Understanding The Problem
Kairos addresses the challenge of managing and nurturing innovation within organizations. Many companies struggle to capture and develop ideas effectively, leading to missed opportunities and a lack of innovation.
There are three major hurdles that are stopping businesses from getting ideas and launching them quickly:
Channel
Only senior and leadership employees have the platform to showcase their ideas. Even with encouragement, most entry and mid-level employees do not feel comfortable sharing their new ideas.
Speed
Rapid prototyping, feedback, and agility are often missing for new ideas, which take too long to get approved, and only a handful of people can pitch them
Complexity
Most project management tools are too feature-heavy and complex for the ideation and innovation process.
Defining the Users
Brainstorming the Solution
I wanted the product to combine the best elements of communication (Slack), collaboration (Jira, Trello) and social networking (Twitter, Instagram, Reddit) to provide a no-frills solution that solves the problems faced by Alex, Emily, and Chris above.
The unique value proposition of the product includes:
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Social Media Interface: Encourages active participation and engagement.
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Structured Stages: Guides ideas from conception to launch systematically.
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Collaboration Tools: Facilitates teamwork in developing and testing ideas.
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Speed and Simplicity: Rapid prototyping and feedback with a streamlined, user-friendly interface.
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AI Integration: Uses AI to recommend ideas, analyze feedback, and optimize the innovation process.
I didn't draw these wireframes on the first day! Read the full case study to see detailed user flows, competitive analyses, design iterations, requirements, and MVP prioritization.
Alex, Software Developer, 28
Alex is constantly generating new ideas but struggles to get them noticed within the company. He values collaboration and actively seeks feedback to improve his concepts. Alex feels excited about creating impactful innovations but finds it challenging to navigate the corporate structure.
Says: “I have so many ideas but no way to get them noticed.”
Thinks: “Is my idea going to be noticed?”
Does: Shares ideas, collaborates on prototypes
Feels: Frustrated with current tools, excited about new possibilities
Emily, Product Manager, 35
Emily aims to foster a culture of innovation within the team but finds it hard to engage everyone. She reviews ideas, coordinates with departments, and tracks project developments. Emily feels frustrated with the lack of team engagement and the difficulty in streamlining across multiple tools.
Says: "We need to work together seamlessly to bring ideas to life."
Thinks: "How can we improve our collaboration process?"
Does: Participates in team meetings and brainstorming sessions.
Feels: Frustrated with poor collaboration tools.
Chris, Chief Product Officer, 53
Chris has the ownership of reviewing and approving ideas, ensuring they align with strategic goals. He oversees innovation initiatives and provides feedback. Chris feels the challenge of relying on senior members and direct reports for ideas and seeks a more inclusive platform to source ideas from all employees.
Says: “I want fresh ideas from every corner of the company, not just my direct reports.”
Thinks: “How can we tap into the creativity of all employees?”
Does: Reviews ideas, approves ideas for next steps
Feels: Concerned about innovation stagnation, hopeful for new input
Refining the Design
For the final design, I wanted to ditch my usual neutral color scheme preferences (blue, black, and grays - like you see in this website) and go with more exciting colors. I leveraged Google's Material Design 3 for the final design and updated the color palette with vibrant oranges.
Oh, and I named the product Kairos, an ancient Greek word meaning 'the right or critical moment'. Kairos is also the personification of opportunity, luck and favorable moments in Greek mythology.
Testing the Prototype
The prototype is designed from Alex's perspective, as outlined in the refine section above. You can, as Alex, log in, see the idea feed on the home (discover) page - with your recently submitted idea at the top! You can see how it feels to check out ideas in different stages across the organization, add a new idea, check-in on your own ideas, and get updates. Use this link if you face issues interacting with the prototype here, or are on your mobile.
Unleashing Innovation
Product Concept | Design Thinking | UX Research | Figma
Kairos is a mobile-first app concept designed to manage and nurture the innovation process within organizations. It leverages a social media-style interface to encourage active participation from users in submitting and developing ideas. The app guides each idea through a structured journey across four different stages: Imagine (post the idea), Develop (create a prototype), Test (get feedback on prototype), and Launch.
This page contains the highlights of the design thinking process. Click the link below to read the full case study that elaborates upon the different decisions and iterations of the product.
After leading multiple internal Shark Tank events and innovation initiatives across various organizations, I wanted to create this product concept to explore an idea I've always been passionate about. Like any product, it thrives on feedback, so I would love to hear your thoughts. Please reach out and let me know what you think!