Thesis Summary
BMW team would like to create innovative digital charging services for electric car owners. It is important to take into consideration current offering of the BMW intelligent charging services, while designing new solutions.
Outcomes
In the thesis, I discussed data-driven innovations in urban life, the disadvantages of big data as well as the results of my surveys, workshops and city experiments. Based on the research and discussions, I developed two concepts for urban life innovation.
Data Hub System
A system that could help us better understand and manage our data in a world of datafication.
Liquid City
An urban regulation system empowered by data intelligence. Consuming low energy during transportation, urban infrastructure facilities could be designed modularly and automatically deployed in communities with high demand - smooth as liquid.
Book - Thesis
One book as documentation of my approach, research results and discussions, etc.
Strategy & trend research • UX design
Scalable Dimensions
2017 - 2018
After my internship in research & development at Daimler, I worked part-time at the future and trend research (Zukunfts - und Trendforschung) department. There, I became fascinated by the relationship between humans and their digitalised surroundings.
Thus, in my master's thesis, I expressed my thoughts on the data-driven world. I built a design thinking framework for the innovation process, through which I explored ways to deal with and take control of collected data.
In compliance with the non-disclosure agreement, the design outcome of the project isn't shown. Any confidential information has been omitted.
Born in the 1990s, I witnessed not only the improvements of my city brought by technology, but also the restraints.
Sarah J.
Product Designer
Approach
When I look around, the density of cities is immense, our daily lives are busy, the interactions with electronic devices are ubiquitous and yet emotional communications are alienated. To understand the public's opinions on urban life innovations and concerns for the power of big data, I conducted both theoretical and practical research. For example, I conducted online surveys, workshops, experiments in representative cities as well as interviews with urban innovators.
In the thesis, I discussed data-driven innovations in urban life, the disadvantages of big data as well as the results of my surveys, workshops and city experiments. Based on the research and discussions, I developed two concepts for urban life innovation.
Approach
As ordinary citizens, how can we rely on smart data to benefit from products, services and platforms within networked cities?
As designers, how can we develop citizen-oriented innovations for Urban 4.0 through multidimensional thinking?
About the Project
Learnings
Learnings
During the 4 months working on my master's thesis, I experienced the dynamics and constant development of our digital world. Meanwhile, I learned the importance of human-centred innovation, adopted a new mentality towards innovation processes and gained valuable insights into future mobility and urban life. This inspires me to remain curious and be ready to embrace change.
I also developed a passion for fieldwork and discussions with experts from diverse fields. I deeply appreciate the support and inspirations from my two mentors, my friends and various specialists.
For me, design or innovation is not about finding definitive results or solutions. It is rather about seeking new possibilities and variants in our scalable dimensional world.
Sarah J.
Product Designer