How We Do It

Design Thinking + Strategy = Innovation

SPARC’s methodology of See, Plan, Act, Refine, Communicate is intended to foster collaboration and creativity as part of its research. The premise of this methodology is that you must go beyond simply asking people questions to identify what is really valuable to them. SPARC does this by using design thinking. This type of thinking emphasizes observational research; then applies mapping and frameworks to synthesize insights; and iterative prototyping to explore concepts; and ends with use of visually engaging presentations to impart ideas and possibilities.

Observational research captures the most sincere and unfiltered actions and expressions of people. At SPARC this is done by shadowing individuals through their daily activities. The goal is to acquire knowledge from a specific perspective. At times SPARC uses omniscient points of view by remote viewing such as observing patient-physician conversation in an exam room. The power of observational research is that it can identify an individual’s unarticulated needs.

While prototyping is commonly understood as a ‘test’ of an idea, SPARC requires prototyping to be used as a research tool to uncover better questions to ask. In healthcare that may mean changing the furniture in an exam room, altering a process at check-in, or simply giving a patient a paper and pencil sketch to react to. By prototyping in a live clinical environment, or at the point of service, patients are acting and thinking the way they would normally in that situation as opposed to an artificial environment found in focus groups, usability labs, or in role-playing. The power of prototype research in a live clinical setting is that it allows for simultaneous exploration of inexplicit or latent user needs in the context of reality.

The final step is one of translation. SPARC translates its research into succinct and thorough communication that is inspiring and convincing to others at Mayo Clinic who can turn the recommendations from SPARC research into reality to benefit the patients that Mayo Clinic serves.