We believe that the innovative ideas we work on have the power to change people’s lives. It is a guiding principle that pushes our team forward, knowing that implementing the products, services, and experiences we co-create with our clients matters.
We are dedicated to finding fresh solutions to existing problems. Sometimes, the ideas that launch us into an empathetic and human-centered solution come from unexpected places. Sometimes, they are hidden within the problem or design challenge itself. And by reframing the problem as an opportunity, we can understand what the end user needs to experience success.
In 2023, we have challenged ourselves to dedicate time to be more creative and explore innovative ideas outside of our important work with clients. We recently did a design sprint focusing on reframing social issues into innovative ideas that could bring positive change to the world.
Before we get to our ideas, a quick note on the process of reframing for those unfamiliar. Reframing, a powerful concept in human-centered design, can unlock boundless innovation and transformative change. Reframing is the art of shifting our perspective—embracing the notion that challenges can serve as gateways to extraordinary solutions.
By recognizing that every problem presents an opportunity for growth, creativity, and empathy-driven problem-solving can thrive. Instead of viewing obstacles as insurmountable roadblocks, we can embrace them as stepping stones toward progress.
By reframing our thinking, we can bring fresh ideas to old problems. As we embarked on this sprint, we challenged ourselves to see beyond the surface and find inspiration in the unexpected.
We challenged ourselves to reframe three issues we see in our community and turn them into innovative ideas for the future. Here’s what we came up with.
According to the latest census, 5.7 million households in the United States do not have a vehicle and live 1 mile or more from a supermarket. Many of the current programs offering food assistance require people who need help the most to travel to a neutral location, like a food pantry, to receive help.
We thought, how might we bring healthy and nutrient-rich food to isolated households in need? Our solution, OasisTM, would partner people with supermarkets or Amazon, allowing shoppers to donate food and cover delivery costs to households in food deserts in their community or state.
With gamified tracking, shoppers can track food bags donated, earn discounts, and refer friends and family to the program. Households in need can enroll in the program, set dietary restrictions, choose meal plans, and have nutritious food delivered in a dignified way.
According to the World Tourism Organization, 960 million people plan to travel in 2023. Another survey found that 81% of travelers believe sustainable travel is imperative as climate change impacts loom.
We prototyped a sustainable digital concierge program, TerrawandererTM, that connects travelers with eco-friendly recommendations for their destination. These recommendations would be curated and weighed against the traveler’s contribution of greenhouse gases to travel to their destination.
The concierge would strike a balance between modern travelers’ desire to be eco-conscious but still relax and recharge on their vacation. With an excellent user experience and recommendations that exceed expectations, the hope would be a behavioral change in travelers to make eco-friendly choices not only when they travel but also in their everyday lives.
The inequity in access to STEM courses between predominantly BIPOC and predominantly white K-12 education exacerbates the broader, nationwide issues in pay discrepancy. For the 8% of BIPOC workers in STEM, Hispanic and Black workers have an 83% and 78% pay gap, respectively, compared to white workers. And women in STEM face a 74% pay gap compared to men.
We explored what it would look like to bring STEM education programs to predominantly BIPOC schools that struggle to get funding or furnish a STEM lab. We designed a traveling STEM lab, STEM VoyageTM, using a repurposed shipping container powered by solar panels. This lab could travel around school districts, provide boot camps, foster curiosity, and empower students to pursue a STEM career.
This mobile lab could be fabricated and run by STEM organizations passionate about investing in equal opportunities for students. It would also provide a more accessible way to introduce students to STEM, especially those who lack the resources to attend more traditional programs.
By reframing challenges into opportunities, creative problem-solving can lead to innovative solutions. Reframing also helps us to shift our perspective and find positivity in difficult situations. By doing so, we give ourselves a greater chance of success and can achieve far more than we ever thought possible.
If you are interested in reframing a challenge with us, please reach out to Brad von Bank at Brad@ReveConsulting.com.
