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Art of Hosting Design Challenge

The document provides guidance on how to frame a design challenge statement using a "How Might We" (HMW) format. It advises to begin with articulating the problem to be solved, then frame it as a design question starting with "How might we...", state the desired impact, brainstorm possible solutions while allowing for variety, and consider contextual constraints. An example HMW statement is provided: "How might parents in low-income communities ensure children thrive in their first five years?". Templates are also included to guide users through properly framing their own design challenge statements.

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Ravin Sol
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62 views3 pages

Art of Hosting Design Challenge

The document provides guidance on how to frame a design challenge statement using a "How Might We" (HMW) format. It advises to begin with articulating the problem to be solved, then frame it as a design question starting with "How might we...", state the desired impact, brainstorm possible solutions while allowing for variety, and consider contextual constraints. An example HMW statement is provided: "How might parents in low-income communities ensure children thrive in their first five years?". Templates are also included to guide users through properly framing their own design challenge statements.

Uploaded by

Ravin Sol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How Might We Statement (HMW) (Design Challenge)

Goal: Articulate your shared intent through a question that grounds your inquiry. The
HMW statement is the question to focus your attention on during the Learning
Laboratory.

Background
Creating How Might We questions is a simple, but important method, to bridge the gap between what you
know from your analysis, and where you want to go. The method is to formulate the questions, which the
subsequent development of ideas should answer – simply put, it is to ask "How Might We...?".

When answering How Might We questions, you begin to set the direction and level of ambition for your
development of ideas. It provides a clear priority from the beginning - and therefore the definition of
development questions is an important strategic exercise for the project and your organization.

In order to launch your team into brainstorming around the challenge or opportunity, begin crafting your How
Might We (HMW) statements.

For example: How might we become an award winning ACH that is serving the community in responsive and
meaningful ways? Once complete, this question becomes a guide for your team in the next step of work.
• “How” assumes that solutions exist and provides the creative confidence needed to identify and solve
for unmet needs.
• “Might” says that we can put ideas out there that might work or might not—either way, we’ll learn
something useful. Feel free to get it wrong. In fact getting it wrong is vital to innovation. Wrong is good!
Keep the ideas flowing, more ideas, and more potential for innovation. That “wrong” idea might lead
you to the right one!
• “We” signals that we’re going to collaborate and build on each other’s ideas to find creative solutions
together.

Instructions
Start by taking a first try at writing your design challenge. It should be short and easy to remember, a single
sentence that conveys what you want to do. We often phrase these as questions which set you and your team
up to be solution-oriented and to generate lots of ideas along the way.

Properly framed design challenges drive toward ultimate impact, allow for a variety of solutions, and take into
account constraints and context. Now try articulating it again with those factors in mind. Another common
pitfall when scoping a design challenge is going either too narrow or too broad. A narrowly scoped challenge
won’t offer enough room to explore creative solutions. And a broadly scoped challenge won’t give you any idea
where to start.

Now that you’ve run your challenge through these filters, do it again. It may seem repetitive, but the right
question is imperative to arriving at a good solution. A quick test we often run on a design challenge is to see if
we can come up with five possible solutions in just a few minutes. If so, you’re likely on the right track.
Frame Your Design Challenge (Example)

Goal: Getting the right frame on your design challenge will get you off on the right
foot, organize how you think about your solution and at moments of ambiguity, and
help clarify where you should push your design.

Framing your design challenge is more art than science, but there are a few key things to keep in mind. First,
ask yourself: Does my challenge drive toward ultimate impact, allow for a variety of solutions, and take into
account context? Dial those in, and then refine it until it’s the challenge you’re excited to tackle.

What is the problem you’re trying to solve?


Improving the lives of children

1) Try framing it as a design question. (See: How Might We….Exercises in the Playbook on the
previous page)
How might we improve the lives of children?

2) Now state the ultimate impact you’re trying to have.


We want very young children in low income communities to thrive.

3) What are some possible solutions to your problem?


Think broadly. It’s fine to start a project with a hunch or two, but make sure you allow for surprising
outcomes.
Better nutrition, parents engaging with young kids to spur brain development, better education around
parenting, early childhood education centers, better access to neonatal care and vaccines.

4) Finally, write down some of the context and constraints that you’re facing.
They could be geographic, technological, time-based, or have to do with the population you’re
trying to reach.
Because children aren’t in control of their circumstances, we wanted to address our solution to their
parents. We want a solution that could work across different regions.

5) Does your original question need a tweak? If so, try it again.


How might parents in low-income communities ensure children thrive in their first five years?
Frame Your Design Challenge Template

Goal: Getting the right frame on your design challenge will get you off on the right
foot, organize how you think about your solution and at moments of ambiguity, and
help clarify where you should push your design.

Framing your design challenge is more art than science, but there are a few key things to keep in mind. First,
ask yourself: Does my challenge drive toward ultimate impact, allow for a variety of solutions, and take into
account context? Dial those in, and then refine it until it’s the challenge you’re excited to tackle.

What is the problem you’re trying to solve?


________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

1) Try framing it as a design question. (See: How Might We….Exercises in the Playbook on the previous page)

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

2) Now state the ultimate impact you’re trying to have.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What are some possible solutions to your problem?


Think broadly. It’s fine to start a project with a hunch or two, but make sure you allow for surprising outcomes.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Finally, write down some of the context and constraints that you’re facing.
They could be geographic, technological, time-based, or have to do with the population you’re trying to reach.
________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

5) Does your original question need a tweak? If so, try it again.


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

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