Zooming In & Getting Real - #Blog4

This week was all about precision. We stopped looking at the "big picture" for a moment to really understand our users and the root of the problem.

We started by pitching our direction (Group vs. Individual) and received some solid feedback that sent us home with homework: be sharp. We are locking in strictly on the 12-15 age range, and tackling a critical question: Is our product creating new motivation to help, or just tapping into one that is already there?

Then came the real breakthrough. We used an Empathy Map to step into the shoes of a "clique member" during recess and realized something huge: The problem isn't a lack of awareness. They see the lonely kid, and their conscience even bothers them. The real barrier is social fear. They would rather keep their safe spot in the group ("The Gain") than risk standing out by helping ("The Pain"). It’s self-preservation, not cruelty.

At the same time, we started digging into competitors to ensure we aren't just reinventing the wheel, but bringing something actually new to the table. Now that we have the problem pinned down, we’re ready to let the ideas flow!

• 

•