Last week I attended this informative webinar via Mad*Pow Design. It was about the concept of “Participatory Design” and how it can help discover unmet needs. Taken from the presentation here is the definition…
I found this a great tool to perhaps get your organization “unstuck”. In mental health and non-profit spaces we often design programs with organizational leaders as the experts. Typically the closest thing we come to engaging participants in program design is having a focus group. Sometimes we don’t even engage our own staff in the design of programs.
I found this diagram especially helpful. When starting a new program who the “experts”, “participants”, “researchers” and “designers” are fits in this spectrum. Think about the last program you developed and where it fit…
This sets the table for using a variety of strategies to walk through the design process. The concept of going well beyond “the experts” pushing design can be powerful. I can’t really do this process justice as it involves a lot of strategies. Those familiar with solution focused therapy, it reminds of activities to “externalize” or “name” the problem.
By designing programs and interfaces with Lego’s, collage, stickers, Post-It’s and even pipe cleaners; participants are able to walk through a concept. One is able to identify flaws and workflow problems. Most importantly discover things you didn’t discover in your basic concept. Learning about this process has a lot of value. This could assist your group or organization with design or even redesign of a program.
I would encourage to watch the rest of the WEBINAR FOUND HERE
Or view the slides..
Also stay tuned to “the experts” in design at Mad*Pow on…
