by Justina Luelo
When I came across Human Centered Design it was love at first sight. The thought that I can innovate with Humans and for Humans was a new concept for me and I wanted to explore it. The idea of exploring HCD for new innovations and improve services and products was great but, the idea of working with people who are looking to innovate getting into the entrepreneur life style was even greater, well, why not?
They say if you are an entrepreneur you can work your own hours and be your own boss. You get to make your own office rules and come up with job descriptions that are coming from out of space and only you know what the scope of work is. You get to spend more time with your family and do all the cool stuff you always dream of doing!!! That is all good and swell, but when I bring Human Centered Design in the picture, a methodology that looks into the Human needs and wants and brings in the users to the innovation process, I can’t help but remember that I AM HUMAN TOO. What part of me being the HUMAN and trying to dive into the Entrepreneurship ocean am I bringing to the table? What am I putting out there in my innovation that I so enthusiastically want to share with other HUMANS? Well, this is what HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN helps me reflect on.
What do my innovations tell other HUMANS about my values in life and in Business? Are my values reflecting families and friends? Do I care about my office family enough to put them first and help them see my vision as a leader? It’s important to have great values in life and also in business, and your business or innovation should reflect the type of person you are.
What type of culture do I want to have in my business? A business is like a home, and the same way we try to have a great family culture and traditions we should also aim to have the same in the office. Are my employees looking for ways to help one another in times of crises or are they just waiting for someone to fail and point the finger? The office atmosphere is so competitive that everyone feels obligated to burn themselves out and have a mental breakdown? Do you have a ‘thank you wall’ where everyone can write about something they are thankful for in life?
What do customers feel when they see your logo, do they get an exciting feeling or they get annoyed just by looking at it? What you find important in life should reflect in your business and people are supposed to see it and feel it. HCD allows me to look at my own self innovations and change. As an entrepreneur you also need to get feedback from others about your personality and your way of doing things. You need to put yourself out there as a prototype or a pilot project and see what the feedback is going to be.
Applying HCD methodologies to new ventures and working with new entrepreneurs helps to evaluate the WHYS and WHATS behind the WANTS. WHY do you want to have a company or bring this new service to the market? Why are you the right Founder? WHAT about you is right for this new innovation and service? WHAT are your worse assets? WHAT can you do well? WHAT in your personality matches this new venture or innovation? WHY do you care about the people you are innovating for?
Justina Luelo has five years experience as a Telecommunication Engineer and worked in the Oilfield in Angola. She is also the co-founder of Limpo-Limpo, a company that gives training to domestic workers and helps them get employment. One of her most recent achievements was being selected as a 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow. Justina has a Bachelor Degree in Clinical Psychology from Universidade Oscar Ribas and a Bachelor Degree in Telecommunication Systems from MSC Namibia.
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