Goal:
Understand users' (student, faculty, staff, or community member) needs and experiences.
The first stage in the design thinking process is to empathize. This requires active listening, observing behaviors, and asking the right questions to better imagine user experiences and challenges. Remember, even if you don't agree with a user's frustrations list them -- as you are immersing yourself in their shoes. To help you understand their frustrations, you might ask them "why".
Challenge / Activity:
Interview a user about a problem they face on campus or out in the community (ex. It is hard to easily track my CSM expenses.).