Human-Centered Design to promote civic engagement

Carly James Co-Founder, Co. C r e a t e Harvard Graduate School of Design cajames@gsd.harvard.edu Executive Designer THINKPLACE | Kenya carlyn.james@thinkplace.com.au

Get Visual Who’s in the room? 1 min

Permissions of engagement Be present, value time away from your day to day Be challenged, try new things & ways of thinking Be perplexed, confusion often comes before deep learning Be optimistic, you can make a world that’s more human-centered Trust the process | Embrace the pace action-based learning process -- be present, hands-on, be ready to work challenged -- really make these powerful mindshifts perplexed -- get comfortable with ambiguity optimistic - HCD is about bringing the end user into the design process itself, so rather than thinking about budget constraints or market constraints, we look at people’s personal experiences, drivers, motivations, needs FIRST & learn how to create something that’s tailor made social impact

Get Visual High five everyone in the room. 30 seconds

Get Visual Make everyone in the room happy. 30 seconds

Simple problems. Complex problems. Known unknowns, clear path to solution. Complex problems. Unknown unknowns, not sure of solution.

Simple problems. Complex problems. Known unknowns, clear path to solution. Complex problems. Unknown unknowns, not sure of solution.

Design provides a way to unlock creativity and tackle complexity, offering an alternative to mechanistic, linear thinking. Gael Surgenor

What is design thinking? Design thinking is a method for practical, creative resolution of problems and creation of solutions, with the intent of an improved future result. Design Thinking is a human-focused, prototype-driven process for innovation. It is a form of solution-oriented thinking – starting with a goal (a better future situation) instead of solving a specific problem. By considering both present and future conditions and parameters of the problem, alternative solutions may be explored simultaneously. Used for designing better products, services, policy, strategies, & experiences. What is design thinking?

IDEO, Toolkit for Librarians (2015) Iteration -- give ideas form, give them life and allow them to be scrutnized and analyzed by your peers IDEO, Toolkit for Librarians (2015)

IDEO, Toolkit for Librarians (2015)

Design thinking as a tool for civic innovation a bias toward action places the community members at the center of the process reduces the risk and the cost of failure Whereas traditional methods or modes of civic engagement might focus on conversation, we all want to see change happen fast and effectively. Design thinking is a method that has a bias toward action -- it’s about thinking while making, while producing, while creating. Transfers the ownership and the voice from YOU, the civic innovators, to the people who are closest to the challenges themselves. THEY are the experts, and this process places them front & center.

Case Study City of Barcelona Rethinking procurement - specs, detailed requests Stifles innovation Present a set of problems City contracts of 60,000 Euros (small amount) But that level of specificity stifles innovation, because it restrains the inventiveness of companies who might bid on the work. It also limits the pool of bidders to established companies familiar with the sort of solution the tender asks for.

Libraries into Learning Labs Case Study Libraries into Learning Labs Libraries felt stifled - could not address problems Empowering librarians to design their own solutions Libraries not a one-way, passive knowledge space but a “lab” for idea generation, design But that level of specificity stifles innovation, because it restrains the inventiveness of companies who might bid on the work. It also limits the pool of bidders to established companies familiar with the sort of solution the tender asks for.

Get comfortable with ambiguity. Shift from analytical thinking to non-linear, iterative thinking.

Build empathy with your user. Get to know the behaviors & needs of the people you are designing for.

Those closest to the problem understand it best. The voice of the end-user is the most important voice in this entire process.

Get comfortable with ambiguity. Shift from analytical thinking to non-linear, iterative thinking.

Each obstacle is an opportunity area. Reconceptualize barriers & obstacles as “design constraints.”

Your turn.

Our Design Challenge How might we encourage youth to use music for civic engagement? Service learning for students to become involved in the community Civic engagement aimed at building community on campus and throughout the area Radio programming that provides intellectual stimulation and enlightening entertainment Life-long learning through credit and non-credit instruction for ages youth through +55 A variety of production experiences, ranging from musical comedy to innovative contemporary drama, that link to the larger campus curriculum and make a valuable contribution to the broader community discussion of vital ideas and issues.

Our client Empowered youth who use music to make strong positive change in their lives, their communities, and the world

Theory of Change personal development music as an engine for artistic development civic engagement

songwriting & perform- ance instrumental music music technology

recording & prod- uction radio

community events collaborations with local schools

Our Design Challenge How might we encourage youth to use music for civic engagement? Service learning for students to become involved in the community Civic engagement aimed at building community on campus and throughout the area Radio programming that provides intellectual stimulation and enlightening entertainment Life-long learning through credit and non-credit instruction for ages youth through +55 A variety of production experiences, ranging from musical comedy to innovative contemporary drama, that link to the larger campus curriculum and make a valuable contribution to the broader community discussion of vital ideas and issues.

What could a solution look like? System or Program Service Product (digital, physical)

INSPIRATION

IDEO, Toolkit for Librarians (2015)

INSPIRATION

Your Turn! Let’s understand the opportunity area

Q&A with panel Remember to ask “why” & “how” questions

What insights did you find? Identify three unique aspects of one of the panelists’ Zumix experience. ______ Identify three of the panelists’ needs. ______

IDEATION

IDEO, Toolkit for Librarians (2015)

What does cluster mapping look like? IDEATION What does cluster mapping look like?

Let’s ideate. Make your ideas real. Visual representations are best!

ITERATION

IDEO, Toolkit for Librarians (2015)

What does cluster mapping look like?

Test with the Zumix crew. Make changes on the spot. Be open & honest. Ask questions.

Rotate. Make changes on the spot. Be open & honest. Ask questions.

Recap What just happened?

Feedback & Reflection What’ve we done this past hour? How could you apply it to your interests in civic engagement? What relation does design thinking have to social impact?

Thank you! http://goo.gl/forms/vVKtJR9FnxwwM8Io2

Carly James Co-Founder, Co. C r e a t e Harvard Graduate School of Design cajames@gsd.harvard.edu Executive Designer THINKPLACE | Kenya carlyn.james@thinkplace.com.au