all of my unpaired socks in my drawer. When getting ready, my outfit is chosen intentionally, except for socks. Rather than painstakingly deciding between the 50 pairs of socks in the drawer, I find that any two socks satisfy my need.

Stress by Clash in Subcultures

The overlap of several subcultures Jess existed in ultimately lead to stress and dishonesty in the film, Bend it Like Beckham.

Jess, the star of this film, is part of several subcultures including:
• Her orthodox Sikh family,
• Female friends that play soccer
• Several dimensions of the English culture

To Jess' distress, the cultures that she is a part of have widely different perspectives and standards. They overlap in several instances that are humorous to viewers and devastating to the teenage soccer star. One of the first instances of these cultures clashing is when Jess receives her soccer uniform. She has a scar on her leg from childhood that she has been told to hide. At first, she refuses to join the rest of her team, in her uniform but returns to practice after her coach empathizes with her. The stress Jess experiences here is distress. 

Halfway through the film, Jess is shown running (and sneaking) from practice to traditional cooking lessons with her mother, and repeat. Although she is exhausted from the workload and deception, I wold argue that this is eustress because she is making progress in both her soccer and family subcultures. It is interesting that her eustress happens at a time that her subcultures are not overlapping. 

An example of all three cultures overlapping occurs in the scene of Jess' sisters' wedding. Her teammate Jules and her mom show up at the end of the ceremony and Jess is called a lesbian by Jules' mother. It is interesting that Jess' extended family seems less taken aback by this assertion, than by Jess playing soccer. Again, as the subcultures she is a part of overlap, Jess experiences distress. 

Subcultures are difficult to avoid, and they do not always play well together. Think about some of the subcultures that you are a part of. Do they conflict? If so, is it healthy to maintain each of the subcultures in your life? Jess experiences the most positive stress when her subcultures are kept separate, but she is also lying to her parents to maintain this polarity. Is this justified?