Reflection on Project Cycle Venner

The third workshop on posters and attention capturing prototype

Throughout this project, I’ve learned how powerful it is to balance creative vision with structured service design methods. Initially, I rushed into “solutionising” without fully grounding my ideas in research, but stepping back to prototype the cycle picnic experience transformed my approach. By testing a real-world scenario—from booking to handling snow delays and gathering feedback—I saw firsthand how prototyping reveals insights into desirability, viability, and feasibility. This hands-on experiment helped me connect theory of change thinking to practical outcomes, while also challenging me to consider inclusivity and the societal role of my service.

Strengths and Progress

- Prototyping as a Learning Tool: The cycle picnic prototype was a breakthrough. It taught me how tangible experimentation builds empathy and uncovers hidden challenges (e.g., safety concerns, logistical delays) that desk research might miss.

- Critical Analysis: Mapping stakeholders, business models, and user journeys helped me articulate how the service aligns with TfL’s goals and university priorities. Engaging with university stakeholders early gave me practical insights into budgets, risk management, and sustainability, though I wish I’d pushed further to explore their constraints.

- Inclusivity: Creating personas and empathy maps highlighted the diverse needs of women students (e.g., cultural barriers, confidence levels). Iterating on branding and tone helped me avoid “infantilizing” users, but I realize the actual service experience needs more nuance to balance specific needs with inclusivity.

Areas for Growth

- Integrating Service Elements: While the picnic prototype felt cohesive, the playground and digital community app lagged. They lacked the same depth of prototyping and critical analysis. If I had more time, I’d test these elements with users and stakeholders to address feasibility gaps—like permissions for temporary infrastructure, digital moderation, and aligning the app’s purpose with the physical experiences. Are these components complementary, or do they serve separate needs?

- Refining User Needs: The picnic revealed nuances among women students (e.g., stamina, familiarity with cycling in London). I need to better segment these needs and adapt the service to meet users where they are, perhaps through tiered programs or mentorship.

- Risk Mitigation: I underaddressed potential risks—road safety, safeguarding in digital communities, storage/maintenance of physical infrastructure. For example, how would the service handle harassment incidents or ensure the playground structures withstand the weather? Partnering with the university’s safety and facilities teams could help here.

- Sustaining Impact: My theory of change focused on initial engagement, but long-term behavior change requires deeper planning. How does the service foster ongoing community support? Could alumni networks or incentives keep users engaged beyond their first year?

Next Steps

- Prototype Everything: Test the playground’s tone and usability (does it feel empowering or gimmicky?) and the app’s value proposition (is it a support tool, event hub, or both?).

- Clarify Scale and Sustainability: Explore partnerships—could the university fund the playground as part of its wellness strategy? How might the service expand to other campuses?

- Balance Storytelling with Critical Depth: While I’m proud of the project’s narrative, future presentations should highlight challenges and trade-offs, not just successes.

This project taught me that service design thrives in the tension between creativity and pragmatism. Moving forward, I want to deepen my ability to prototype all components of a service with equal rigor and to design for resilience, not just desirability.

#Reflection #Community #cycle #Lifestyle #Servicedesign #cyclevenner