This project is a social network that designed for kids.

The journey of this project started with understanding how existing social networks function, their intrinsic characteristics, what makes them work and what leads to failure. Based on this, we identified the white space of the current social networks and developed a concept, which is Saving by Sharing. 

In order to take the concept forward, the design team came up with four ideas and establishing Concept 3 - Not lost in translation as an innovative idea for further development. B 

 By continue doing the research process, we faced a major ​​​​​​​road block. We realized that the weaknesses and threats of the concept overpowered the strengths and opportunities. 

The primary user research and cultural probes gave us many clues to reframe the concept for a social network based on visual communication for children. This gave a new direction to the project and Alpha - a social network for children was born. 

Alpha connects children who are already friends through a visual medium of communication. It connects parents through their children. It also connects parents to ​​​​​​​child oriented brands and events. It has an age specific content and a unique interface for children and parents. 

According to W.Chanin the author of the book blue oceans strategy “brands can succeed by creating blue oceans of uncontested market space.” This blue ocean map helped in grading the existing child social networks in context to the attributes on the x-axis. This positioning helped in identifying the existing unexplored white spaces.

According to Alexander Osterwalder, “A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value.”

The business model canvas helped the design team to create a shared understanding and realize the internal functioning for Alpha. Each aspect of the business canvas model was detailed using the description in the book.

Alpha is the first letter of the greek alphabets. Alpha means the first, in the case of a social network for children and their parents, Alpha is the first of its kind.

Alpha wants to create a very kid and parent-friendly visual interface, that aligns with the 3 value Pillars - Trust, Community Building and Co-creation. It uses the following colors in their pastel tones. 

3 year plan: 

Within the next 3 years, the design team proposes to launch Alpha’s cousins Beta for kids 6-9 years old and Gamma for 9-12. By the time Alpha turns 5, it will be Introduced as Phi and be used as a learning tool in educational institutes.

5 year plan:

During the research, the design team came across a lot of materials which suggested the possible use of such a network based on visual communication for special kids. But owing to the timeline of the project and the sensitivity that it demands we couldn’t explore.

10 year plan:

Over these years, Alpha will gain popularity in different parts of the world. This is when Alpha will complete the full circle and become infinite. It will be the ultimate visual communication network for children and parents across all cultures, ​​​​​​​languages and regions.

LEARNINGS FROM THE PROJECT

Business networks, concepts and models are all about the constant ups and downs in the process of development. It is about the pitfalls and rising up after finding new opportunities. It is about a future vision, that aligns the tasks today.

As Team Alpha, 

1. We learnt to take tiny steps, fall, feel lost, use the course tools - zag, bmc, find opportunities and rise up again. 

2. We realized, if one falls in the process of developing a concept, it does not mean that they need to repeat the whole process from the beginning, one just needs to look at the research from a different perspective.3. We learnt that developing business concepts is a non-linear process. 4. There are multiple double diamonds and back-n-forth in the process of development. 

5. Zagging provides a unique perspective to realize the potential of the concepts.

6. It’s important to define and develop the vision for your concept.

7. It is important to look at what’s next and ask what if?

8. We learnt to convert the negatives into positives on a SWOT analysis map.It is important to have a shared vision and alignment with the team members. As Team Alpha, we thoroughly enjoyed the 720 process and learnt tools and strategies that we will continue to use in the future.