👋 Hi!
I’m Inés Bernal and this is my portfolio
Project 1
EXPLORING the future of CPR training
Academic Case Study — Design Roadmapping
Team of 2
Fall 2023, 10 weeks
Context
My Roles & Responsibilities
Trend Research
Conducted a deep dive into creative trend research, shifting through a top 10 listing of trends.
Identified user impact and strategic fit to inform our roadmap.
Decided on key user value drivers, crucial for our roadmap vision.
Mapping sessions
Defined a future vision during the value mapping session.
Decided on the time pacing, including intermediate points and endpoint during the idea mapping session.
Detailed all activities and constraints to be included in the final deliverable during the pathway mapping session.
Graphic Design
Translated strategic insights into visually compelling strategic and tactical roadmaps.
Ensured clear and impactful representation of our vision for each future horizon.
Outcome & Key Takeaways
We successfully translated Laerdal’s project requirements and strategic questions into cohesive design roadmaps, adapting the company to future industry changes while preserving its legacy.
- Conversations with the client unveiled nuanced perspectives among employees regarding the company’s values and mission, and how the future should look like.
- When expanding into new markets, recognizing the delicate balance between evolving as a company and maintaining rapport with existing customers is crucial.
- As designers, we infuse our projects with our own values. In this case, our vision for the future involved connected communities and the democratization of healthcare knowledge, serving as a defining influence in our results.
Project 2
Revitalizing Mooncup: From Individual to Community Perspective
Academic Case Study — Design Strategy Project
Team of 5
Fall 2023, 4 weeks
Context
My Roles & Responsibilities
Conducted in-depth research to identify critical challenges and opportunities within Mooncup’s industry.
Gathered users’ experiences via interviews and questionnaires.
Framed problems in a strategic context, and identified areas for intervention.
creation of new value proposition
Developed a new value proposition for Mooncup, aligning with the changing dynamics of the market and societal perceptions.
Articulated a collective vision that broadened the brand’s impact and made it relevant to a larger audience.
Storytelling
Utilized insights from strategic exploration to craft a compelling story around Mooncup’s role in addressing societal taboos.
Presented a novel narrative that resonated with the target audience, fostering empathy and understanding for Mooncup’s strategic shift.
Outcome & Key Takeaways
Our strategic design efforts for Mooncup went beyond addressing societal taboos surrounding menstruation. Shifting the conversation from an individual perspective to a collective point of view, we broadened the brand’s impact to encompass a larger audience. With the goal of fostering empathy for all, we presented the prototype of a platform named ‘Growing Pains’, designed to facilitate user interactions with uncomfortable yet inevitable situations.
- Engaging in this speculative design allowed us to surpass conventional boundaries and think beyond the ordinary, addressing challenges with societal significance while preserving the company’s underlying values, rather than just focusing on designing a new product or service.
- Navigating discussions and presentations, we recognized the weight and importance of tackling taboos in design. This experience reinforced the value of exploring uncomfortable topics, pushing boundaries, and emphasizing the human experience in strategic design.
Project 3
A Qualitative Exploration of Value-in-Use in Behavioral Change Interventions
Academic Case Study — Qualitative Research
Team of 2
Spring 2023, 16 weeks
Challenge
Building on the research line of a faculty member, this project required designing and executing a qualitative research study. Within the umbrella topic of «Values in design processes for healthy lifestyles», our team focused on investigating the concept of «value-in-use», a term specific to design, in the field of behavioral change interventions.
My Roles & Responsibilities
Research Exploration and Question Formulation
Conducted exploratory research into designing for values.
Conducted in-depth research of academic literature on the topic of value-in-use.
Selected a research direction and crafted the guiding research questions.
Interview-Based Qualitative Research
Selected case study and recruited participants.
Prepared materials, including the interview guide.
Conducted semi-structured interviews with healthcare researchers.
Performed thematic analysis.
Academic Writing
Synthesized research results into an academic-style paper.
Communicated findings through a conference-style poster.
Outcome & Key Takeaways
The outcome of our research was detailed in an unpublished academic paper that addressed the research question: «How do healthcare researchers implicitly address value-in-use when designing interventions to promote physical activity?» This was complemented by an accompanying poster.
- This project offered me the possibility to interact with other research fields from a design perspective. It was a great experience to get into contact with an actual multi-disciplinary research team, and the interaction through our interviews were invaluable both for the project outcome and for me personally.
Project 4
Who do I want to become as a Strategic Designer?
Academic Reflection — Strategic Value of Design
Context
This project took place in a reflection course that enables the student to develop and argue an informed perspective on how design creates value for companies and society, and to formulate an individual positioning as a strategic designer. Moreover, it serves as a means to offer a more in-depth view into who I am beyond the results and limits of other projects.
Outcome & Key Takeaways
The outcome provides insight into my personal values and design philosophy. I want to embody a «here to help» attitude, emphasizing collaboration as I believe in the collective strength. The metaphor of a prism symbolizes my role—to synthesize tangible solutions, plans, strategies, or implementations by collecting diverse perspectives from individuals with various disciplines.
- Looking back at the project, it was a challenge to position myself as a strategic designer at the very beginning of my master’s degree. Nevertheless, I believe the project provided me with valuable insights and tools for self-reflection. It made me realize that while I may not know how long the journey will take, I am certain about where I want to go.
inés bernal / Made with 🤍 in NL / 2023