With our background research into family relationships completed and a strong problem statement, the next stage focuses on translating these insights into a clear and meaningful project direction. This involved identifying key gaps in existing support, understanding where emotional and relational needs were unmet, and exploring how design could respond to these challenges. From this, we can begin shaping a concept that addresses both the practical and emotional aspects of disconnection, creating a strong foundation for further development, testing, and refinement.
Shortly after developing our research and problem statement, we were tasked with creating a short presentation to communicate our focus within the prison context and clearly outline the issue we aimed to address. As a group, we chose to keep the presentation minimal, helping us distil our ideas into their most essential points and avoid unnecessary complexity. This approach allowed us to stay focused on the core problem, clearly express our intentions, and begin shaping how our concept could be developed and communicated moving forward.
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A minimal presentation used to clearly define our focus, problem, and early direction for development.
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Upon presenting, we received valuable and constructive feedback from our lecturers based on our early groundwork. They encouraged us to narrow our focus to a specific area of family relationships rather than trying to address everything at once, helping avoid confusion and strengthening clarity. A key takeaway, particularly from Paul, was the importance of establishing a clear problem statement instead of having two, which wasn’t a bad thing. This pushed us to better define our direction, ensuring our concept remains focused, purposeful, and genuinely aimed at solving a specific issue.
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https://www.figma.com/proto/dctZdFa9vE38Dms2ZuPmwd/prison-release-design?node-id=2-46&viewport=334%2C321%2C0.24&t=a4z8IoZ2MjfDsRDB-1&scaling=contain&content-scaling=fixed&starting-point-node-id=406%3A2&page-id=0%3A1
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The feedback also highlighted that we had a clear and promising idea worth developing further, particularly in how it addresses the long-term impact on children. Our proposal was recognised for its potential to help prevent future cycles of offending by rebuilding the bond between fathers and their children, supporting stronger relationships that can positively influence a child’s path and sense of stability.
To begin establishing a starting point for our project, we divided into two focused groups based on our problem statement during the ideation phase to explore different aspects in parallel. Abigail and I focused on the design and development of the physical device and overall service offering, considering how it would function and be experienced. Meanwhile, Eva and Jacob concentrated on the user experience, mapping out how the concept would be carried out and perceived across different scenarios and situations, helping to ensure a well-rounded and cohesive approach moving forward.
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We split into two focused groups to develop the service design and user experience in parallel, ensuring a more balanced and cohesive approach.
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With this decision, we aimed to explore a wider range of possibilities by developing both digital and physical service ideas in parallel. This approach allowed us to test different directions, compare how each could support our aims, and build a more well-rounded and flexible concept moving forward.
The first area we explored focused on generating ideas for the physical services we could provide, considering both community-based spaces and more personal, individual-level support. We looked at how these environments could facilitate connection, guidance, and interaction for fathers and their families. Within each category, we then explored the specific services that could be delivered, critically assessing their value and relevance to our research to ensure they meaningfully support relationship rebuilding and align with our overall aims.
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We first focused on exploring ideas for physical services across both community spaces and personal support.
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These ideas provide a strong starting point for defining the physical services we can offer, particularly focused on supporting fathers in prison. They begin to shape how these services can feel approachable, practical, and emotionally supportive, ensuring they align with our aim of strengthening relationships and encouraging meaningful engagement.
After completing our initial brainstorm, we expanded on these ideas by exploring where and how our services could be realistically implemented within and beyond the prison environment. We began identifying key touchpoints where our solution could have the most impact, ensuring it supports both individuals in custody and those outside. This included focusing on reintegration into society, rebuilding family relationships, and creating a more continuous and supportive experience across the entire journey.