Idea-creation Workshop on the theme of universal design held at Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School

On October 6, 2017, Global Innovation Factory (GIF), which offers consulting services for creating and invigorating innovation, together with challenged athletes who belong to PwC Japan Group, conducted a workshop on the theme of “Building Communities Based on Universal Design” at Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School.

At the workshop, the design-thinking method was used to think about building communities that would be comfortable for overseas visitors with disabilities.

First of all, Koichi Noguchi, Leader of GIF and a partner of PwC Consulting LLC, explained the design-thinking process and presented innovative products born out of the design-thinking method.

Afterward, the students walked inside and around the school with the challenged athletes to gain insight from the perspective of persons with disabilities and deepen their understanding of the underlying issues. Members of GIF also participated as facilitators.

Through fieldwork, they gained such insight as the difficulty of reaching up when sitting in a wheelchair, the difficulty of finding wheelchair-accessible restaurants and the inadequacy of the various signs in the city for the visually impaired.

Subsequently, the students shared each insight with their team and created ideas. By gaining a deeper understanding of the issues from the users’ perspective, the students were able to conduct an active and candid exchange of opinions.

Each team, then, presented its ideas, received feedback from the challenged athletes and further brushed up its ideas.

Finally, everyone gathered to discuss points for improvement. The students looked pleased when Mr. Noguchi commented, “it is extremely likely that your ideas will someday become reality.”

After the workshop, GIF and the challenged athletes gathered again for a recap meeting.

Currently, we are considering materializing the ideas created by the high school students and developing them into new businesses.