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Catalyst Community

Phase 1: Understand + Frame Your Challenge

 Deeply Understand and Frame Your Challenge

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There are 38 Resources Available.

Post-Workshop Assignments Share your progress & workshop learnings  Share what you’ve been up to the past few weeks with your team sponsors and colleagues. Consider sending a Postcard from the Field or creating a physical or virtual updates wall!
Post-Workshop Assignments Carry out your research plan  Take photos and video (with consent!) during your research activities. Identify the needs and pain points you are hearing from end-users.
Post-Workshop Assignments Generate multiple “How Might We…?” statements  With stakeholder input, determine which need(s) or pain point(s) your team will focus on for the remainder of the Catalyst project. Frame the need(s) as “How Might We” statements. Write lots of them!
Post-Workshop Assignments Bring any visual artifacts from your research, a hierarchy narrative (quotes, sub-themes, and overarching theme), and HMW statements.  You will be sharing them and building on this work as we start to generate ideas.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Prep Work Instructions  A list of instructions to help you complete your prep work before Catalyst Workshop #1.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Onboarding Questions Guide  Meet with your team and go through the Onboarding Questions. Discuss the experience you are exploring in your project and who you’d like to do some early learning with.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Draw Your Experience Prep and Facilitation Guide  Prepare as a team for the Draw Your Experience activity. Reach out to individuals who you want to learn from and coordinate time to meet with them for 30 minutes. Follow the prep and facilitation guide for help on how to get started.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Catalyst Method: Draw Your Experience  Review this article on how to Draw Your Experience.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Research Activity Debrief Worksheet  Immediately after each Draw Your Experience session, record debrief notes on what you learned.
Workshop Recap Workshop 1 Day 1 Slides  Review what you learned during Workshop 1 on February 20-21, 2019.
Workshop Recap Workshop 1 Day 2 Slides  Review what you learned during Workshop 1 on February 20-21, 2019.
Webinar Catalyst Virtual Kickoff and Prep Webinar  Laura and Diana provide an introduction to the program and teams. Chris Conley, Lead Facilitator of Catalyst trainings, shares an introduction into design thinking.
Webinar Catalyst Team Sponsors Call  During this webinar, CCI shared an overview of the Catalyst program and how team sponsors can support their team through the Catalyst program.
Method Draw Your Experience  The Draw your Experience research activity is a way to gather more rich information from your users and stakeholders than a standard survey or interview. It’s essentially a conversation between you and a person who is involved in the experience you are trying to make better. Doing this activity will set you up to identify patterns in your research through an empathy map or journey map.
Method Collaborative Cycle  Here’s a simple and effective structure to get the most out of an assembled group of people. Use it as the basis for brainstorms and other generative meetings.
Method Affinity Clustering  Take any large list of ideas or notes and sort them into a smaller number of separate groups. Then name the groups to create an information structure and discover themes.
Method Show & Tell Interviews  The best way to get better at learning from users and your colleagues is to have them “show and tell” you about what they do. You listen, capture, and learn.
Method Observation  Given our familiarity with workplaces and the routines of everyday life, we don’t see and reflect on what’s really going on. Focused observation is a powerful tool.
Worksheet Project Planning  Use the calendar grid below to plan project activities over the next 9 weeks. Plan research activities, team meetings, important organizational dates, etc.
Method Design Research 101  You do design research to understand what is really going on in your project area, and why. It’s an opportunity to make your project tangible by having lots of visual evidence, examples, and references. You will also broaden your capacity for designing a better solution in the end.
Tool Research Dimensions to Consider  As you begin your research, make sure to consider the various dimensions of your project topic.
Worksheet Design Research 101 Planning  Consider how to creatively and rigorously research your project.
Example Recruitment Flyer Example  See examples of recruitment flyers for co-design sessions at other health centers.
Tool Design Partner Recruitment Script and FAQs  An example of a script you might use and adapt when finding people to partner with on a design project.
Template Consent Form Template  A template for acquiring consent from individuals who participate in your design research.
Tool Discussion Guide Tip Sheet  A discussion guide helps you prepare for spending time with a person whose experience you wish to better understand. The goal is to create a framework for the participant to share openly with rich detail.
Method Facilitating Reflective Discussion  Working in teams requires facilitating critical discussion frequently among the group. Pose reflective questions, have people share more, and elicit pros, cons, and next steps.
Method Analyzing Qualitative Data  Qualitative data tells you what people experience and why. For rigorous analysis, organize and review your data as your collect it and look for key topics and patterns.
Method Organizing Project Data  You’ll generate a lot of rich data during each phase of your project — interview notes, pictures, videos, brainstorm ideas and prototypes. Keep it organized and available.
Method Empathy Mapping  Empathy for a user’s experience is at the heart of creating meaningful solutions. An empathy map helps your team articulate the user’s perspective.
Method Journey Mapping  To see if you understand a user’s journey, create a diagram representing the distinct activities within their experience. This is a foundation for many useful analyses.
Method Personas  A persona is a representation of a person, typically based off user research. It characterizes their goals, needs, and interests. It helps you design for people’s real needs.
Method Catalyst Method: Insights Hierarchy Framework  Project research and analysis result in a lot of valuable information for your project. Frame your opportunity by prioritizing the challenges you will address.
Template Insights Hierarchy Framework Template  Use this template to visualize your insights and challenges.
Method "How Might We?" Statements  Once your have your key theme and need areas defined, it's time to start framing the problem in a way you can generate ideas from it.
Method "How Might We?" Statements  Don’t jump to a solution when presented with a problem. Improve your team’s ability to explore many varied ideas by writing “How might we?” statements.
Method Facilitating Reflective Discussion  Working in teams requires facilitating critical discussion frequently among the group. Pose reflective questions, have people share more, and elicit pros, cons, and next steps.
Method Postcard from the Field  Sharing your work with others is so important when trying to build will around a design project. A “Postcard from the field” offers a quick, visual way to share what you are learning and find others who might want to help you advance the work.

Phase 2: Generate + Test Ideas

Prioritize Opportunities, Generate Ideas, Make them Better with Feedback

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Carry out your ideation and prototyping roadmap Phase 2 Project Planning Roadmap  Use the calendar grid below to plan project activities over the next 9 weeks. Plan research activities, team meetings, important organizational dates, etc.
Post-Workshop Assignments Generate & prototype ideas with your stakeholders  Figure out which ideas you want to prototype. Build and test your prototypes. Seek input from your colleagues and end-users. Continue to document your process with quotes, photos, video clips. Bonus: Record people trying out your prototype!
Post-Workshop Assignments Draft your 7-part presentation (5-7 min) in 16:9 format  Curate photos, videos and quotes from your research to put in your final presentation. Draft your project learnings and recommendations and next steps for your organization’s leadership. Send your draft presentation to your coach by June 14th for feedback.
Post-Workshop Assignments Prep for Workshop 3 & Showcase  Bring a laptop and one printed copy of your draft slides to Workshop #3 Day 1. Confirm your sponsor’s attendance on June 27th. Bring a USB thumb drive for your presentation and the photos, videos or quotes. Bring a cellphone with video recording capability (in case you'd like a recording of your team's pitch).
Workshop Recap Workshop 2 Day 1 Slides  Review the Day 1 workshop slides.
Workshop Recap Workshop 2 Day 2 Slides  Review the Day 2 workshop slides.
Webinar Editing Video for Storytelling  For individuals who have already watched our 15-minute primer on how to record video on a smartphone and who are interested in learning some tips for how to edit video to effectively tell a story through video.
Webinar Reframing Your Problem  Master Coach Trish Price provides tips for how to reframe your problem and start to prioritize which opportunities to start with.
Booster Session Co-Designing & Prototyping  Chris Conley and Master Coach, Trish Price, answers questions regarding your research, prototyping or pitch presentation.
Webinar Tips for a Compelling Presentation  Chris shares some reminders related to talk points and visuals that could help tighten your presentation.
Worksheet Phase 2 Ideation and Prototyping Roadmap  Use this calendar to help plan your ideation and prototyping activities with your stakeholders.
Method Facilitating Co-Design Sessions  Co-design sessions engage stakeholders and bring more insight to your solution direction. Design these sessions to be engaging and collaborative through a creative approach.
Webinar Reframing Your Problem  Master Coach Trish Price provides tips for how to reframe your problem and start to prioritize which opportunities to start with.
Method Brainstorming Creative Ideas  Coming up with creative ideas requires that you set the right conditions for a generative discussion.
Method Concept Sheets  Capture ideas with a quick sketch and a provocative title. A concept sheet gets ideas out of your head and into a form that’s easy to sort, share, and document.
Template Concept Sheets  Use this template or half sheets of paper!
Method Analogous Examples  A great way to break conventional thinking is to look at others who have already broken convention. Study how game-changers outside your industry have done it.
Method 2x2 Matrix  Find two dimensions and plot elements on a simple chart to show patterns or gaps in the information. Use it to make a case for targeting an area with ideas or to shift strategy.
Worksheet Prototype Design Planning  Use the following prompts to plan and make a prototype for your solution.
Method Prototyping: Storyboards  Storyboards are a great way to show existing or future customer experiences. They put problems and solutions in context and make them easier to communicate and assess.
Method Prototyping: Paper Models  Any idea you think has merit should be modeled in a tangible way as soon as possible. Paper models are a surprisingly easy and fast way to make your ideas real.
Method Prototyping: Enactments  Acting out how one or more interactions or ideas would work can often reveal insights into processes and experiences that would otherwise go unrecognized.
Method Prototyping: Service Prototypes  Service prototypes make the touch points of a new service offering tangible and allow you to test it with customers and other stakeholders.
Method User Feedback with Prototypes  Put paper, service, and interactive prototypes in front of customers and other stakeholders to get their reaction to your solution concept.
Method Rapid Experiments  Early and often, try out ideas in the real world in simple ways to learn from your users. You’re not validating, but rather, testing and shaping your ideas quickly.
Worksheet Rapid Experiments  Use this worksheet to plan experiments for obtaining user feedback. Examples of experiments include in-context demonstrations, simulating a service experience for users to try, or modifying an existing environment with signage, a white model or cardboard kiosk representing a solution.
Method Valuing Solutions  Assessing and communicating the value of your solution is critical to shaping it for success and building support for it’s implementation.
Worksheet Value Chains  Work through potential value chains to estimate the potential value of your solution.
Method Business Model Canvas  The BMC is a set of key dimensions used by startups to track the definition of their offering. The canvas is updated regularly after running tests with customers.
Method Solution Maps  Innovative solutions are more than a single idea. A solution map lays out all the key elements and characteristics of an offering that work together to implement a focused strategy.
Worksheet Solution Direction Map  Use the space below to layout and build a robust solution direction
Method Elevator Pitch  To build awareness for an initiative and find potential supporters, create a verbal summary you can share in under a minute. This conveys the essence of your idea.
Method Pitch Deck  Once your project outgrows its incubation, use a well-structured 10-slide pitch deck to explain your concept, build support, and garner additional resources.
Worksheet Presentation Narrative  Use this narrative structure to present your project and gain support.
Presentation Template Showcase Presentation Template  Use this presentation template for your Showcase presentation. Make sure your presentation is in 4:3 format.
Webinar Tips for a Compelling Presentation  Chris shares some reminders related to talk points and visuals that could help tighten your presentation.
Tips Tips for a Compelling Presentation  Chris shares some reminders related to talk points and visuals that could help tighten your presentation.
Webinar Editing Video for Storytelling  For individuals who have already watched our 15-minute primer on how to record video on a smartphone and who are interested in learning some tips for how to edit video to effectively tell a story through video.
Example Pitch Perfect: How to Rally Your Team Around an Idea in 7 Steps  Even if you originally secured permission from management or enlisted the help of coworkers, it is still your responsibility to rally your organization around your project over time. Use these tips to build a strong effective pitch.
Method Postcard from the Field  haring your work with others is so important when trying to build will around a design project. A “Postcard from the field” offers a quick, visual way to share what you are learning and find others who might want to help you advance the work.
Webinar Taking Great Video with a Smartphone  We offer tips and tricks for how to take much better video with a smartphone.
Tips & Tricks Video Recording with a Smartphone: Tips and Tricks  These are some tips and tricks for making a video recording with your smartphone.
Webinar Editing Video for Storytelling  We offer tips and tricks for how to leverage your smartphones to capture and create effective videos.

Phase 3: Sustain Momentum

Sustain the Work by Effectively Communicating What’s Needed

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This is all the resources.
There are 14 Resources Available.

Pre-Workshop Assignments Carry out your Ideation and Prototyping Roadmap  Use the project planning roadmap to plan project activities over the next 9 weeks. Plan research activities, team meetings, important organizational dates, etc.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Generate ideas with your stakeholders  Figure out which ideas you want to prototype. Build and test your prototypes. Seek input from your colleagues and end-users. Continue to document your process with quotes, photos, video clips. Bonus: Record people trying out your prototype!
Pre-Workshop Assignments Draft your 7-part presentation (5-7 min & 16:9 format) & send to your Coach for feedback by June 14  Curate photos, videos and quotes from your research to put in your final presentation. Draft your project learnings and recommendations and next steps for your organization’s leadership. Send your draft presentation to your coach by June 14th for feedback.
Pre-Workshop Assignments Prep for Workshop 3 & Showcase  Bring a laptop and one printed copy of your draft slides to Workshop #3 Day 1. Confirm your sponsor’s attendance on June 27th. Bring a USB thumb drive for your presentation and the photos, videos or quotes. Bring a cellphone with video recording capability (in case you'd like a recording of your team's pitch).
Post-Workshop Assignments Send Showcase Presentation & Materials to CCI by July 5th  Upload your final showcase presentation and original files (e.g., photos, videos, etc) to your team's Google Drive folder. If your organization blocks Google Drive, please email your materials to Diana at [email protected] by EOD, July 5, 2019.
Workshop Recap Workshop 3 Day 1 Slides  Review what you learned during Workshop 3.
Workshop Recap Workshop 3 Day 2 Slides  Review what was discussed during Workshop 3.
Method Elevator Pitch  To build awareness for an initiative and find potential supporters, create a verbal summary you can share in under a minute. This conveys the essence of your idea.
Method Pitch Deck  Once your project outgrows its incubation, use a well-structured 10-slide pitch deck to explain your concept, build support, and garner additional resources.
Worksheet Presentation Narrative  Use this narrative structure to present your project and gain support.
Presentation Template Showcase Presentation Template  Use this presentation template for your Showcase presentation.
Webinar Tips for a Compelling Presentation  Chris shares some reminders related to talk points and visuals that could help tighten your presentation.
Tips Tips for a Compelling Presentation  Chris shares some reminders related to talk points and visuals that could help tighten your presentation.
Example Perfecting Your Pitch  Even if you originally secured permission from management or enlisted the help of coworkers, it is still your responsibility to rally your organization around your project over time.