Bryce's Blog

       The Design Thinking Bootcamp gave me valuable insights into how design thinking can tackle ambiguous problems, particularly through our group exercise on creating the ideal cell phone. The activity emphasized empathy and the need to deeply understand customer needs. We explored this concept through interviews with our group members.      We began by interviewing each other to see how our phones fit into our daily lives. This forced us to drop assumptions and approach the conversation with real curiosity. It wasn’t easy, as we often assume we know how people use their phones, but the exercise required us to ask open-ended questions and pay close attention to subtle cues, even non-verbal ones. Through this process, we moved past simple answers and uncovered deeper frustrations and desires.      For example, my partner initially said they used their phone mostly for communication, but after more discussion, we realized we didn’t need...

     As I dive into BUAD 451, I'm realizing just how much innovation is about embracing change. Innovation isn't just about coming up with new ideas—it's about taking those ideas and turning them into something valuable. It’s about adapting to what’s new and figuring out how to make it work in the real world.      One of the things that’s really standing out to me is how innovation happens. Sometimes it’s driven by a “knowledge push,” where new technology or discoveries open up possibilities we hadn’t even thought of before. Other times, it’s a “need pull,” where a demand or gap in the market pushes for something new. Understanding these forces is key to learning how to market products that are not just innovative but also meaningful to consumers.      This perspective ties in with what I’ve learned in my previous courses at William & Mary. In my Intro to Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) class, we covered the basics of where in...