QUICK RIGID-BODY 3D BODY FUN
November 4, 2016
Are you curious about how 3D Animated movies are made? Did you know that you could learn how to use similar tools to create your own Computer-generated imagery (CGI)?
This Friday, Nii Apa will take us through a fun physics simulation using blender 3D, a popular open source 3D graphics and animation software.
All you need are your fingers, curiosity, and a laptop!
What? – Quick rigid-body fun with Blender 3D!
Maker? – Nii Apa Abbey ‘15
When? – Friday, 4th November 2016
Time? – 11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Where? – McNulty Foundation Design Lab, King Engineering Building 102
Nii Apa Abbey is a creative technologist who holds a strong interest in game design and development. Blender 3D and Cinema 4D are his favorite CGI tools he uses to materialize his creativity in his free time.
FELLOWS’ WORKSHOP
November 2, 2016
What? – Fellows’ Workshop
When? – Wednesday 2nd November, 2016
Time? – 2:40 – 4:10pm
Where? – McNulty Foundation Design Lab, King Engineering Building 102.
Laptop Racky: a multifaceted device that makes your office a mobile one. by Andrews Lartey ( andrews-lartey.branded.me )
At the workshop session today, we brainstormed about a typical user’s experience and needs around the problems the Laptop Racky seeks to solve. After laying out the typical users of this device, we used an empathy map to understand the users’ needs. Andrews was tasked with organizing a team of students, within and outside Ashesi who will be committed to helping develop the project. He also has to do further research within his problem space to gather more data.
Developing a human-centered Montessori school management structure and curriculum. by Antoinette Doku.
From the session we held with Antoinette, we were able to help her establish some sound assumptions using the business model canvas. She will be testing and verifying these assumptions over the next few weeks through observations and interviews at Montessori schools in Tema and Accra
EXPLORE VIRTUAL REALITY
October 14, 2016
This Friday, the D:Lab hosted virtual reality (VR) enthusiasts and makers who are passionate about the development of virtual reality and the technological possibilities it affords in this age of information.
The Nubian VR team shared their story of how they established their Virtual Reality Content Development company. Kabiru and Jonathan, co-founders of Nubian VR, explained the fundamentals of virtual reality and how it influences the use of technology today. The team expressed their major challenges in sourcing technology to develop content in Africa as well as how they overcame these challenges. With the assistance of Samuel, VR content developer, students who attended this event got a feel of how to use Unity 3D to create a simple 3D animation which was built and viewed on a smartphone through a VR Headset.
FELLOWS’ DESIGN THINKING WORKSHOP
September 28, 2016
On the afternoon of September 28th 2016, the D:Lab run a workshop for all Fellows of the Lab at the McNulty Foundation Design Lab, giving them the opportunity to kick start their projects or project ideas with research and analysis frameworks. Eight project leads pitched their project and idea summaries after which they worked in teams with their frameworks to better understand their users. The following are progress data on each project/ idea. Also follow these links for data from our Fellows: 1st Documentation Entries, 2nd Documentation Entries
RESTRUCTURING THE ASHESI ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAPSTONE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS
Lead: Dr. Sena Agyepong
This team used an empathy map to understand the experience of past students of Foundations of Design and Entrepreneurship (FDE) and the Entrepreneurship (for final year students) courses. The empathy map enabled the team to empathize with students and find out their frustrations and fears.
The team discovered that most Ashesi students are not confident in starting businesses after school. The unavailability of capital is a deterrent in starting their own businesses. The team hopes to interview past Entrepreneurship & FDE students to access more insights.
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE AND HOW TO IMPACT THEM
Lead: Araba Torson
The use of a mind map enabled this team to explore the topic space effectively and to discover what exact problem they would prefer to focus on.
COMMERCIAL ORGANIC POULTRY FARM
Lead: Comfort Appiah
This team worked on using a business model canvas (BMC) to understand what the commercial organic poultry business really entails. The team was able to gain insight on how they could make the business succeed. the team looks to so a research on the cost of making versus buying feed for poultry.
DESIGNING AN AFRICAN ACADEMIC GOWN SYSTEM FOR VARIOUS GRADUATION LEVELS
Lead: Dr. Suzanne Buchele
The team created an empathy map for the faculty of Ashesi University College with respect to academic regalia. Currently, regalia is borrowed, not always proper or designed for indoor air conditioned events. The team discovered four pain points which they turned to gain points. Moving forward, the team looks to look up overall rule or regulation regarding academic regalia.
EXPLORING USER BEHAVIOR IN THE ADOPTION OF CRM SYSTEM AT ASHESI UNIVERSITY
Lead: Michael Kwatia
This team is working on implementing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for Ashesi University College. Most Higher Education institutions are going the CRM route. Though Ashesi looks to tow the same line, the team sees this CRM platform a way to improve student, faculty, staff, alumni, donor experience in Ashesi. Ashesi can effective move into a position of making forward-thinking decisions and strategies by analyzing the past and current data surrounding various Ashesi stakeholders.
The team gained a better understanding of the CRM solution and how users can use this software platform. They realized they previously did not consider how users worked without technology and how they prepared for their work on the old platforms.
For next steps, the team will interview staff, students and faculty members on their preparation processes for work. Also, the team will investigate stakeholder objectives when using technology (seems like the use of technology is only a means to an end) and will investigate what the real problem of stakeholders are in relation to what the CRM can offer.
MODERN GAMBIAN FRUIT FARM
Lead: Wuyeh Jobe
The Modern Gambian Fruit Farm is an initiative of to contribute to food security in the Gambia and encourage youths to engage in Agriculture. The team created a business model for the farm. The business model would include the creation of an engaging video to be posted on a website that will be created by the team.
From the workshop, the team realized that creating a business model is a better option than the stakeholder map that they initially began to use.
SUNRISE HUB
Lead: Charles Djokoto
Initially, the team just had a business proposal but after developing their business model canvas, they were able to outline the value propositions, key resources required, partners that would assist in running the project. From this exercise, they were able to identify the exact customer segment for the business. Next steps include identifying the cost structure and revenue streams of the project and going out to test the assumptions made.
SESAMU WORKSHOP
March 31, 2016
Dr. Gordon Adomdza, assisted the Sesamu team in enhancing the development of their initiative using the design thinking process and frameworks. This was on the 31st of March 2016.
WORKSHOP WITH NEW FELLOWS – 23/03/2016
March 23, 2016
Where?: Mcnulty Foundation Design Lab in the engineering building
When?: Wednesday 23rd March 2016
Time: 10:30am – 11:40am
The following two projects are two new Fellow
Title: Life Lifters By: Cynthia Muhonja Brief: My project goes by the name Life Lifters. It has its main focus on women empowerment though once in a while we work with the boy child. Life Lifters focuses much on the growth of an individual and we do this through a series of activities such as mentoring, training and leadership academies. The project borrows much from an organization called Akili Dada where I got my motivation. I believe I can use design thinking change people’s lives and that was the reason I started this project. I have hopes of it growing into an organization. I want to find a way to empathize more with my users to develop a sustainable mentoring program.
Title: The Shack By: Emmanuel Nunoo Brief: This is a student-led initiative that is trying to develop a service/product that shall provide entertainment for students during their leisure time. It initially started out as a gym designed for the Ashesi community, however, keeping design thinking in mind, there was a need to not just present a solution that seemed to be ideal but to engage in research to find out the actual problem and an ideal solution. We want to use design thinking to help us develop a long-term roadmap for our project.
D:LAB FABHUB MAKE-A-THON
February 20, 2016
This event on, Feb 20, 2016, involved a group concept session, sketching, modeling and 3d printing of prototype 3- to 2-prong plug adapter for electrical outlets, and Initial structure studies for low-cost, lightweight, modular deployable building system for D:Lab Fellows projects, including the Ashesi Farm.
We brainstormed around ideas for easing the use of 3 pin sockets. we sketched some ideas, modeled them using Sketch Up Make and finally 3D printed some prototypes with a PrintBot Plus and PLA filaments. We also discussed the structural advantages of using tetrahedron geometry in building structures.
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