Innovation in Action: The NJKiDS Design Thinking Lab

We were so excited to host our first ever NJKiDS Innovation Lab a few weeks ago, when we brought together child support professionals, policymakers, and tech leaders to reimagine the future of case management. Energy and collaboration filled the room as participants worked together to generate ideas and solve challenges! 

 

A Hands-On Approach to Change 

At Protech, we embrace the Stanford d.School principles of design thinking: empathy, ideation, and prototyping. The NJKiDS Innovation Lab was structured around these fundamentals, ensuring that every voice was heard and every idea had room to grow. Our core workshop rules reflected this approach: 

• Encourage Wild Ideas: Even the most unconventional thoughts can lead to breakthroughs. 

• Defer Judgment: Every idea is valid—creating a judgment-free space fosters creativity. 

• Build on Others’ Ideas: Collaboration leads to stronger, more innovative solutions. 

• Quantity Over Quality: The more ideas we generate, the more likely we’ll find game-changing ones. 

 

By creating an open, engaging environment, we helped participants think beyond small fixes and instead envision what NJKiDS could truly become. Attendees didn’t just talk about problems—they engaged in hands-on problem-solving with activities like: 

• Automation Brainstorming: What tasks should NJKiDS handle automatically? 

• Smarter Reporting: How can we make data more actionable? 

• Simplified Navigation: What if NJKiDS worked like your favorite apps – Amazon “Buy Now” or DoorDash “Track your food”? 

• Big-Picture Innovation: What would NJKiDS look like with unlimited resources? What would be a six star, seven star, eight star experience? 

 

Celebrating Caseworker Insights 

At Protech, we know that caseworkers are the experts in what works—and what doesn’t. Their lived experience drives the features we develop. The Lab reinforced this, with caseworkers sharing frustrations, wish lists, and breakthrough ideas that will directly influence NJKiDS 3.0. 

If you’re interested in hosting a design thinking lab for social services in your state, please feel free to reach out—we’d love to chat about it!