This past Saturday, the BongoHive Consult innovation team stepped out of the lab and into the classroom. We joined our partners at Robotix Institute ZM for an electrifying session during their weekend Robotix classes, designed to spark a new way of thinking among Zambia’s youngest inventors.

While these students are already masters of gears and sensors, our mission was to introduce them to the “secret ingredient” of world-class technology: Human-Centred Design (HCD).

The Challenge: A Walk in Grandpa Ben’s Shoes

To bring HCD to life, we didn’t use complex manuals; we used a story. We introduced the class to Grandpa Ben, who lives alone and simply wanted to walk to the grocery store at 18:30 to get milk for his morning tea.

The catch? It was pitch dark, and the local streetlights were designed only to turn on when a car drove by. This left Grandpa Ben feeling nervous and unsafe on the sidewalk. By focusing on Grandpa’s specific struggle, the students shifted their mindset from “building a machine” to “solving a human problem”.

The Innovation Process: From Empathy to Prototype

The room was buzzing with energy as the children moved through an accelerated version of our innovation framework:

• Immersion & Feeling: Before sketching a single line, the students participated in a role-play exercise. By experiencing what it felt like to be “left in the dark” while cars zipped by, they developed true empathy for their user.
• Journey Mapping: Using sticky notes, the teams mapped out Grandpa’s emotional journey. They identified exactly where he felt the most “stuck” and where a “Happy Fix” was needed most.
• Rapid Ideation (The “Hero Upgrade”): The kids generated multiple “Hero Upgrades” for the road. This encouraged them to think wildly before narrowing down to their most effective solution.
• Low-Fidelity Prototyping: The golden rule? Make it easy for Grandpa to use!

Genius Solutions for a Safer Walk

The creativity on display was staggering. The students moved beyond basic robotics to invent thoughtful, user-first solutions:

• Shoe Blasters that lit up with every step Grandpa took.
• Following Beams—smart lights that acted as a personal spotlight for his path.
• Talking Curbs that gave voice commands like “Step up!” to prevent trips and falls.

Why We Do It: The “HCD Magic”

At BongoHive Consult, we believe that the most impactful innovations aren’t just technically sound—they are deeply human. Seeing the students move from “coding a sensor” to truly understanding a user’s fear and joy was pure magic.

By teaching these principles early, we are helping to raise a generation of designers who don’t just build for the sake of tech but build to make life better for everyone.