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Subtitle: Project Efficiency Boosted by Over 95%: Using AI Tools to Reduce Hong Kong Community Development Projects from 26 Weeks to Just 1 Week

Background: Since its relocation in 2023 from Tung Chau Street Temporary Market, the Sham Shui Po New Fabric Market (深水埗新布藝市場) has experienced a decline in visitor numbers. In response to these pressing challenges, the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) wants to analyze the underlying causes and collaborate with the community to launch innovative initiatives. Leveraging our experience in a “26-week” community development project for Kwun Tong Yue Man Hawker Bazaar in 2022, HKDC has partnered with us to craft a program designed to boost visitor engagement and amplify the market’s presence.

Strategic Collaboration

In alignment with HKDC’s mission to “Promote wider and strategic use of design and design thinking to create business value and improve societal well-being,” and leveraging our leading position in Design Thinking in Hong Kong, we co-developed a program of Innovation Jam 2024: Co-creative Community Design Journey for Sham Shui Po Fabric Market through “Two-Day Design Sprint” in December 2024. Sponsoring this initiative were Dr. Wallace Lam, Director of Strategic Development of HKDC, and Mr. David Chung, Founder of InnoEdge Consulting.

Advanced Methodologies and Expert Involvement

Given the broad and diverse customer base of the Sham Shui Po Fabric Market, it is imperative to employ sophisticated methodologies to conduct an in-depth analysis of their needs from multiple dimensions, including social media, forums, news, and on-site interviews. To achieve this, we have chosen to leverage the most advanced technologies and methodologies in Design Thinking, specifically the cutting-edge AI Design Research techniques found in Design Thinking 3.0.

To ensure we harness the highest level of expertise, we have engaged Mr. Luke Chu (the Chairman of the Hong Kong Internet & E-commerce Association), a distinguished expert in AI Design Research technologies, to serve as an advisor on this initiative.

Leadership and Team Structure

Building on our robust commitment to social innovation, we have appointed Mr. Paul Lee and Ms. Tiffany Liu as program leaders. Both are seasoned Design Thinking experts with significant contributions to the 2022 community innovation project at Kwun Tong Yue Man Hawker Bazaar (YMHB). Their deep expertise is pivotal in directing this comprehensive initiative. Notably, their work on this project was featured in the “Hong Kong Design Thinking Casebook 2022,” published by the Vocational Training Council of Hong Kong, underscoring their impactful engagement in the field.

Additionally, the program architecture includes specialized teams for research management, event management, and innovation, each led by certified Design Thinking specialists. These teams are headed by ten distinguished professionals: Ms. Angel Choy, Mr. Eman Wong, Dr. John Yip, Dr. KM Yim, Ms. Karen Chong, Ms. Laura Chong, Ms. Lillian Chan, Ms. Linda Chan, Mr. Simon Lee, and Ms. Yonne Chan, ensuring a robust framework for executing our innovative initiatives.

External Collaboration and Community Integration

To inject fresh perspectives and stimulate innovative thinking, we have formed three innovation teams comprising individuals external to the New Sham Shui Po Fabric Market. These teams include university students, social workers, volunteers from social service organizations, and school teachers recruited through various channels. Prominent Hong Kong universities such as the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the City University of Hong Kong have supported us by encouraging their students to participate in our programs.

To meld fresh ideas with practical insights, we also involved local experts and stakeholders from the Sham Shui Po and Fabric Market community. Key advisors include Mr. Keith Mok, a stall representative from the Fabric Market, and Mr. Jeff Leung, a member of the Sham Shui Po District Council. This diverse group of contributors will offer invaluable insights to our innovation teams, ensuring a balanced and progressive approach to the market’s revitalization.

Detailed Program Phases

The program was meticulously organized into six distinct phases to ensure a thorough and systematic approach to addressing the complex needs of the Fabric Market’s diverse customer base. Each phase builds upon the insights and developments of the previous one, creating a structured process that enhances clarity and effectiveness in community innovation. Each phase is designed to progressively build on the insights and outputs of the previous steps, ensuring a comprehensive approach to enhancing customer experience and market performance.

Phase 1 (Completed)

Determining the macro demands of the major customers of the Fabric Market through Social Listening Techniques

Phase 2 (Completed)

Discovering the micro demands of the major customers of the Fabric Market through on-site empathy interviews and observations

  • Conducting face-to-face interviews to gather in-depth customer insights.
  • Observing customer behaviors and interactions within the market environment.
  • Analyzing nuanced feedback to understand specific needs and preferences.

Phase 3 (Completed)

Defining the critical pain points and expectations of the major customers

  • Synthesizing data to pinpoint key challenges faced by customers.
  • Mapping customer journeys to highlight areas for improvement.
  • Prioritizing the issues that most significantly impact customer satisfaction.

Phase 4 (Completed)

Developing different new ideas for tackling customer needs

  • Brainstorming innovative solutions with cross-functional teams.
  • Evaluating the feasibility and potential impact of each idea.
  • Selecting the most promising concepts for further development.

Phase 5 (Completed)

Delivering 2-round prototyping of the new solutions and analysis by the experts

Round 1

  • Creating prototypes to validate the Desirability of developed ideas.
  • Gathering expert feedback to refine prototypes, such as Dr. John Yip (Design Thinking Specialist), Dr. KM Yim (Design Thinking Specialist) and Dr. Vincent Leung (Design Thinking Specialist).

Round 2

  • Creating prototypes to validate the Feasibility of developed ideas.
  • Gathering expert feedback to refine prototypes, such as Mr. Keith Mok (a stall representative from the Fabric Market), Mr. Jeff Leung ( a member of the Sham Shui Po District Council), and Mr. Luke Chu (Chairman, Hong Kong Internet & E-commerce Association)

Phase 6 (Planning)

Creating prototypes to validate the Viability of developed ideas.

  • Conduct prototype testing of developed solutions in the market
  • Monitor the adoption and performance of new solutions
  • Evaluate the socio-economic impact on the community and adjust strategies accordingly

Conclusion

“Project Efficiency Boosted by Over 95%: A Blueprint for Transformative Community Development“

The Sham Shui Po New Fabric Market initiative demonstrates how AI tools and Design Thinking methodologies can revolutionize community development by reducing project timelines from 26 weeks to just 1 week.

Using a 2-day format of Design Sprint—spanning social listening, empathy interviews, and two rounds of prototyping to test both the desirability and feasibility of solutions—the program effectively addressed the market’s unique challenges while uncovering actionable insights into customer needs. Strategic collaboration with key stakeholders, including local experts, university students, and community representatives, ensured the solutions were both innovative and practical.

As the program moves into its final phase, focusing on validating the viability of the solutions, the emphasis will shift to real-world application, monitoring adoption, and assessing socio-economic impact. This initiative serves as a replicable model for business and innovation leaders, showcasing how AI-powered tools and collaborative design approaches can drive efficiency, foster innovation, and deliver meaningful, sustainable results in addressing complex challenges.

Official Poster of this Program

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