Process

The process that characterized our fieldwork has been far from linear but instead, mostly cyclical, a rotation from divergent and messy phases to structured and convergent phases.

Throughout this cyclical process, one method would inform the other while issues and solutions were reassessed continuously. Drawing upon numerous different methods from IDEO’s The Fieldwork Guide to Human-Centered Design (2015), we took an explorative and participatory approach todatacollection. Feedbackfromthe community along this process was also crucial to our participatory approach for maximum community engagement.

This cyclical process was apparent during our research into such issues as accessibility and mobility, which were recurring themes during our interviews in the first weeks. From these issues, we were able to concentrate on one area, being the park, which we identified as a hotspot for such mobility, accessibility, and parking issues while being able to observe and invite community participation into a public sphere. Here we were able to carry out ethnographic observations, community brainstorming sessions, and mental mapping. Furthering our understanding with new methods, we observed a lack of women and children accessing and occupying the park bringing up concerns of safety, social inclusion of marginalized, and quality of public space.

Our rationale for the different methods we employed at various stages of our process was informed by first reflecting upon which question we wanted to be answered and then going further in-depth with which issue we wanted to tackle. Reflecting upon the insights these methods provided, we narrowed in on recurring proposed solutions. We then focused on taking these potential solutions back to the community in the form of co-design methods. These co-design methods took the form of a school workshop and engaging in community feedback.

Fig. C.2: Research Process Followed Fig. C.3: Design Process Followed

helps to solve PRACTICAL PROBLEM

motivates

RESEARCH ANSWER RESEARCH QUESTION

finds

RESEARCH PROBLEM defines

empathize

Observe, engage and immerse. The goal is to understand the people for whom you are designing, building empathy for who they are and what is important to them.

identify

The area to focus upon explicitly expresses the problem you are striving to address through your efforts.

analyse

Insight into the problem. Watching what people do and how they interact with their environment gives you clues about what they think and feel.

co-design

Stage of transition from identifying problems into exploring solutions.