This weeks lecture focused on design and strategy. A various range of design strategies were discussed in order to maximise the potential of design projects.
BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals)
BHAGs are long-term goals that set a visionary target for an organisation to strive towards. They are meant to be daunting and almost unattainable, prompting the organisation to push its boundaries and think in an innovative to achieve the desired outcome. BHAGs are not just about setting high bars but are also about rallying the team toward a common purpose that is inspiring and exciting.
For instance, in the context of my project, a BHAG could be: "To transform Northern Ireland's A&E services into the world's most efficient and patient-friendly emergency care system through digital solutions by 2030." It is important to decide what the realisation of this goal looks like and what steps are needed to achieve this. Having a company role model is also useful to see how other companies have worked to achieve their goals.
<aside> ⭐ REFLECTION: I think that it is extremely important to have ambitious goals in all aspects of life, but particularly when it comes to company strategy. I quite like the point mentioned today about having a role model. I think that this could be something I implement into the approach and strategy of my project. I could look at the success of other health services in digitalising their A&E departments and try and replicate the steps they took to deliver a design relevant to Northern Ireland.
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Speculative design is a design practice that involves creating imaginative scenarios and future concepts. It often involves questioning and challenging the status quo and envisioning alternative possibilities. This type of design is not focused on creating products or solutions for immediate implementation, but rather on sparking discussion and reflection on potential future scenarios. Speculative design can also act as a tool to critically examine the role of technology and design in society, and its potential implications. It is especially useful in areas like technology where rapid change is a constant, as it allows designers to envision and anticipate potential ethical, social, and environmental issues that could arise. We were introduced to a website called Huds & Guis which focuses a lot on speculative design.
Speculative Design Website
We were tasked with considering in more depth what direction we are taking our projects by framing it through these various questions. I answered these based on all of the preparatory project research I have completed so far.
I am trying to solve the issue of A&E crisis in Northern Ireland.
How can the A&E crisis be resolved in Northern Ireland through a digital based design solution?