Design a product that helps with forgetfulness

Introduction

Designing a product to help with forgetfulness is an intriguing challenge that addresses a universal human experience. I'll approach this by first clarifying the problem space, then identifying key user segments and pain points. From there, I'll propose and prioritize solutions, and finally outline success metrics.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Based on the problem description, I'm thinking this might be for a specific company's existing product. Is that the case, or are we approaching this as a standalone solution?

Why it matters: This helps frame the solution within existing constraints or as a new venture. Expected answer: Let's treat it as a standalone solution. Impact on approach: We'll need to consider building from scratch, including potential partnerships or integrations.

• Given the broad nature of forgetfulness, I'm wondering if we should focus on a specific type or context of forgetfulness. Are we looking at general day-to-day forgetfulness, or something more specific like medication adherence?

Why it matters: This narrows our focus and helps define our target user more precisely. Expected answer: Let's focus on general day-to-day forgetfulness. Impact on approach: We'll need to design a versatile solution that can address various types of forgetfulness.

• I'm curious about any existing research or data we have on the prevalence and impact of forgetfulness. Do we have access to any studies or user data that could inform our approach?

Why it matters: This helps us understand the scale of the problem and potential market size. Expected answer: We don't have specific data, but you can make reasonable assumptions. Impact on approach: We'll need to conduct primary research and make educated guesses about user needs and behaviors.

Propose the Goal

Given the focus on general day-to-day forgetfulness, I believe our goal should be to create a product that significantly reduces instances of everyday forgetfulness and its negative impacts on users' lives. Does this align with your vision?

Define the Scope

For this product design challenge, should we focus on a mobile app solution, or are we open to exploring hardware or IoT options as well?

Based on the answers, I'll assume we're designing a standalone mobile app to address general day-to-day forgetfulness, with the goal of reducing forgetfulness instances and their negative impacts.