in this assignment , we needed to give our target customers an interview to discover if the problem we discover is a real problem or a nuisance for our target customer. The goal of the exercise was to not sell directly our idea but to go around with indirect questions to lead the interviewee revealing us important unbias information.

The first question I asked my interviewee is to tell me about his experience in getting around from workplace to workplace. His answer was direct: “I take the subway most of the time when I can”, I followed up by asking why most of the time and not all the time? This is the moment where the interviewee was getting into the customer pain I observed. After Mitchell explained it to me, I asked him how hard it is to take cab instead of the subway. Mitchell did not see any physical hardship from taking a cab, however he realized there was a financial hardship, instead of paying $3-4 for a train ride, Mitchell can spend upward $50 instead in cab fees. I went on to ask if he has done anything else to avoid spending extra money in transportation. He did answer that he has tried to carry an umbrella (he invested in expensive and bulky umbrellas) and his props to no success. He has tried to wrap his props but again to no success or it took to much time. At the end Mitchell resigned himself in taking cab while it rained. I then asked what his recurrence was in taking a cab. Even though I knew the answer I wanted it to make sure that the interviewee became aware of how many times a year this issue arises. Following up this answer I asked how he would see the ideal solution to his problem. He did not have a straight solution answer, but he did mention anything that can save him on cab fare will be very much appreciated. It is at this moment Mitchell realized that he could spend a couple of thousands of dollars per year in transportation. I then went on to mentioned what we do in class and one of the projects is to find solutions for customer pains. I told him “someone” in class approached a very similar pain. I explained to him what “the student” find. Mitchell was very interested in knowing more of the design and even volunteer to become a test subject if the need arises. I went on to show him similar products that already existed. Mitchell did not like any of the design but was interesting in getting one. He mentioned esthetic and practicability being one the reason he will spend extra money for it. From what he saw online, he did say there is a lot of room to improve/innovate this idea

Now that the interview is over, I can conclude that my idea, even though similar products are present in the market, can be continued. The end design must be more innovative and fashion oriented than the current solutions offered online. In a real world my concerns will be the technology is available to create a sleeker design and if so the cost of producing the product. Another concern is if there is a real market need for it.