My final project is a pitch presentation that identifies a real-world problem and resolves it through design thinking. I will be tasked with defining a clear issue, developing a brand identity and mock-ups that demonstrate my proposed solution, and supporting my concept with relevant research and statistics. This project enables me to tackle a topic that matters to me and creatively explore how design can address meaningful challenges in a structured and professional manner.
My first stage of research is to explore current real-world problems to determine what issue I want to tackle for my pitch. At this point, I’m not looking for something that I personally struggle with, but rather a problem that affects a wide range of users or has a meaningful impact on people’s everyday lives. I want the challenge I choose to be relatable, scalable, and worth solving through a design-led approach. Although I already have an idea from a previous project that I may return to, I felt it was important to broaden my perspective first. By researching current challenges across different industries, communities, and user groups, I can better understand what problems exist, how they affect people, and where design could play a valuable role in creating improvement. This exploratory stage will give me a solid foundation before refining my topic and moving into problem definition and concept development.
I decided to look into ongoing global issues because accessibility challenges affect people everywhere, regardless of whether they are disabled or able-bodied. Many everyday environments and services still fall short in meeting diverse needs, especially when it comes to mobility, transportation, and independent access to essential services. By understanding the wider problems, such as inaccessible infrastructure, inconsistent support within petrol stations, digital exclusion, and rising costs, I can get a clearer picture of how these barriers shape people’s daily experiences and opportunities.
After I examined these broader global issues, I wanted to focus more closely on the real problems that individuals actually face due to them. By investigating the problems people experience, I aimed to understand how global issues become meaningful when viewed from a personal level. People dealing with accessibility gaps often face physical challenges, like not being able to safely reach or use equipment; emotional challenges, such as anxiety or embarrassment when asking for help; and practical challenges, like inconsistent assistance or long waiting times. These difficulties limit independence and can make everyday tasks, including refuelling a car, unnecessarily stressful.
Now that I had established an understanding of the issues faced globally and how they can affect those who face them, I wanted to reflect on my own experiences to see how these barriers affect me personally and where the idea for my solution connects to my own life. I decided to look into the issues I personally face because understanding my own challenges helps me create a solution that feels authentic and meaningful. In my own experience, I’ve noticed how inaccessible environments, lack of support, and unpredictable interactions can impact my confidence and independence. Feeling overlooked, unsure about getting help, or limited by design choices all contribute to the frustrations I experience in everyday situations, especially when it comes to travelling or using public services.
After reviewing global issues around accessibility, mobility, and independence, I began to see clear gaps affecting both disabled and able-bodied people in everyday situations. Looking deeper into the problems users face, such as inconsistent support, physical barriers, and a lack of convenient assistance, helped me understand where design could make a real impact. Reflecting on my own experiences confirmed that these challenges are widespread, not isolated. This process has helped me establish a focused problem to tackle in my pitch, particularly around situations like fuel stations, where many people still struggle to access support easily and independently.
<aside> <img src="/icons/arrow-right_purple.svg" alt="/icons/arrow-right_purple.svg" width="40px" />
By connecting themes of physical assistance and accessibility, I identified a wider global issue affecting everyday independence. This helped highlight accessibility as a key problem area I could meaningfully tackle through my pitch.
</aside>
