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What is Design a Superhero?

Here you come to save the day. You’re not Mighty Mouse, but using this method you set up a scenario where you can save your user some frustration. We’ve all had those situations where we wished we had superpowers: “if only I could fly like superman, I’d be out of this traffic already!” Designing a superhero is a method that allows you and your users to think without borders.  It is the act of developing ideal solutions for customer problems by conceptualizing “super powers” that could help the ordinary user achieve extraordinary results

Why Design a Superhero?

Question: So why would you want to think of a solution that can’t possibly happen?

Answer: Because the solution may not be as impossible as you think.

Brainstorming to imagine all possible resolutions to a customer pain point, whether it is “realistic” or not, opens your mind to realistic solutions you might not have otherwise considered. It also identifies problems you may not have been working to resolve. In addition, it can act as the catalyst for the formation of a “How Might We…” question. How might we “fly” people over this traffic? Answer: Build another lane or build a flying car.


How Can You Design a Superhero?

Designing a Superhero can involve either your team or a group of users. Whether or not you decide to incorporate your users,  the steps involved are as follows:

  1. Gather your group of participants
  2. Present them with the scenario: “You are designing the superhero of __________. This superhero has secret weapons that make it possible to overcome the things that frustrate  ___________ like you and me. What secret weapons would you give this superhero? “
  3. Analyze the responses to determine what super powers have real-life opportunity implications.


Example:


The following example was provided by Leah Buley at Adaptive Path. See link below


You are designing the superhero of ____travel______. This superhero has secret weapons that make it possible to overcome the things that frustrate  _____travelers______ like you and me. What secret weapons would you give this superhero?

Superhero of Travel


In this experiment, I recruited friend and fellow designer Margaret Shear. Margaret loves to travel (and knows lots of clever travel hacks), so I asked her to help me design the Superhero of Travel. Margaret started out dreaming up relatively straightforward ways to access existing web resources that she currently uses. What made them “secret weapons” was that they came right to her, streamed into her head. But as she talked, she became more inventive and personal, ultimately uncovering needs around the hassle of travel, fitting in once you get there, and losing and finding your way.

  1. Data streams right to the head. Interesting distinction between logistical data (e.g., cheapest flights) and feeling/mood setting data (e.g., New York Times travel articles). (Real life opportunity: integrate feeds into travel services.)
  2. Direct connection to credit card automatically purchases the best deal. (Real life opportunity: tie in purchasing features.)
  3. Super-powered magnet automatically removes all metal before security. (Real life opportunity: content to help travelers prepare for the hassle of travel.)
  4. Insta-shoe transform goes from sensible walking shoes to stylish clubbing shoes instantly. (Real life opportunity: tie in to ecommerce, featuring products that are stylish and suitable for travel.)
  5. Invisible, snap-to-grid suitcase. The snap-to-grid suitcase enables intantaneous packing. (Seriously, why hasn’t somebody actually invented this yet?) And the invisible suitcase helps the traveler not look like such a foreigner. (Real life opportunity: content — especially photographs — showing what and how to pack, and how to blend in if you want to look like a local.)
  6. Locator tools. Invisible map on the inside, so nobody sees you reading it (because who wants to look like a tourist?). Internal compass with threshhold allows you to get a little lost (for the joy of discovery) but not so lost that you can’t find your way back. (Real life opportunity: featured neighborhoods and “get lost” excursions.)

Reference: Adaptive Path

 





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