People in the center of attention, about how important it is for us to listen to the needs of Residents
A few years ago, we came up with the idea of creating a place in Olivia where you could “catch your breath”, surrounded by nature. The final design of the “green archipelago” was created by Malinowski Design Urban & Landscape and BXB Studio. However, it was crucial for us to check whether our internal concepts and ideas are in line with the expectations and needs of the end user – you who will be hosting this space in the future.
We used a proven method, Design Thinking. We were guided through the process by experts from SHOPA Design & Strategy. We have listened to your voices and found out what you need most.
You indicated that you need: m.in.:
- A moment for a reset
- Immersion in greenery
- harmony
- hiding from the whole world
- A momentary, deep experience of non-work
That you miss:
- for greenery all year round
- behind the smells and sounds of nature
- a hideaway among greenery, where you can rest, but also work in peace (deep-work)
- meetings with friends
That you are waiting for:
- Healthy snacks
- Exotic, colorful cocktails
- Fresh ingredients
- unique atmosphere
Why did we ask this? To create a place that will become your place, that you will love, that you will be proud of and that you will visit regularly.
Thanks to the prototypes of the garden, dozens of meetings and hundreds of conversations with you, we were able to change the original concept to, just for you:
- increase the number of relaxation places by 40%
- and about 30% – plants
- maximize the number of fruiting plants (we imported, m.in, papaya, or the strangest tree in the world, jabuticaba)
- redesign the mezzanine, with an area of over 90 m2 and prepare it in such a way as to be able to integrate a 10-meter tree growing between its levels; The crown of the tree will grow larger and larger over time and partially cover the mezzanine, intensifying the impression of being among the branches of the tree (“hiding from the whole world”). This arrangement fulfills a childhood dream of most of us: the opportunity to be in a real, safe and cozy treehouse
- take care of the sensory so that you can feel this place with all your senses
- confirm that a stage with a grandstand is a great idea so that you can take part in intimate concerts and informal meetings
- Water is also of great importance in the project – but more on that soon…
– For the first and certainly not the last time, we used the design thinking method for a project in Olivia. During conversations with our Residents and Clients, we got to know them much better. In a short time, we learned how much ‘You know nothing, Jon Snow’. Today, we often go back to that time when planning the opening of the garden, the name of which we also chose together with the residents. We use this knowledge and will certainly try to include DT in the DNA of our organization. All the more so because it focuses on human needs and takes into account all points of view relevant to the project. Its primary goal is to create something valuable and, perhaps above all, useful – says Tomasz Woźniak , Chief Innovation Officer of Olivia Business Centre, who runs the Olivia Garden project.
Thus , today Olivia Garden combines innovative thinking about the place of work and rest with the need to return to nature. The concept of the place is based on the belief that the quality of the space in which we work and stay directly translates into the quality of life and productivity. Thus, a place is being created that will enable work and entertainment, while cultivating the innate relationship between man and nature.
A few words about Design Thinking
Design Thinking (hereinafter: DT) was first defined and applied in the 1960s. of the last century in the United States. The idea of Design Thinking is to create products and services based on real needs and in response to real problems. Thanks to DT, the focus of the project team is on the HUMAN BEING. Therefore, we do not focus only on the product, but we focus on the USER and the solutions that will be optimal for him.
Design Thinking is based on five pillars:
- empathy – getting into the user’s shoes
- Defining the problem
- Idea Generation
- prototyping, i.e. presenting the idea to the audience
According to Tony Mayo, a professor at Harvard Business School , “Design thinking is a creative, systemic approach to problem solving that puts the user at the heart of the experience.”
Which entities use Design Thinking in their daily activities? These include, m.in, Apple, Coca-Cola, Ford, IMB, Nike, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks and Walt Disney. With a high degree of probability, it can be assumed that without design thinking, there would be no iPhone or cup covers for hot drinks…
According to Forrester Consulting analysts, DT is already used by almost three-quarters of the largest American companies. For 28% of them, this process, in addition to providing innovative solutions, has turned into a permanent part of the company’s culture and a new style of work. 40% of the surveyed companies indicate that the goal of implementing Design Thinking processes is to increase customer satisfaction, and for 30% it is to increase productivity. In a study by Plattner, Meinel and Leifer (2015), as many as 71% of respondents agreed with the statement that DT improved the work culture in their organization, and 69% believed that the method improved innovation in the company.
The effectiveness of the DT process is shown by the example of the American company IBM from the IT industry, which increased its revenues by tens of billions of dollars thanks to its use. After implementing the process, IBM reduced the time to design solutions by as much as 75 percent and halved the number of errors and defects in the products they developed.
You can find out how amazing this Garden is by following our social media.
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Soon, we will also make available a reservation system for entering the Garden, exclusively for Olivia Residents. Stay tuned!
