Design-Thinking Model: Homelessness

A bed you can rent for free if you need it

Brainstorming

We are preparing for our week at Mustard Seed School by learning about the different causes of homelessness. We know that homelessness is a complicated problem that does not usually happen by only one factor (ex: losing your job). That also means that it takes many supports to help people who are homeless. It's not as easy as giving them a free place to live.

This week we focused on people sleeping "rough" (outside). We brainstormed a list of obstacles you would have if you lived outside:

- Difficulty staying warm outside.

- Protecting yourself from danger.

- Protecting your belongings.

- Finding a safe place to sleep where you're allowed to sleep

- Carrying a heavy backpack or pushing a shopping cart to store belongings

Ms Elder put us into groups of three and we chose which problem we wanted to tackle. We then followed the "Design Thinking Model":

A jacket with hidden pockets to keep your things safe
while you're sleeping

Empathy:

Write a paragraph (3-4 sentences) to show how you would feel if you were experiencing homelessness. Be clear which problem you are trying to solve.

Ideate:

Draw 4-5 different ideas of inventions to try to help a person experiencing homelessness

Reflect:

Which idea best solves the problem of the person you’re trying to help. Stay on topic.

Prototype:

Build a model of your idea!

Write an inventor’s note that explains how your invention works and what it would be made out of.

Here are some photos of us working on our prototypes.

A shopping cart that you can also sleep in