IDENTIFY

Identifying opportunities and choosing an opportunity

In order to identify the problem space, initial research was conducted through a brain storming exercise and brief literature review resulting in a mind map and stakeholder map. Next the team set out to determine the SET Factors (Social, Economic, and Technology), which focus on cultural and social interaction, by categorizing research findings into these three categories. Using these three tools allowed the team to find trends and areas of opportunity which accumulated in a collection of 131 Product Opportunity Gaps (POGs). The list was synthesized and reduced into twelve affinity groups, with new opportunities outlining these collections. They were plugged into a weighted matrix and evaluated against a set of criteria which determined the most viable top three opportunities.

FINAL PRODUCT OPPORTUNITY GAP

Create an interactive in store experience by engaging dynamic paint visualization processes thus simplifying the selection process for homeowners and professionals.

MAIN STAKEHOLDER

USER RESEARCH

To better understand our target customer, we conducted surveys, in-depth interviews, contextual inquiries, and observations.  We talked to a range of consumers and professionals to understand both sides of the scale. We discovered methods that professionals use to choose color were not used to the same capacity by consumers. A mixture of untrained store staff and chaotic atmosphere means it is hard to replicate the conditions of a home setting and so this results in consumers making several trips to the store before making a final decision.

Pain Points

1. There are too many tools available (color books, chips, kiosk) but people don’t have instruction o how to use them properly.
2. Different environmental factors (day-light/night-time) affect the visual effect of the color in its surroundings.
3. Customer find it hard to select a color that matches what they want, results in multiple wasted journeys to the store
4. Too many color choices are overwhelming, but people still prefer a brand with many choices

USER PERSONA

VALUE OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

PROPOSED CONCEPT

INSIGHTS

CONCEPTUALIZE

Translation of the criteria

to develop a concept

IDEATION PROCESS

We all put on our thinking caps and generated a wide range of concepts that answered out list of design criteria.

Concepts for product and service solutions were brainstormed as a team using the 6-3-5 Method and a series of Round Robin ideation techniques.  Brainstorming was conducted independently and in pairs - as merit was seen in both methods. These concepts were presented, explored, and expanded upon to best understand their potential validity and relation to user insights and our set of Design Criteria. Once they were properly explored, we found there were some resonating themes and could categorize them into groups. Once we filtered through the ideas, we used a Pugh Chart to select our 3 top ideas and created prototypes for user testing. The best concept was selected, and given the nickname 'The Doll’s House’.

3 ROUNDS OF USER TESTING

Throughout the user testing, we made 19 different shapes and sizes of our doll's house and included furniture, both abstract and contemporary. At this stage we took a step back and referred back to our notes from our user research studies and insights. We remembered that one of the main customer pain points was understanding how the paint would work under different environmental and lighting conditions, so we decided to forget the furniture and turn our Doll's House into a Light Box and include various settings that could imitate various times of the day.

PPG LIM (Light Imitation Model)

Throughout the user testing, we made 19 different shapes and sizes of our doll's house and included furniture, both abstract and contemporary. At this stage we took a step back and referred back to our notes from our user research studies and insights. We remembered that one of the main customer pain points was understanding how the paint would work under different environmental and lighting conditions, so we decided to forget the furniture and turn our Doll's House into a Light Box and include various settings that could imitate various times of the day. Hence our final product concept would be called the PPG LIM (Light Imitation Model)

We decided not to disregard the existing color tools that people are familiar with, i.e. color books, color chips, brochures, etc. So, we took this new concept of the Light Imitation Model and integrated it into the existing structure of PPG tools and material already available. By innovating and upgrading this process, we would add a new section onto the already existing PPG color mobile app and create a trans-formative new user experience.

REALIZE

Produce and communicate the opportunity through a proven concept

FINAL CONCEPT

PPG-X (Experience) is a simple 3-step service that helps the customer progress with their color selection journey from initial inspiration to final choice through the stages of INSPIRE – EXPLORE – CHOOSE. PPG-X incorporates some of the most helpful tools, and adds a new color selection mobile app and an in store Lighting Imitation Model.

The entire process reduces trips to the store and increases consumer color confidence. Consumers are guided through the steps using a checklist that is provided on the PPG app as well as in store. The inspire stage helps to broaden consumers horizon about color choices. The explore stage helps consumers narrow down these choices, and the final choose stage guides consumers to a final color and an easy purchasing experience.

PPG-X PROCESS

PPG-LIM Prototype

FINAL PRESENTATION