Method Cards to Map the Masses

method cards to map the masses A toolset for designers working to design for complex world problems.

Economical, low barrier-to-entry tools that will evoke rich, qualitative responses from millions of people around the world.

This is emergent design.

In three categories:

populaters

catalysts

filters

method cards to map the masses Š Carissa L. Carter 2008

populaters

finding the boundaries of the problem space

Finding the Generative Using a large number of images related to a problem area, determine the generative visual language of the topic.

Present the people with a mosaic of images and ask them to react to the images of their choice.

The generative images will be remarked upon by multitudes of people with a range of responses.

Typically, generative images are not the prettiest photographs. Instead, they depict situations or objects that people can grasp on and relate to.

This technique is convergent. Use it very early in the process to hone in on the pulse of the problem area.

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populaters

finding the boundaries of the problem space

Pushing the Boundaries Start with an image that is generative within your problem area. Ask a specific question related to that image. Determine each subsequent image and question based only on the responses to the one previous. Follow the rules of iteration, inspiration, association to chart your movement and interest through the space.

This technique is divergent. Use it very early in the process to expand the boundaries of the problem while mapping the connections through it.

populaters

finding the boundaries of the problem space

Iteration, Inspiration, Association Moving through a problem area by following the rules of iteration, inspiration, and association will leave you with a map of the space that highlights the generative nodes, dead ends, and areas to pursue further with catalysts.

An iteration is a simple improvement or slight modification: “I want to make this handle longer.” An association is an idea sparked by a relationship or memory: “This movement reminds me of planing wood. What else do you associate with wood?” An inspiration is a meld of the two: “Let’s try and make the handle so that it accommodates a range of movements.”

catalysts

sparking responses in areas of interest

Perspective Mapping People know their own lives quite well. When asked to map situations, processes, and spaces relevant to their day to day activities, many will be able to detail not only what they know, but also how they place it, and how it makes them feel.

As designers, we strive for the stories, the feelings that often drive the inspirations for our designs. This technique will highlight the scale that people think at, and expose facets of the self-map that they operate within.

A sample question: “Draw a map of the path that water takes from when it falls out of the sky to when it flows out of your faucet.�

filters

finding sparks to design around

Additive Drawing This technique allows for data filtering by the population at large. It will highlight areas of the problem area that have momentum, and incite emotional reactions by way of drawing and annotation in those areas.

Start with a simple skeleton line drawing of the situation you are exploring. Seed the drawing with one or two basic components, and then allow people to fill in the rest and complete the scene.

After a round of responses, compile and composite the drawings and send them out again to be added to, commented on, etc. People will build on, contradict, and clarify one another, elucidating areas that you can design around.

filters

finding sparks to design around

Gut reaction image responses Sort and profile responses and reactions to a variety of generative images. Correlate between the type of responses per image, per question, and per person. In general, the knowledge and understanding around a topic can be discerned based on the immediate responses to it.

Choose a few open questions to ask about each image.

For example: “what do you notice in this image?...what does this image remind you of?...what is a good use for the water in this image?�

The responses tend to fall into buckets. There are distinct types of seeing, and distinct types of associating.

filters

finding sparks to design around

Emotional Ammonites “Imagine you are drinking water from a river. When I say excitement, you say...” “When I say angst, you say...”

Emotional Ammonites are one word or phrase responses to a fast series of questions. After posing the questions to a wide range of people, plot the responses in an ammonite, or spiral, form. The most common answers will fall in the center, the more unique reactions will fall at the outer fringes.

Use the ammonite to get an immediate pulse of the core feelings surrounding a topic, or get inspired by some of the fringe ideas.

catalysts

sparking responses in areas of interest

Tell Me Everything Much like perspective mapping, but with text responses, this task moves people through the act of describing and telling stories about themselves and their surroundings. Simple, oneword questions warm people up to writing more nuanced descriptions of their lives, worries, joys, and perspectives around a specific issue.

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filters

finding sparks to design around

Momentum diagrams These maps show people’s aspirations within a problem area in addition to the qualities of it that they hope to leave behind.

Information is collected about the participating individuals: where they feel they fit within the scope of the problem, what they desire to achieve within it, and the features they feel are holding them back from accomplishing their goals.

Responses are dynamically plotted on head / body / tail diagrams. The body of each diagram represents the responding individual, the heads all aim towards a unified goal, and the tails indicate the features to leave behind.