Reflection – Design Thinking Tool Visualization 

 Challenge & Selection 

 The challenge I chose for applying the design thinking tool of   visualization is a research project including a scientific study and   writing a thesis that I conducted together with a colleague from a   different discipline . In addition , the topic of the study included an   intercultural comparison with Japan , therefore involving also a Japanese   colleague to help . 

 During this intercultural and interdisciplinary scientific project with my   two colleagues , the foreseeable challenge that our differing prior   knowledge , background , culture and diverging ideas and approaches may   potentially lead to misunderstandings and wrong expectations towards one   another in the process , arose and got in the way of making progress   planning the research project . Meeting only virtually additionally   increased these potential difficulties . The study we planned to conduct   revolved around the topic of “ perception of emptiness in architecture ”   which is not only an abstract concept but also one that , when translated   into Japanese , has a different meaning and connotation . 

 This is where the tool of visualization came into play . As explained in the   video lecture , it makes ideas or abstract concepts more tangible and   concrete . It can be a sketch , a photo , map or a picture you draw . Anything   that is more than language and stimulates visual thinking . 

 Application 

 In the described challenge , I started to use the visualization tool during   the meetings and discussions with my two colleagues in order to clearly and   vividly communicate my ideas . 

 In the team meeting with my research partner , I used a digital whiteboard   to draw and sketch the process of the project , including literature   research , generation of scientific hypotheses , creating stimuli material ,   the questionnaire , data collection , analysis etc . That way the approach to   the project I had in my head was easier to communicate for me and became   understandable for my colleague as compared to before when I was describing   what I was thinking merely with abstract words . 

 Also , instead of citing or recalling the titles of books and scientific   papers that were suitable sources according to me , I collected photos and   screenshots of the cover pages and added them to a virtual pinboard .   Starting from there , I was able to vividly explain how these books and   articles had led me to my idea and hypotheses I introduced to my colleague . 

 In a similar way , when discussing the concept of “ emptiness ” with my   Japanese colleague , instead of relying on words that are – especially   across cultures - prone to misunderstanding , making use of the   visualization tool I presented to him photos of architectural spaces and   asked him to put them in an order from the most to least “ empty ” . The   visual material could help overcome the boundaries of ( intercultural ) 

 verbal communication and enhanced discourse and understanding , and beyond   that even learning and memory . 

 Insight 

 Everyone creates their own reality . When communicating with words , the   images created in people ’s minds are different for everyone . Only by   communicating visually , an idea , thought or concept that does not yet exist   can be translated into something more tangible that helps all members of a   team create a similar image in their mind . Only when everyone is on the   same page of what is being talked about – achieved by applying   visualization – a foundation for successful collaboration is laid . This is   what the tool of visualization taught me during the challenge of my   intercultural and interdisciplinary research project . It was once I started   transforming my words and ideas into sketches and lines and onto pinboards   that a more effective dialogue with my colleagues emerged . 

 Approach 

 For any next project – whether it be similar to the challenge described   here or different – I will always and first of all use visualization . It is   suitable for every project or challenge since it makes abstract , not yet   existing ideas and thoughts more concrete , tangible and understandable . It   activates areas in the brain that are not activated in a merely verbal   conversation and stimulates visual thinking . Since visualization has the   power to put intangibles into concrete terms and put everyone involved in a   discussion – no matter what background or culture – onto the same page as   far as this is possible – the only challenge that remains in my opinion is   to constantly remind myself of applying this valuable tool . 


EMAIL: 
ID_NUM: 
NAME_STUDENT: 
PHONE_NUM: 
STREET_ADDRESS: 
URL_PERSONAL: 
USERNAME: 

### Task: You are a PII (Personal Identity Information) Detection. Given a essays written by students, you have to identify ONLY the following:
NAME_STUDENT - The full or partial name of a student that is not necessarily the author of the essay. This excludes instructors, authors, and other person names.
EMAIL - A student’s email address.
USERNAME - A student's username on any platform.
ID_NUM - A number or sequence of characters that could be used to identify a student, such as a student ID or a social security number.
PHONE_NUM - A phone number associated with a student.
URL_PERSONAL - A URL that might be used to identify a student.
STREET_ADDRESS - A full or partial street address that is associated with the student, such as their home address.
### Input: Reflection – Design Thinking Tool Visualization 

 Challenge & Selection 

 The challenge I chose for applying the design thinking tool of   visualization is a research project including a scientific study and   writing a thesis that I conducted together with a colleague from a   different discipline . In addition , the topic of the study included an   intercultural comparison with Japan , therefore involving also a Japanese   colleague to help . 

 During this intercultural and interdisciplinary scientific project with my   two colleagues , the foreseeable challenge that our differing prior   knowledge , background , culture and diverging ideas and approaches may   potentially lead to misunderstandings and wrong expectations towards one   another in the process , arose and got in the way of making progress   planning the research project . Meeting only virtually additionally   increased these potential difficulties . The study we planned to conduct   revolved around the topic of “ perception of emptiness in architecture ”   which is not only an abstract concept but also one that , when translated   into Japanese , has a different meaning and connotation . 

 This is where the tool of visualization came into play . As explained in the   video lecture , it makes ideas or abstract concepts more tangible and   concrete . It can be a sketch , a photo , map or a picture you draw . Anything   that is more than language and stimulates visual thinking . 

 Application 

 In the described challenge , I started to use the visualization tool during   the meetings and discussions with my two colleagues in order to clearly and   vividly communicate my ideas . 

 In the team meeting with my research partner , I used a digital whiteboard   to draw and sketch the process of the project , including literature   research , generation of scientific hypotheses , creating stimuli material ,   the questionnaire , data collection , analysis etc . That way the approach to   the project I had in my head was easier to communicate for me and became   understandable for my colleague as compared to before when I was describing   what I was thinking merely with abstract words . 

 Also , instead of citing or recalling the titles of books and scientific   papers that were suitable sources according to me , I collected photos and   screenshots of the cover pages and added them to a virtual pinboard .   Starting from there , I was able to vividly explain how these books and   articles had led me to my idea and hypotheses I introduced to my colleague . 

 In a similar way , when discussing the concept of “ emptiness ” with my   Japanese colleague , instead of relying on words that are – especially   across cultures - prone to misunderstanding , making use of the   visualization tool I presented to him photos of architectural spaces and   asked him to put them in an order from the most to least “ empty ” . The   visual material could help overcome the boundaries of ( intercultural ) 

 verbal communication and enhanced discourse and understanding , and beyond   that even learning and memory . 

 Insight 

 Everyone creates their own reality . When communicating with words , the   images created in people ’s minds are different for everyone . Only by   communicating visually , an idea , thought or concept that does not yet exist   can be translated into something more tangible that helps all members of a   team create a similar image in their mind . Only when everyone is on the   same page of what is being talked about – achieved by applying   visualization – a foundation for successful collaboration is laid . This is   what the tool of visualization taught me during the challenge of my   intercultural and interdisciplinary research project . It was once I started   transforming my words and ideas into sketches and lines and onto pinboards   that a more effective dialogue with my colleagues emerged . 

 Approach 

 For any next project – whether it be similar to the challenge described   here or different – I will always and first of all use visualization . It is   suitable for every project or challenge since it makes abstract , not yet   existing ideas and thoughts more concrete , tangible and understandable . It   activates areas in the brain that are not activated in a merely verbal   conversation and stimulates visual thinking . Since visualization has the   power to put intangibles into concrete terms and put everyone involved in a   discussion – no matter what background or culture – onto the same page as   far as this is possible – the only challenge that remains in my opinion is   to constantly remind myself of applying this valuable tool .
### Output: 