The purpose of step one is to conduct interviews that give you an idea about what people really care about. We need to empathise (understand and share the feelings of another) with their situation.

For example, if you want to help your friends look nice, you might make things they like to wear. In your conversations, they might share with you different likes and dislikes they hold. Later into the interview, you'll want to dig a little deeper, look for personal stories of 'dressing for success' or situations where things became difficult such as dress failure. Ideally, you redo the process with many people with the same problem.

Listing to their friends these girls, conducted interviews, finding out their friends liked hair ties lead to the creation of many scrunchies. A popular craft, melting beads have many uses, searching the web you will find ideas for crafting with them, seeking stories. It is fun making brightly coloured melting bead bowl such as the Crazy Creations. These little bowls are squishable, bumpy while smooth and generally fun. Having an emotional connection, uncovering emotions, with a product like these bowls can lead to continued sales each week.

Conducting interviews with your audience is key to defining your problem statement. An ongoing problem statement students are struggling with is What sells the best week-to-week at the MC Markets? Students should take notes when discussing the markets with classmates keeping an eye on the verbs or activities that people mention. These are key to understanding the need of the buyers. At the MC Markets, students have noted a need for unique items and Callum anticipated Mother's Day was approaching. He listened to his mother, designing a gift to meet her needs. After your analysis of the markets formulate an updated problem statement: Students have limited funds, they will spend money on unique items they need.

Step two is to define the problem, what is the actual need and formulate a problem statement.

Now take a moment to reflect on what you have learned from your conversations about the different ideas. Ask yourself, how does your idea fit in the context of people's actual lives. Your solution could be a combination of a new idea and what is already being used. Then connect the dots, sketch up your final solution and go build a real prototype that's just good enough to be tested.

Spider drink shop! What type of shop works best at the MC Markets? Weekly, students are testing their prototype with actual customers. Remember students, don't defend your idea. Listen and watch! Your product may not be appropriate, well presented or valued. Find out why the product is failing. The point is to learn what works and what didn't, so ask for feedback. Reflect with your classmates as to what sold well and why it sold. Then go back to ideation or prototyping and apply your learning. Repeat the process until you have a prototype that works! Does your shop solve a real problem? Students have limited funds, they will spend money on unique items they need.