Don't start by drawing
A common mistake is to picture the shape of the object straight away. You pick wheels, drawers or legs before knowing who will use the box and for what work.
The need should be described without imposing the solution. "Being able to work standing on the spot" is a need. "Adding four telescopic legs" is already a solution.
The five families of questions
User
Who carries, opens, stores and uses the whole set?
Use
Which operations will actually be done on the top?
Environment
Workshop, vehicle, site, indoors, outdoors, uneven ground?
Constraints
Weight, available space, budget, noise, maintenance and safety.
Success
How will we know the result is satisfactory?
Prepare a short user interview
ChatGPT can turn an idea into a questionnaire, but the answers must come from real people. For the toolbox–workbench, ask in particular these questions:
- Which tools do you carry most often?
- Which item is hard to store today?
- How often do you move your equipment?
- What tasks do you do on the spot?
- What would make you give up on the product?
- Do you prefer less weight or more storage?
- Where must the whole set be stored and carried?
Prepare a ten-question interview to understand the needs of a user of a toolbox that turns into a workbench. The questions must be open, simple and must not steer the person towards a particular solution.
Sort the needs without jargon
| Category | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Without it, the product does not do its job. | The drawers must not open during transport. |
| Important | Brings real value, but can be adjusted. | The top deploys in under two minutes. |
| Comfort | Improves the experience without blocking the first version. | A phone holder is present. |
| Later | Idea to keep for a next version. | Built-in lighting or a power socket. |
Produce the need sheet
Main user: to complete after the interviews.
Situation of use: to complete.
Current problem: to complete in the user's own words.
Expected result: to complete without describing the solution.
Three success criteria: measurable or observable.
Non-negotiable constraints: safety, bulk, budget or other.
Have the wording checked
Re-read this need sheet. Flag every sentence that already describes a solution, every ambiguous word and every criterion that is impossible to check. Suggest a more neutral wording without adding any new requirement.