Poetic Condensations

a translation tool that takes the form of poetry

Lillian Tong
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read

What is it for?

The analytical nature of research synthesis process tends to make researchers and designers alike focus on the facts and statistics. The potential of rich storytelling might be easily lost in that process. Poetic Condensations is a different kind of translation process where interview transcripts are re-configured and written in stanza form.

It facilitates storytelling and makes people’s tacit insights accessible and understood more wholeheartedly.

As a researcher or facilitator…

Through the process of Poetic Condensations, you translate research transcriptions intro poems, so that the research insights are told as stories and connects with the audience emotionally.

The State(s) of Mind it fosters:

Poetic, creative, open

Impact:

People who read your interview insights–in this case in the form of poems–feel more strongly connected to the ideas, experiences, and emotions your interviewees have shared. It changes the way you read stale, dense transcriptions and share insights with people you work with or for.

Level of complexity (1~5):

4

Time for Participation:

30 mins~ 2 hours

Use cases:

Project by Helena Kjellgren
Project and illustration by Helena Kjellgren

Source:

Adapted to Matter–Mind Studio from Helena Kjellgren, Poetic Negotiations. A. Poetic Condensations: Insights of Caregivers.

Lillian Tong

Written by

a hybrid of researcher, strategist and designer and cofounder of Matter-Mind Studio, a consultancy that practices Emotion-Centered Design.

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