Everything has changed.
Our work has changed.
How we meet has changed.
How we learn has changed.
How we teach has changed.
Our relationships have changed.
Have we changed?
Are we changing?
Where are we going?
Will we go back?
Go back to what?
Where do we want to go?
What world(s) do we want?

In this studio you will develop co-creative tools to engage people in complex conversations about possible futures. You will learn about the theory and practice of codesign methods with a focus on the early social research phase of the codesign process (the 'fuzzy front end'.)

We will work with the fuzzy front end of codesign, which is the work of engaging participants through co-creative activities to generate conversation and insights into possible futures.

You will learn about codesigning, and ethnographic practices including care of participants and the basics of ethics in research. In developing your own field of inquiry we will also explore complexity through a conversation practice called 'People need people'. This and indeed all these activities require you to participate in conversations online with each other and with your research participants.

To make the most of your learning in this studio you must ensure you have the following:
1. A reliable computer with audio capabilities including a microphone and speakers, preferably a headset, and a reliable internet connection.
2. Ethnographic research practice requires you to be eager and capable of talking with new people, building rapport and undertake careful and caring listening.

It is not for everyone. But if this is for you, I look forward to working with you.

You will plan your research project in a topic of your choice to explore possible futures, and present your plans in the form of a proposal.

You will prototype and test your codesign tools and then undertake a codesign workshop that will engage participants in your topic of interest and with their permission, document and gather insights from the workshop.

You will have the opportunity to develop your toolkit as both physical and digital modes of engagement, however under current constraints due to social/physical distancing requirements and potential lock down scenarios, you will develop your toolkit and workshop to be undertaken through online approaches.

You will translate the findings of your codesign workshop findings through a creative narrative using your choice of design format.

To support your knowledge development and work in progress through semester you will also complete homework tasks and present to you peers each week using the form of postcards.

Studio activities will help to build your knowledge of codesign and developing your topic of interest. We will examine and test out a range of existing toolkits to help you gain a deeper understanding of the methods. We will also practice a range of social research methods. You will contribute your own ideas and development and engage in conversations to support reflection upon the past, the now, the future, your own design practice, process and methods. Class readings and workshops will support you to develop and run your own (online) codesign workshop.

There are four assessment tasks for this studio, the briefs are made up of a range of milestone deliverables that are interconnected and build upon each other.

Brief 01. 30%. SKO
Brief 02. 25%. Research proposal: Exploration and development of your field of enquiry and your proposed research.
Brief 03A. 25%. Research report: Prototyping, testing of codesign toolkit. Codesign workshop and data collection. Initial report of research findings.
Brief 03B. 20%. Final presentation of refined codesign toolkit and interpretation of research findings and critical reflection.

Sanders, L. and Stappers, P.J. (2014) From Designing to Co-designing to Collective Dreaming: Three Slices in Time. ACM Interactions, November-December, 2014.
http://interactions.acm.org/archive/view/november-december-2014/from-designing-to-co-designing-to-collective-dreaming-three-slices-in-time

Download PDF from:
http://dl.acm.org/ft_gateway.cfm?id=2670616&type=pdf&dwn=1

There are no direct partnerships for this studio. We may occasionally participate in People Need People sessions with hosts from the Warm Data network.

Designing for Social Change