UX Design: How We Solved the Problem of Breakfast on the Go for Teenagers Who Like to Sleep In on School Days — Comparison of UCSD and ZAYATS Methods

In this article, we will compare the effectiveness of two methods of idea generation in the second stage of UX design. This stage involves generating and developing ideas that can be used to solve a specific problem. We will examine how each method contributes to creativity, innovation, and productivity at this stage, and what results can be expected from their application.

Note: Please write in the comments if you have any questions; I will try to answer each one.

Task

Improving the experience of breakfast on the go for teenagers who like to sleep in on school days

Task set by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) as part of the User Experience: Research & Prototyping course: The problem of providing schoolchildren with proper breakfasts, especially those who prefer to sleep in longer. This issue is critically important for parents, educators, and the students themselves. The lack of time in the morning often leads to skipping breakfast or choosing unhealthy food, which negatively affects children’s health, academic performance, and overall well-being. In today’s conditions, it is extremely important to find innovative and effective methods to solve this problem.

Research Objective

The objective of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of two problem-solving methodologies: the method proposed by the University of California, San Diego, based on Alex F. Osborn’s brainstorming technique, and the TRIZ method, which we use in the digital consulting agency ZAYATS. The goal of the study is to assess their effectiveness and identify the most suitable approach for UX design (ideation).

So, let’s get started…

Overview of Problem-Solving Methods:

To address the problem, the University of California, San Diego proposed the “brainstorming” method — a technique of theatrical improvisation to generate creative ideas and improve team interaction. This approach is based on the principles proposed by Osborn and aims to stimulate collective creativity and collaboration.

The method we used at ZAYATS is TRIZ. This method represents a systematic approach to solving inventive problems, based on identifying the ideal final result (IFR) and utilizing known solutions. This method aims to find innovative and highly effective solutions through a structured process of analysis and idea generation.

This article examines the application of both methods to the problem of improving schoolchildren’s breakfast experiences, aiming to identify their advantages and disadvantages in the context of this issue.

Brainstorming Method (proposed by University of California, San Diego)

Description

The brainstorming method is based on the principles developed by Alex F. Osborn. It involves generating a large number of ideas through group sessions that encourage free thinking and creativity without immediate judgment. Techniques used in this method include listing ideas, eliminating constraints, making analogies, exaggerating situations, and generating deliberately bad ideas to stimulate creative thinking.

Alex Faickney Osborn

Stages and Process

1. Preparation: Forming the group and setting ground rules.
2. Introduction to Improvisation: Training participants in the basics of theatrical improvisation.
3. Idea Generation: Conducting brainstorming sessions using various techniques.
4. Idea Collection and Analysis: Recording and grouping all ideas.
5. Idea Evaluation and Selection: Assessing and selecting the best ideas for further development.
6. Prototype Development and Testing: Creating and testing prototypes.
7. Implementation and Deployment: Refining and implementing the final solutions.

Examples of Application

This method has been successfully applied in various design and innovation projects requiring quick and effective generation of creative solutions in a team environment. For example, it has been used in product design, marketing strategies, and UX design projects.

Key Principles

• No criticism of ideas
• Welcoming wild ideas
• Striving for a large quantity of ideas
• Combining and improving ideas

Where Applied

The brainstorming method is widely used in creative industries, educational settings, and corporate environments where team-based problem-solving is essential.

TRIZ Method (used by the digital consulting agency ZAYATS)

TRIZ, which stands for the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, was developed by Genrich Altshuller. It is a systematic approach to innovation, focusing on identifying and resolving contradictions within a problem to find the Ideal Final Result (IFR). It utilizes a knowledge base of known solutions and inventive principles to guide the ideation process and achieve highly effective and innovative solutions.

Genrikh Altshuller

Stages and Process

1. Defining the Ideal Final Result (IFR): Establishing the ultimate goal of the solution.
2. Analyzing and Identifying Contradictions: Determining the conflicts or contradictions that need to be resolved.
3. Generating Ideas Using the TRIZ Knowledge Base: Applying TRIZ principles and known solutions to generate ideas.
4. Idea Evaluation and Selection: Assessing their effectiveness and feasibility.
5. Prototype Development and Testing: Creating and testing solutions.
6. Implementation and Deployment: Implementing the final solutions.

Examples of Application

TRIZ has been successfully used in engineering and technical projects where innovative solutions to complex problems are required. It has been applied in product development, process improvement, and various fields of technology and science.

Key Principles

• Identifying the Ideal Final Result (IFR)
• Resolving contradictions
• Applying known technical solutions
• Achieving maximum efficiency and innovation

Where Applied

TRIZ is commonly used in engineering, product development, and scientific research. It is also applied in business and management for problem-solving and strategic planning.

Aspects

This task was assigned to students at the University of California, San Diego, as part of the User Experience: Research & Prototyping course. Consequently, the surveys were conducted among students, which is not the classical Osborn’s brainstorming process.

It is established that research on improving the breakfast experience for students who prefer to sleep in has already been conducted. This research included developing a stakeholder map involving parents, students, teachers, dietitians, and school administrators. Surveys and interviews with participants provided detailed information on current issues and dietary preferences. Both methodologies, UCSD and ZAYATS, started with the same introductory information about the stakeholders and survey results, ensuring equal conditions for their comparison and analysis.

Design Brief

In this assignment, 25 ideas must be generated using the following techniques: listing ideas, eliminating a constraint, making an analogy, exaggerating, and “getting in the garbage.” At this stage of the design process, the goal is to generate ideas without judgment. Both wild and mundane ideas, as well as existing solutions, are welcome.

Stages and Process (alternative)

1. Idea Generation: Conducting brainstorming sessions using various techniques.
2. Idea Collection and Analysis: Recording and grouping all ideas.
3. Idea Evaluation and Selection: Assessing and selecting the best ideas for further development.
4. Prototype Development and Testing: Creating and testing prototypes.

Application of Methods to the Task “Improving the Breakfast Experience for Schoolchildren Who Love to Sleep In”

Problem Analysis

The task assigned by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) as part of the User Experience: Research & Prototyping course addresses the problem of providing schoolchildren with proper breakfasts, especially those who prefer to sleep longer. This issue is critically important for parents, educators, and the students themselves. The lack of time in the morning often leads to skipping breakfast or choosing unhealthy foods, which negatively impacts the health, academic performance, and overall well-being of children. In modern conditions, it is essential to find innovative and effective methods to solve this problem.

The main challenges to be addressed by both methods include managing the time constraint for teenagers who sleep in and have limited time to prepare and eat breakfast, ensuring that the breakfast options are nutritious and meet dietary requirements to support students’ health and academic performance, developing solutions that are easy for teenagers to prepare and consume on the go without adding stress to their morning routine, creating appealing breakfast options that cater to different tastes and preferences to encourage regular consumption, considering the cost of breakfast solutions to ensure they are affordable for families and schools, and taking into account the sustainability of packaging and food waste in the proposed solutions.

Target Audience Characteristics

The target audience includes schoolchildren who prefer to sleep longer in the mornings and consequently have limited time for a proper breakfast. Parents and schools are also important stakeholders, as they strive to provide children with healthy nutrition.

Stakeholders map

Current Problems and Challenges

• Time Constraint: Teenagers who sleep in often have limited time to prepare and eat breakfast before leaving for school, leading to skipped meals or rushed, unhealthy choices.
• Health Concerns: Ensuring that the breakfast options are nutritious and meet dietary requirements to support students’ health and academic performance is crucial.
• Convenience: Developing solutions that are easy for teenagers to prepare and consume on the go without adding stress to their morning routine is essential.
• Variety and Appeal: Creating appealing breakfast options that cater to different tastes and preferences is important to encourage regular consumption.
• Affordability: Considering the cost of breakfast solutions to ensure they are affordable for families and schools is necessary for practical implementation.
• Environmental Impact: Taking into account the sustainability of packaging and reducing food waste in the proposed solutions is important for long-term viability.

Application of the Osborn Method (proposed by the University of California, San Diego)

Process Description

The Osborn Method, also known as brainstorming, was applied to generate a large number of creative ideas in a group setting to address the problem of improving the breakfast experience for teenagers who prefer to sleep in.

Stages and Process

Preparation

A group of students from the User Experience: Research & Prototyping course at UCSD was formed. Ground rules were set to ensure an open and respectful environment for idea generation. Participants were provided with an overview of the problem and the objectives of the brainstorming session.

Introduction to Improvisation

Participants were trained in the basics of theatrical improvisation to stimulate spontaneous and uninhibited thinking. This helped in creating a relaxed and open atmosphere, essential for effective brainstorming.

Idea Generation

• The brainstorming sessions employed various techniques to generate a wide range of ideas:
• Listing Ideas: Participants listed all possible ways to improve the breakfast experience, such as portable breakfast options, quick preparation methods, and nutritious meal ideas.
• Eliminating a Constraint: Participants temporarily removed perceived limitations, such as time or cost constraints, to spark new and innovative ideas. For example, envisioning solutions without considering the typical morning rush.
• Making an Analogy: Participants drew parallels from unrelated fields to inspire creative solutions. For instance, they compared the breakfast routine to other morning rituals, like brushing teeth or getting dressed, to find similarities that could inspire new ideas.
• Exaggerating: Participants amplified the problem or solution to explore extreme ideas. For example, they imagined scenarios where teenagers need to consume a very large or complex breakfast in a very short amount of time.
• Getting in the Garbage: Participants generated deliberately bad or outlandish ideas to break conventional thinking patterns and push creative boundaries.

Idea Collection and Analysis

All ideas generated during the session were recorded and grouped by similarity. This facilitated easier analysis and comparison of concepts.

Idea Evaluation and Selection

The ideas were assessed based on criteria such as feasibility, desirability, functionality, and sustainability. The group then selected the best ideas for further development

Examples of Solutions Generated

• Warming Pocket in the Backpack: A practical solution where a specially designed pocket in the backpack can warm up various breakfast items on the go, ensuring a warm meal by the time the student reaches school.
• Soylent or Breakfast Pill: An innovative idea where traditional breakfast is replaced with an easy-to-consume, nutritionally complete option like Soylent or a breakfast pill. This ensures that students get all necessary nutrients even with limited time.

Time Spent on the Task: 1–2 hours.

Application of the TRIZ Method (used by the digital consulting agency ZAYATS)

Process Description

The TRIZ method, or the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, was applied to systematically generate innovative solutions to the problem of improving the breakfast experience for teenagers who prefer to sleep in. This method focuses on identifying and resolving contradictions within a problem to find the Ideal Final Result (IFR).

Stages and Process

Defining the Ideal Final Result (IFR)

The ultimate goal was defined as creating a breakfast solution that is quick to prepare, nutritious, appealing, and convenient for teenagers who have limited time in the morning

Draft of Ideas (TRIZ)

• Students can sleep longer.
• Breakfast prepares and delivers itself.
• Time spent on eating is minimal or non-existent.
• Students want to eat this food without coercion.
• The food is healthy and nutritious, containing all necessary elements, and meets parents’ criteria (variety).

Analyzing and Identifying Contradictions

• The need for a nutritious meal that is quick to prepare and consume.
• The requirement for the meal to be appealing to teenagers while also being healthy.
• Ensuring convenience without sacrificing nutritional value.

Solutions Generated

Delivery of Ready, Balanced Food for the Week

This solution eliminates the time spent on cooking and grocery shopping, providing convenience and cost savings. Pre-prepared, balanced meals are delivered weekly, ensuring that students have access to nutritious food without needing to prepare it themselves.

Ready Food on the Way to School

An app allows students to order food in advance and pick it up on their way to school. The meals are balanced and easy to eat on the go or on the bus. This solution ensures that students get healthy nutrition quickly and conveniently

Subscription to Pre-prepared Meals

Students can subscribe to a meal plan through an app and pick up their food on the way to school. The meals are tasty, small in volume, varied in flavor, and contain necessary vitamins and nutrients. This makes the food appealing and convenient for students

Outcome

A network of food points for schoolchildren on the way to school, combined with a convenient mobile app where students can choose from a variety of healthy and tasty dishes and place orders just before leaving home. The food points feature drive-thru options to cater to high school students with driver’s licenses. The visual design of the food points aligns with high school trends to make them appealing to the target audience. Additionally, these food points are designed to cultivate a habit among students to meet and socialize at these locations before classes, making it a cultural norm to have breakfast together, rather than skipping the meal. This solution significantly improves the breakfast experience for students, ensuring they receive nutritious, appealing, and convenient meals with minimal effort.

Time Spent on the Task: 10 minutes.

Analysis of Two Methods Proposed by ZAYATS and University of California, San Diego (UCSD)

In this section, we will compare and analyze the two methods used to tackle the problem of improving the experience of eating breakfast on the go for teenagers who like to sleep in on school days: the Osborn Brainstorming Method proposed by UCSD and the TRIZ Method used by ZAYATS. Our objective is to demonstrate why the TRIZ method is more effective.

UCSD Method

Strengths

• Creativity: Promotes creative thinking by allowing participants to freely express their ideas without fear of criticism.
• Volume of Ideas: Ensures a wide range of ideas are generated, increasing the chances of finding innovative solutions.
• Group Dynamics: Collaborative nature can lead to the combination and improvement of ideas through group interaction.

Weaknesses

• Quality Control: Emphasis on quantity over quality can result in many impractical or irrelevant ideas.
• Time Consumption: Managing and filtering through a large number of ideas can be time-consuming.
• Dependence on Group Dynamics: Effectiveness can be highly dependent on the participants’ ability to work together and their creative input.

Effectiveness in Idea Generation

The Osborn Brainstorming Method excels in generating a high volume of diverse ideas, leveraging the collective creativity of the group. However, it may produce many impractical solutions that require significant time to sift through.

ZAYATS Method

Strengths

• Systematic Approach: Provides a structured methodology for problem-solving, leading to more focused and practical solutions.
• Innovation: Designed to generate innovative solutions by resolving contradictions and using inventive principles.
• Efficiency: More time-efficient as it systematically narrows down the possible solutions to those that are most viable.

Weaknesses

• Complexity: Can be complex and may require a higher level of understanding and expertise to apply effectively.
• Rigidity: Structured nature may limit the free flow of creative ideas compared to more open-ended methods like brainstorming.

Effectiveness in Idea Generation

The TRIZ Method systematically generates innovative solutions by resolving contradictions and applying inventive principles. While it may generate fewer ideas overall, the ideas tend to be more practical and focused

Quality of Solutions

• Brainstorming can produce highly creative and original ideas, but the quality control is lower, and many ideas may not be feasible.
• TRIZ ensures higher quality solutions by systematically analyzing the problem and using proven inventive principles. The solutions are typically more practical and feasible.

Time and Resource Efficiency

• Brainstorming can be time-consuming due to the need to manage and evaluate a large number of ideas. It also requires a conducive group dynamic to be effective.
• TRIZ is generally more efficient in terms of time and resources as it narrows down the solution space through a structured approach, making it faster to reach practical solutions.

Applicability to the Problem

• For the problem of improving the breakfast experience for teenagers who like to sleep in, the Osborn Brainstorming Method is beneficial in the initial stages of ideation, quickly generating a wide range of ideas.
• TRIZ is particularly effective in refining these ideas and resolving specific contradictions, leading to innovative and practical solutions that are more likely to be successfully implemented.

Comparative Analysis Table

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

Let’s assign a scoring system to each criterion, with 1 being the lowest score and 5 being the highest. Based on the analysis, we’ll score each method and calculate the total points for each.

Conclusion

Based on the scoring, the TRIZ Method (ZAYATS) scores a total of 53 points, demonstrating its overall effectiveness in generating practical and innovative solutions. The Osborn Brainstorming Method (UCSD), while highly creative and adaptable, scores a total of 40 points, highlighting some limitations in the systematic approach, time efficiency, and feasibility of the ideas generated. This analysis confirms that the TRIZ Method is more effective for solving complex problems in a structured and efficient manner.

The TRIZ method not only addresses technical and engineering problems but also promotes the formation of new consumer habits, such as visiting food points on the way to school. The method is cost-effective, fast, and provides precise solutions. While the Osborn method is suitable for creative and innovative projects and depends on the participating audience, the TRIZ method proves to be more versatile and effective in conditions requiring systematic analysis and rapid solution finding. The choice of method should be based on the specifics of the project and the requirements for results, but the TRIZ method often turns out to be more efficient and productive.

This inventive method is successfully applied in UX design, marketing, and technical project development at the digital consulting agency ZAYATS.

From Kate

I hope this article has been useful for those seeking ways and methods to solve complex problems in business, marketing, and especially design. In the next article, I‘ll show you the second part of the project, namely, how the solution to the problem ultimately looks from the perspective of UX design and interaction.

#UXDesign #UXResearch #UIUX #UX