We all have heard, and many have been told to think outside the box. And yet, if you look at where ideas for new features or feature improvements come from, they are all typically generated from customer feedback, senior leaders, or product development internally in response to some problem. The explored space tends to be known problems, resulting in incremental innovation. And that is fine if you are not looking for thought-leading, radical, or breakthrough innovations.
To find the kind of innovation opportunity that results in a breakthrough, you must step outside the known problems and into the bigger, more ambiguous problem space. You need to explore the periphery.
Of course, any exploration needs an experienced guide. At NextWAVE, we know the methods we can use to explore the periphery and how to go far enough to find those game-changing insights but not so far as you get lost.

User experience journey mapping is a strategic tool used in product development to visualize and understand customers’ end-to-end experience when interacting with a product or service. It provides valuable insights into user behaviour, pain points, and opportunities for improvement. By mapping out the user journey, organizations gain a holistic view of the customer experience and can make informed decisions to enhance product offerings. This process allows executives to identify key touchpoints and moments of truth, align internal teams, prioritize investments, and ultimately create a seamless and delightful user experience that drives customer satisfaction, loyalty, and business growth.
At NextWAVE, we have the tools and experience to quickly and effectively develop useful and insight-rich journey maps based on user research.

The prototypes we develop as outputs from creative-problem solving workshops can include concept models, low-fidelity wireframes or service workflows. Where in-house designers are a part of the project team, prototypes may become quite refined.

Feedback methods may include usability testing, structured critique sessions, survey instruments, or contextual interviews.  

At NextWAVE we work with you and your team to employ a combination of prototypes and feedback mechanisms, to ensure that we are solving the right problem the right way.

Backcasting is a practical approach for organizations to plan implementation strategies by envisioning a desired future state and working backward to identify the steps needed to achieve that vision. Unlike traditional forecasting, which predicts future outcomes based on past data, backcasting starts with a future goal and then determines the actions required to reach that goal.
At NextWAVE, we use a backcasting technique where we first define a clear and compelling vision and objectives of the desired future state. Once we have the vision and objectives established, we will work through a mapping process to identify the necessary conditions, milestones, and actions that need to be taken to make that future state a reality.
Backcasting provides a structured approach to implementation planning, allowing us to break down complex goals into manageable steps and prioritize your implementation efforts. Using backcasting, we can anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and make informed decisions to support a smooth transition from ideas to reality.