June 14, 2013 By 1 Comment

Six tips for creating digital tools that solve social problems

Sidekick Studios' Love Sign

This post is based on an interview with one of the UK’s leading digital innovation agencies. It also appears at www.workingwithjoe.co.uk.

Digital apps and services are slowly changing the way we tackle society’s problems.

They’re usually created by social startups and small, motivated charities and organisations who want to find a better way to do what they do.

But creating products that actually change people’s lives and become sustainable is tough work.

Getting the right mix of design thinking, tech skills and business brains in your partnership or business is really difficult. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Good practice
May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Why You Should Challenge Your Product Design Assumptions

Lean and Human AssumptionsBuilding apps and websites for social good is difficult.

No two ways about it.

Customer development – working out what will meet the needs and solve the problems of your target users – is not straightforward.

The temptation can be to make your best guess and then proceed headlong, relying on strength of purpose, social virtue and blind faith to get you to the point where you (hopefully) have a product that people want to use, can use and actually changes their lives.

But that’s a whole load of hoping and guessing. Do it this way and you’re likely to fail. There are better ways. This article explains why you should challenge your product assumptions. [Read more...]

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May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Most Important Ingredient in Designing a Successful Product

Success product design ingredientCustomers: the people pivotal to success, crucial for survival.

What you need to know about customers: Who are they? What do they want? What do they need? How do they feel? 

How do you find out? Through Customer Development. [Read more...]

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May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Why the Privacy of Apps is Good for Young People

Privacy appYoung people need privacy just like everyone else. Look at your closest relative or friend: you don’t know everything about them because they keep some things private. They have a right to.

Having the ability to keep things private is essential for young people who may lack space at home or don’t feel comfortable in public. [Read more...]

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