1. *Based on your life experience, skills and interests, what would a design process that is both uniquely yours and effective look like?

A design process that is both uniquely ours and effective would look like first doing a thorough and deep research about the needs of the patients and making sure that they are culturally appropriate according to Philippine culture and then going to do fieldwork in the Philippines to do interviews of our stakeholders and making sure that we are fulfilling the appropriate needs and wants of the patients and healthcare staff that are involved in the process of birthing. Afterwards, we will be coming back to create a business model for our product since the other birthing team in the Philippines will be creating the design for the birthing chairs this year.

2. *Identify your three most important stakeholders and list five UNIQUE attributes for each one of them.
Mothers
Region of Country
Social Class
Health
Religion
Income
Healthcare Network
Money
Region of Country
Partnerships
Need for new birthing chairs
Amount/number of staff in hospital (under/over staffed)
Doctors/ Physicians
Education Level
Region of Country
Skill
Understanding of different cultures
Teamwork

3. *Identify three ways in which you will validate your project concept, technology, usability, and business model.
Concept
Help decrease maternal and infant mortality
A durable and comfortable birthing table
Affordable
Technology
Technology/ product platform
Technology is not usable in our product however infrastructure is
Sizing ability (ability to change to different sizes for the mothers)
Usability
Durability
Comfortability
Sizable (able to withhold mothers of different sizes and adjust accordingly)
Business Model
Helps alleviate potential risks when women give birth
The Philippines is a developing country so the birthing table will have to be an affordable cost
A culturally appropriate birthing table design

4. Give three examples of something very interesting you learned from a friend that was a completely alien concept to you.

• In Japan it is not considered rude to ask someone their age when upon meeting them. This is because respect and age vary directly in Japan and people do not want to mistakenly treat someone with less respect if they incorrectly estimate their age.
• The South African work day is broken up by “tea time.” It often occurs in the morning or afternoon and is when the people of the office take a break from their work to engage in non-work related conversations with their coworkers. It is meant to increase the strength of interpersonal relationships in the office and increase productivity.
• In Spain, businesses and restaurants are oftentimes closed from 2pm-5pm. These siestas are designed for workers to take long lunches (their big meal of the day) and naps. This is to protect people from midday heat and enjoy the nightlife and culture of the country. Dinner is typically 8-9.