DOT always loves to explore Asia. China is, undoubtedly, one of the most fascinating countries for innovation in the world. ChongQing is probably the largest city in the world (yes, we know, China is full of surprises), so the real estate sector is a big problem.
Chongqing, with a population of approximately 35 million and a territory of 824,000 km2, it is a city by the mountain and river with unique urbanism and a gateway to the least developed region of southwest China. Its main challenges as a city include a great capacity for innovation and environmental sustainability, but as we discovered, people are concerned about living conditions and social inclusion.
Ms. Huang, founder of The Chongqing ZhiHeng Market Information Advisory Ltd, realized the relevance of Design Research’s approach as a participant in a DOT training program in Beijing.
Moreover, ZhiHeng’s main clients, real estate developers from Chinese megacities, are constantly seeking a deeper understanding of human behavior that traditional research tools can no longer fulfill. Competition is fierce in the real estate business and companies need to redefine their value proposition for both commercial space owners and renters. This is the point at which we come into play.
How can a company based on market research transform into a service innovation consultancy?
DOT was challenged to design and conduct research to understand the needs and aspirations of JINKE PROPERTY GROUP CO. LTD clients in ChongQing and propose meaningful service solutions for communities. Meanwhile, a team of 15 ZhiHeng employees were trained to develop capabilities in Research Design, Product-Service Systems Ideation, and Prototyping.