- Browse by Subject
Browsing by Subject "People-centered design"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Brick a Brick: Using Applied Improvisation to Build Empathy in Design Facilitators(2019) Meschi, Maria; Napier, PamelaThe surge in design thinking and people-centered design worldwide has given rise to a new role for designers: design facilitator. A design facilitator is leading diverse groups of participants through the design process, providing opportunities for them to share their perspectives, and guiding them as they contribute to design solutions. These engagements require highly developed interpersonal skills, but few interventions exist to aid designers in cultivating these skills. Other disciplines have turned to applied improvisation, an approach derived from improvisational theatre, to improve communication, collaboration and other dimensions of social-emotional learning. This research examines how an applied improvisation approach might be utilized to cultivate empathy in design facilitators. To answer this question, participatory action research was conducted with design facilitators, applied improvisation facilitators, and an instructional designer. Interviews with facilitators from both contexts resulted in a model of empathy, evidence in support of the applied improvisation approach, and perceived barriers to implementation of applied improvisation in the design context. A participatory design session with facilitators from both contexts explored the specific actions that contribute to empathic facilitation and generated conceptual prototypes of an empathic facilitation training program. Finally, primary and secondary research were synthesized to create a solution prototype that was evaluated by an instructional designer and submitted to design conferences for peer review. The outcome of this research is a conceptual framework for a training program entitled, Improv for Empathic Facilitation. The solution is founded upon an experiential learning model and scaffolds learners through developing skills in four competencies: self-awareness, social awareness, collaboration, and facilitating with empathy. In addition to applied improvisation-based training, learners engage in simulated facilitation scenarios in order to practice their skills. Finally, the program utilizes a series of formative assessments by engaging in critical reflection throughout and culminates in a summative assessment at the conclusion. Criteria for the assessments is learner-generated throughout the program, honoring both their experience and expertise. This research provides a model of how to explore the cultivation of interpersonal skills in design facilitators. Additionally, by presenting its potential impact on interpersonal skills rather than cognitive skills, this research highlights a new dimension of how the fields of design and improvisation might positively impact each other.Item Collaborative Leadership in Social Innovation: A Leadership Framework for Tackling Wicked Public Challenges(2023-11) Freije, Brenda Hacker; Haberski, Raymond J., Jr.; Blomquist, William A.; Craig, David M.; Hong, YoungbokIn today’s world, we regularly hear about and experience intractable, systemic social problems that seem to defy solutions. How do we engage in systems change to address them? What processes can help us deal more effectively with them? It is not enough to say we need to change their systems. We need to know how to change them and lead others in the work. This dissertation explores how leadership teams and organizations can tackle wicked public challenges by working collaboratively with stakeholders through a process of trying to understand the challenge and designing strategies to influence systems change. I offer a Leadership Framework for these efforts that puts the collaborative leader in the role of expert intermediary responsible for seven Core Functions within the Leadership Framework. As expert intermediary, the collaborative leader facilitates vision-informed and values-driven decision-making and draws on a range of leadership and problemsolving approaches with four priorities: (1) to provide a systems view and understanding of the challenge, (2) to facilitate collaborative engagement and learning from a wide range of stakeholders, (3) to consider in the design and implementation of strategies and solutions the interconnections between economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection in human flourishing, and (4) to recognize that values run through it all. I refer to the Leadership Framework and its process as Collaborative Leadership in Social Innovation. I lay out the Leadership Framework as a concept map showing the Core Functions arranged along a path with Key Actions for each Core Function and other foundational components to the path. Learning is the glue that holds the Leadership Framework together and a key output. The Leadership Framework is designed to improve decision-making about wicked public challenges by ensuring sufficient time is dedicated to the Core Functions that precede the design and implementation of strategies and solutions. Following the Leadership Framework reduces the chances that solutions will lead to unintended results, miss opportunities, or focus on solving smaller problems in siloes that get at symptoms but rarely the heart of a challenge.Item Defining Design Facilitation: Exploring and Advocating for New, Strategic Leadership Roles for Designers and What These Mean for the Future of Design Education(Michigan Publishing Services (University of Michigan), 2016) Napier, Pamela; Wada, TerriItem How might we support Chinese students in acquiring the information necessary for making a successful application to a U.S. art and design school?(2017) Chen, Linjun; Napier, PamelaThis research focuses on building a platform to support Chinese students in acquiring necessary information for making a successful application to a U.S. art and design school. The methodological framework of the proposed research is developed based on Dr. Min Basadur's "Simplex Process" (Basadur, 1994) design thinking method, which collects user data through a people-centered design research process. The objective of the proposed research is to support the needs of Chinese students in applying to U.S. art and design schools.