Have to Believes
We’ve learned that part of developing a design strategy can include creating a list of “have to believes” that help shape your point of view. My thesis advisor Ian asked me to put together my list of “have to believes,” because they can help helps spark your vision, and fuel your choices.
A “have to belief” is a belief, not a fact, and promotes meaning, purpose, and focus. Below is a list of important beliefs that I choose for this thesis project.
- I will not underestimate the buying power of grocery shoppers that will lead to the necessary policy changes in our food industry.
- I will incorporate simple, easy to use controls, for a general user, not a professional athlete.
- I will take small steps—obesity is a wicked problem, and wicked problems are most often solved by a sequence of small solutions, sometimes over weeks, sometimes over decades.
- I will be aware of parental guilt and harness its power when necessary.
- I will create tools that can be accessed with 5 seconds time, 5 minutes, or 5 hours!
- I will emphasize behavior, not weight loss. Findings suggest that by preventing weight stigmatization we may be able to prevent both obesity and eating disorders, no dieting, no deprivation techniques will be used.
- A healthy family eats together, cooks often, tries new things, and incorporates exercise (at least a little).
I’m expecting this list to grow, but for right now, these beliefs will fuel my beginning rounds of ideation.
