Unleashing Ideas with "Kairos - The Innovation Hub"

A product conceptualized to provide an all-in-one platform for ideas and collaboration.

Understanding the Problem

Defining the Users

Brainstorming the Solution Refining the Design

Testing the Prototype

Just want to see the highlights? Check out the studio version here.

The Problem

What problem(s) does the product solve?

Kairos addresses the challenge of managing and nurturing innovation within organizations. Many companies struggle to capture and develop ideas effectively, leading to missed opportunities and a lack of innovation.

There are three major hurdles that are stopping businesses from getting ideas and launching them quickly:

Channel: Only senior and leadership employees have the platform to showcase their ideas. Even with encouragement, most entry and mid-level employees do not feel comfortable sharing their new ideas.
Speed: Rapid prototyping, feedback, and agility are often missing for new ideas, which take too long to get approved, and only a handful of people can pitch them.
Complexity: Most project management tools are too feature-heavy and complex for the ideation and innovation process.

Who is facing this problem?

Innovators: Employees with creative ideas but no platform to share or develop them.
Leaders and Senior Managers: Leadership members seeking to foster innovation and track idea progress.
Teams: Groups looking for collaboration tools to develop and test new ideas.

How is this problem currently being solved?

It's not. Organizations use a bunch of tools for employee engagement, communication and project management, but none designed for innovation.

JIRA, Trello, Asana: Focuses on project and task management but lacks a social media-style interface for innovation.
Slack, Teams: Suitable for communication but not designed for structured innovation management.
Empuls, Officevibe: Employee engagement platforms that do not rise about rewards and recognition.

Why did I choose this problem?

I've always been passionate about fostering innovation and turning great ideas into reality. At Moody's Insurance Solutions (previously Risk Management Solutions) and EigenRisk, I dedicated myself to gathering ideas from across the company and transforming them into testable prototypes to gather feedback quickly.

Leading and participating in numerous "Shark Tank" events, I created frameworks to drive the execution of new ideas. These experiences showed me the power of collaborative innovation.

After multiple internal Shark Tank events and innovation initiatives, I created Kairos, a product concept that embodies my design thinking, problem-solving skills, and product expertise while fostering creativity and collaboration. Welcome to Kairos, where innovation meets execution.

The Users

User Personas & Empathy Maps

Alex, Software Developer, 28

Name: Alex
Role: Software Developer
Pain Points: Lack of platform to share ideas, limited support for idea development
Goals: To contribute innovative ideas, to see ideas come to fruition
Daily Activities: Coding, brainstorming, attending team meetings
Quote: “I have so many ideas but no way to get them noticed.”
Demographic Profile: 29 years old, tech-savvy, enjoys hackathons
Empathy Map
- Says: “I have so many ideas but no way to get them noticed.”
- Thinks: “Is my idea going to be noticed?”
- Does: Shares ideas, collaborates on prototypes
- Feels: Frustrated with current tools, excited about new possibilities

Emily, Product Manager, 35

Name: Emily
Pain Points: Poor collaboration tools, fragmented idea development process
Goals: To collaborate effectively, to develop and test ideas quickly
Daily Activities: Managing projects, coordinating with teams, testing ideas
Quote: “We need to work together seamlessly to bring ideas to life.”
Demographic Profile: 35 years old, experienced in project management, diverse skill set, enjoys team leadership
Empathy map
- Says: "We need to work together seamlessly to bring ideas to life."
- Thinks: "How can we improve our collaboration process?"
- Does: Participates in team meetings and brainstorming sessions.
- Feels: Frustrated with poor collaboration tools.

Chris, Chief Product Officer, 53

Name: Chris
Role: Chief Product Officer
Pain Points: Limited idea input from across the company, reliance on senior members
Goals: To gather diverse ideas, to promote innovation company-wide
Daily Activities: Strategic planning, overseeing innovation projects, decision-making
Quote: “I want fresh ideas from every corner of the company, not just my direct reports.”
Demographic Profile: 53 years old, extensive leadership experience, visionary thinker
Empathy Map
- Says: “I want fresh ideas from every corner of the company, not just my direct reports.”
- Thinks: “How can we tap into the creativity of all employees?”
- Does: Reviews ideas, approves ideas for next steps.
- Feels: Concerned about innovation stagnation, hopeful for new input.

User Journey Mapping

Alex, the innovator persona

Stage	Doing	Thinking	Saying	Feeling
Imagine	Generating new ideas and seeking feedback	"How can I refine this idea?"	"I have a new idea that could be impactful."	Excited but unsure
Develop	Collaborating with team members	"Are we making progress?"	"Let's work together to develop this prototype."	Motivated and collaborative
Test	Gathering user feedback on prototypes	"How can we improve based on feedback?"	"We need to test this with users."	Curious and open-minded
Launch	Monitoring the impact of launched ideas	"Is this idea successful?"	"Our idea is live, let's see how it performs."	Proud and anticipative

Emily, the manager persona

Stage	Doing	Thinking	Saying	Feeling
Imagine	Generating new ideas and seeking feedback	"How can I refine this idea?"	"I have a new idea that could be impactful."	Excited but unsure
Develop	Collaborating with team members	"Are we making progress?"	"Let's work together to develop this prototype."	Motivated and collaborative
Test	Gathering user feedback on prototypes	"How can we improve based on feedback?"	"We need to test this with users."	Curious and open-minded
Launch	Monitoring the impact of launched ideas	"Is this idea successful?"	"Our idea is live, let's see how it performs."	Proud and anticipative

Chris, the leader persona

Stage	Doing	Thinking	Saying	Feeling
Collaborate	Working with team to develop ideas	"How can we improve this design?"	"Let's brainstorm and iterate."	Collaborative and creative
Prototype	Creating and testing prototypes	"What works and what doesn't?"	"Let's test this prototype."	Experimental and curious
Feedback	Collecting and analyzing user feedback	"What are the users saying?"	"We need user feedback to improve."	Inquisitive and receptive
Finalize	Polishing the final product	"Is this ready for launch?"	"The final design is ready."	Satisfied and confident

Brainstorming the Solution

Creating the value proposition

Using The "C" and "E" in the SCAMPER ("Substitute, Combine, Adjust, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Reverse") technique, I wanted the product to combine the best elements of communication (Slack), collaboration (Jira, Trello) and social networking (Twitter, Instagram, Reddit) to provide a no-frills (that's the "E" - eliminating unnecessary features) solution that solves the problems faced by Alex, Emily, and Chris above.

The unique value proposition of the product includes:

Social Network Interface: Encourages active participation and engagement.
Structured Stages: Guides ideas from conception to launch systematically.
Collaboration Tools: Facilitates teamwork in developing and testing ideas.
Speed and Simplicity: Rapid prototyping, feedback, and approval with a streamlined, user-friendly interface.
Integrations: Ability to integrate with project management (JIRA, Trello, Asana), communication (Slack, Teams, Zoom), and product design/prototyping tools (Figma).
AI powered: Uses AI to recommend ideas, analyze feedback, and optimize the innovation process.

Competitor analysis

Feature	Untitled Innovation Platform	Project/Task Management (JIRA, Trello)	Communication (Slack, Teams)	Employee Engagement (Empuls, Officevibe)
Social network interface	Yes	No	No	No
Collaboration tools	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Project Management	Yes	Yes	No	No

As a next step, I applied a simple SWOT and Porter's five forces analysis to dissect the idea further:

SWOT analysis

Strengths:
- Unique combination of social media and project management features.
- User-friendly interface designed for rapid prototyping and feedback.
- Integration with popular tools like Figma.
Weaknesses:
- Potential learning curve for users accustomed to traditional project management tools.
- Dependence on user engagement for content generation and idea development.
Opportunities:
- Growing demand for collaborative and innovative tools in remote work environments.
- Expansion into new markets and industries looking for innovation management solutions.
Threats:
- Competition from established project management and social media platforms.
- Rapid technological changes that could require continuous adaptation.

Porter's five forces

Threat of New Entrants:
- Moderate, due to the need for technological expertise and user acquisition strategies.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers:
- Low, as the platform primarily relies on common technological infrastructure and cloud services.
Bargaining Power of Buyers:
- High, as users have numerous alternatives for project management and social media tools.
Threat of Substitute Products or Services:
- High, given the plethora of project management and collaboration tools available.
Industry Rivalry:
- High, with strong competition from established players like JIRA, Slack, and Trello.

Summarizing the solution

After looking at the solution from different sides, I outlined its various aspects in a business model canvas:

Key Partners:

Cloud service providers (e.g., AWS)
Tool integrations (e.g., Figma, JIRA)
Marketing and distribution partners

Key Activities:

Platform development and maintenance
User acquisition and engagement
Continuous feature enhancement

Key Resources:

Development team
Cloud infrastructure
Marketing and sales team

Value Propositions:

Streamlined innovation process
Combined social media and project management features
Rapid prototyping and feedback

Customer Relationships:

Community engagement
Customer support
User feedback loop

Channels:

Website and mobile app
Digital marketing
Partnerships with industry influencers

Customer Segments:

Innovators and creative teams
Managers and team leaders
Enterprises and large organizations

Cost Structure:

Development and maintenance costs
Marketing and user acquisition costs
Cloud infrastructure costs

Revenue Streams:

Subscription fees
Premium features
Enterprise solutions

Sketching the Design

Based on the user journey and features brainstormed above, I decided to wireframe the product with the following screens:

Home Feed:
- Description: A social media-style feed where users can see all ideas, vote on them, comment, and apply to be part of the development team.
- Content: Idea cards with title, description, likes, comments, share buttons, and options to apply or give feedback.
- Visual: Clean and engaging layout with vibrant colors.

Home Feed>Screen for Submitting Ideas:
- Description: Simple interface with a lean model canvas framework.
- Content: Sections for idea title, problem statement, solution, key metrics, and success criteria.
- Visual: Minimalistic design with clear input fields.

My Ideas:
- Description: A parent screen for Development, Feedback, and Launch dashboard. Allows users to track their ideas and see updates for ideas they’re following across the three different stages.
- Content: Sections for each stage with status updates and links to detailed views.
- Visual: Organized interface with tabs for Develop, Test, and Launch.
- Integration: Ability to import prototypes from tools like Figma.

My Ideas>Development Workspace:
- Description: Collaborative workspace for teams to finalize prototypes.
- Content: Task board, file sharing, chat functionality.
- Visual: Organized interface with tools for collaboration.
- Integration: Import prototypes from Figma and other prototyping tools.

My Ideas>Feedback Section:
- Description: Area to gather and view feedback on prototypes.
- Content: Feedback cards with comments, ratings, and suggestions.
- Visual: User-friendly layout with clear feedback indicators.
- Integration: Integration with survey tools for gathering feedback.

My Ideas>Launch Dashboard:
- Description: Dashboard to track the progress and launch ideas.
- Content: Progress bar, key metrics, and launch checklist.
- Visual: Intuitive dashboard with actionable insights.
- Integration: Integration with project management tools for tracking progress.

Notifications Screen Mockup:
Description: Screen to view notifications such as reactions, likes, updates, and upcoming launches.
Content: List of notifications with brief descriptions.
Visual: Engaging layout with highlight sections for top performers and upcoming events.

Navigation Details:

Bottom Navigation Bar:
- Home: Allows users to vote on new ideas, participate in development, or give their views on ideas in the feedback stage.
- My Ideas: Contains the Develop, Test, and Launch sections for ideas that the user is a part of.
- Notifications: Displays reactions, likes, updates, and upcoming launches.

Top Right User Profile:
- Profile: User's personal profile.
- Settings: Includes notifications and other settings.
- Leaderboard: Displays top contributors and ideas.
- Search: Option to search within the app.
- Logout: Option to log out of the app.

User Flow for Each Persona:

Innovator Persona (Alex)

Posting Ideas: Home screen -> Submit Idea screen.
Applying to Join Development: Home screen -> Apply to join development team.
Collaborating in Development: Home screen -> Apply to join development team -> My Ideas screen -> Development Workspace.
Receiving Feedback: My Ideas screen -> Feedback Section.
Seeing Idea Launched: My Ideas screen -> Launch Dashboard.
Giving Feedback: Home screen -> View ideas in Test stage -> Provide feedback.

Manager Persona (Emily)

Reviewing Ideas: Home screen -> View ideas.
Tracking Progress: My Ideas screen -> Development Workspace.
Coordinating with Teams: My Ideas screen -> Development Workspace.
Launching Ideas: My Ideas screen -> Launch Dashboard.
Giving Feedback: Home screen -> View ideas in Test stage -> Provide feedback.

C-suite Persona (Chris)

Reviewing Ideas: Home screen -> View ideas.
Approving Ideas for Next Steps: Home screen -> View ideas.
Overseeing Innovation Projects: My Ideas screen -> Launch Dashboard.
Giving Feedback: Home screen -> View ideas in Test stage -> Provide feedback.

AI Integration Highlights

Idea recommendation and validation:
- Model: OpenAI GPT-4 or similar large language models (LLMs).
- Data Infrastructure: Cloud-based data storage and processing.
- Cloud Platform: AWS SageMaker or Google Cloud AI Platform.
Feedback Analysis:
- Model: Sentiment analysis models like BERT or GPT-3.
- Data Infrastructure: Integration with cloud-based analytics platforms.
- Cloud Platform: AWS Lambda for real-time analysis, Google Cloud Natural Language API.
Prototype Optimization:
- Model: Custom machine learning models for design and usability optimization.
- Data Infrastructure: Scalable cloud storage and processing.
- Cloud Platform: AWS SageMaker for model training and deployment.

Iterations in the Design

Streamlined Navigation: Initially, Develop, Test, and Launch were separate sections in the navigation. Now, they are consolidated under the "My Ideas" parent screen for a more intuitive user experience.
Centralized Updates: I encountered the question of where users could give feedback on ideas in the Test stage or apply to be part of ideas in the Develop stage. To solve this, I updated the Home Screen to include all updates, ensuring users are informed about the progress of all ideas, not just new ones.
Enhanced Notifications: Inspired by popular apps like Twitter and LinkedIn, I added Notifications to the main bottom navigation bar. This ensures users can easily access important updates without navigating to the top right profile section.
Profile-Centered Leaderboards: I moved the Leaderboards to the profile section, prioritizing the focus on ideas first and gamification second. This shift helps keep the emphasis on innovation and creativity while still recognizing top contributors.
Upvotes and Downvotes: I was torn on this one. I wanted to only keep "likes" to avoid any negative connotations in the voting process, but at the I realized that it's important to highlight "controversial" ideas just as much as the popular ones.

Requirements and Prioritization

Prioritization with the MoSCoW Framework

Must-Have Features:
- Idea posting and commenting
- Collaboration workspace
- Feedback collection
- Launch dashboard
Should-Have Features:
- Integration with other tools (e.g., Slack, JIRA)
- AI validation before idea submission
- Gamification elements
- Enhanced AI feedback analysis
Could-Have Features:
- Advanced analytics
- Customizable workflows
- Dark theme

Won’t-Have Features (for MVP):
Full AI-driven prototype optimization

MVP Features

Idea posting and commenting
Basic tracking across different stages
Basic collaboration
Simple feedback collection
Notifications

Refining the Design

Picking a Design System

I wanted to pick a design system to ensure that the UI followed visual and accessibility guidelines - after all, I am not a UX designer. I started with the foundational ones - Google's Material Design, Microsoft's Fluent, IBM's Carbon, Human Interface Guidelines and so on. After reviewing these, I decided to go with Google's Material Design, a decision that was also in line with my Google UX design certificate.

The system is pretty awesome for UX beginners. It's cohesive, adaptable, visually intuitive with detailed guidelines for each component to ensure consistency and adaptability. Yes, it's boring, but a streamlined system is a boon for quick prototyping. Also, with the Material theme builder, it had enough flexibility to create a new branding experience.

Most importantly, Accessibility by default is a core design value for Material, with Accessibility requirements and goals are documented across component pages and guidelines.

Branding

I hate camelcase names, like StratInnovate, which I used as a working title for this project. Finally, I named the product Kairos, an ancient Greek word meaning 'the right or critical moment'.

Kairos is also the personification of opportunity, luck and favorable moments in Greek mythology. According to ancient Greeks, Kairos was the god of the "fleeting moment"; "a favorable opportunity opposing the fate of man". Such a moment must be grasped (by the tuft of hair on the personified forehead of the fleeting opportunity); otherwise the moment is gone and can not be re-captured (personified by the back of head being bald).

Suits the product well, don't you think?

Color Palette & Typography

For the final design, I wanted to ditch my usual neutral color scheme preferences (blue, black, and grays - like you see in this website) and go with more exciting colors. I leveraged Google's Material Theme Builder to update the color palette with vibrant oranges. I used teal as the accent color but decided to stick with the primary and secondary colors for the MVP design.

For the typography, I decided to go with the in-built sans-serif font with different sizes for headings, sub-headings and body text.

High-fidelity mockups

I designed the mockups with Alex's flow in mind, keeping the MVP requirements to show the home feed and how an idea submission looks like.

Testing the Prototype

The prototype is designed from Alex's perspective, as outlined in the refine section above. You can, as Alex, log in, see the idea feed on the home (discover) page - with your recently submitted idea at the top! You can see how it feels to check out ideas in different stages across the organization, add a new idea, check-in on your own ideas, and get updates. Use this link to try the prototype yourself.

Takeaways

This was a great exercise in following the design thinking process to conceptualize and build a product from scratch. I had many opportunities to build product features in my previous roles, where I (prudently) left the UX design to the experts. Here, I got to flex those the designing and prototyping skills to create the basic MVP. Like with any product process, the key takeaway here were the iterations, and going back and forth the lifecycle to get to a working prototype.

Be sure to let me know what you think!