Initially, the task was to create a digital solution that helped Start2Finish run a seamless experience for their after-school workshops online for children from first to eighth grade. During this first phase, it was important to run Discovery sessions that helped understand the problem in detail, and map their users’ journeys to discover their underlying needs and platform requirements before discarding any ideas.

Based on the findings, a technical analysis at the Define stage helped to identify the solution that provided the highest value for the client’s investment. Here is where creative problem-solving played an important role, and a custom solution was preferred.

The direction was clear; we needed to develop a platform that is not only useful, but also easy to use, and fun for children. More specifically, the team designed a portal where admins could manage users, upload course outlines, and create workshop groups we diced to call “Pods” to promote a sense of community. From there, volunteer Coaches and students could access the platform to retrieve or upload files and videos, award points for attendance and activities, and manage upcoming sessions.