Q&A about participatory design

In coming across an email reply I sent early last November, it is interesting to see where I was with thinking around design at that stage in my education. Now, in light of my experiences since (abroad and otherwise), revisiting these questions could make for a nice reference on a number of levels.

The following questions were asked via email as research into our Interaction Design course for an article in Emily Carr's Visions publication. The subsequent article can be found on page four of this newsletter (from the ECI website).

1. Could you tell me briefly about your experience collaborating in the groups (motivations, challenges, learning)?

The group aspect has been a unique part of this class in that the teams we created back in September have been the same we've been working with for this entire semester-long project (four months). This in itself presents it's own set of challenges, but also provides a platform upon which to build a beneficial team atmosphere and relationship.

I've felt that our team, as we've moved through the semester and spent large blocks of time together, has grown together to create a forum where good work can grow out of just because of the fact that we have this on going dedication to each other over the course of a few months. Although we definitely have our differences of opinion, the fact that we are all very committed to this project means we are all able to address opinions and ideas for what they are, and pursue further the ones we know will take us the furthest.

In addition, I have found the component of teams in this class to be of inspiration not only internally with my own team, but also by observing the other teams, both in their day-to-day interactions as well as in their presentations.

2. How are the design techniques (e.g. participatory design, co-creation) you're learning in this class different from other techniques you've learned at ECI? What do you like about this process?

As I am learning the design techniques associated with this course, in some aspects, I feel like I am being introduced all over again to what "design thinking" really is. Only this time, however, I have a foundation of previous design process knowledge, both in theory and in practice, in which to contextualize these ideas of co-creation.

The co-creation methodology, when Liz Sanders initially introduced us to it at the beginning of this semester, was something that excited me for it's potential to cultivate and refine really good ideas that, as a designer, you know will work very well for at least one person in particular. It's only after the fact, when it comes down to actually carrying forward with what's involved, did I realize just how daunting a task this may be. In essence, it's about forming a relationship with a person and then listening to them, both through exercises and in conversation, to see where and how solutions could be applied to needs they may have not have been able to give shape to prior.

I found this process incredibly intriguing—rather than trying to create a solution for a problem that will work for "everyone" (in a general target group), a designer now instead tries to interpret what this one particular person feels or imagines would improve and enhance some aspect of their life, and then tries to give it some form. By the very fact that a relationship is formed through co-creation, as a design student, I think there is a heightened sense of responsibility which informs, on a much more of a personal level, how the design process is carried out—which is another facet to the benefits of this process.