Just got back from the 7th International Conference on Design and Emotion. This was a wonderfully stimulating conference, one that I’ll be processing for quite some time.
While there were multiple sessions that were truly inspirational, perhaps one of the forerunners was a presentation entitled: Including people in the design process – Good but how? by Dr. Yan Ki Lee.
Her bottom line is this:
t’s not about users, it’s about people; people who are creative partners in the design process. It isn’t about designing for people, but designing with people.
Rather than expound upon her work, I invite you to check out the thorough and provocative toolkit at designingwithpeople.org .
The methods and activities sections of the site are full of case studies, video diaries and resources. Fascinating and educational, it’s well worth the time spent on this site. It will only make you a better designer, a better innovator, and dare I say, a better person.
