What is the problem?
The Problem Statement sits at the centre of the compass and anchors every other criterion. It defines who has the problem, what the problem is, and why existing solutions are insufficient, so that all 18 surrounding criteria are evaluated against a clear, shared reference.
A strong problem statement names a specific group of people, describes a genuine and evidenced need, and explains why the solutions currently available leave that need unmet. It is concrete enough that the criteria in the three rings (cost, user, materials, social impact, and the rest) can each be judged against it. A weak problem statement is vague, describes a solution in search of a problem, or assumes a need without evidence that real people experience it.
The Problem Statement is not one of the eighteen scored ring segments; it is the foundation on which they rest. Time spent sharpening it before scoring pays back across the whole evaluation, because every rating in the three rings is only as meaningful as the problem it is measured against.
