This Thursday, Jan 25th, students of School of Engineering Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Program in cooperation with Open Technologies Group have conducted the first design thinking workshop at Nazarbayev University.

The session has been moderated by David Tuganov, an independent director of Open Technologies Group, famous for its Sergek project and currently engaged in smart city projects, custom software development, and IT-outsourcing. David is an expert in transformation using business design thinking, visual facilitation, and collaborative approach.

Design thinking is a methodology for creative problem solving using a human-centered approach with a deep focus on customers which consists of the following stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test.

The session was held under the subject of e-transport and smart transport. Students tried to apply design thinking approach to ideate and find solutions for different problems that they face in public transport system in Kazakhstan. Participants were divided into 5 groups and had to find a lo-fi (low-fidelity) prototype solutions for the key and most painful problem of their team member, a frequent user of buses in Astana. The following problems were identified: lack of optimal routes, the process of bus card top-up, bus overcrowding as well as additional payment deductions when changing bus types. Participants after a thorough brainstorming proposed the following solutions: introduction of changes into the software, intelligent transport system, mobile app, discount system, development of route optimization software.

The insights from the session are going to be used for a capstone project by MEM students who will be researching the subject of introduction of the most suitable e-ticketing method for public transport in the city of Pavlodar.