The observer-expectancy effect

Or, Considering the realities of context

In our studio class, my teammates (Lisa and Kate) and I are currently looking into ways in which the waiting time at Pittsburgh bus stops can be made a less frustrating experience.

Participatory Design

Identify the Problem Area

For our last project in the Interaction Design Studio course, my teammates and I were asked to design for a technological ecosystem to help improve the quality of lives within Pittsburgh, and our interest lies in the field…

Designing in the Wild — or — the Wicked Problem of Participatory Methods

In this post, I want to reflect a little on participatory design methods in the context of a previous experience and discuss lessons learned.

Rewind…

Data, Design & Dread: Who’s Making the Call?

Who makes the judgment call?

As we move towards the age of “Big Data,” new trends and issues are arising. In previous times, the conventional wisdom for making decisions was, you manage what you measure.

Designing in the Wild

Looking at my final project for the interaction design studio through the lens of participatory design is something that…

Surveilling Our Own Data

Fears over data collection have generally centered around losing control of our data. What becomes of our reconstituted digital selves when they are amassed and peered over by marketers, governments, or ill-willing third (or, second) parties? An unending circular game of cat and mouse…

“Designing in the wild”

“Unlike Donald Norman — who argues that the designer should be a dictator — participatory designer see themselves as facilitator who attempt to empower users in making their own decisions” (Spinuzzi 164)

Data Mining, Surveillance, and the Social Ladder

When was the last time you cleared your cookies?

I don’t remember, either.

I remember being more diligent about it, but my increasing iPhone dependency came with an increase in time spent…

Observations from Observing

Instead of trying to minimise their effect on participants by distancing themselves, researchers could try to understand this effect by getting more involved — perhaps, even joining in. Being in the thick of in-the-wild studies may offer other benefits as well. For example…

Participatory Design

For the third project, my group is exploring the meaning of meditation, and practical applications of. I think we are far to in the early stages to define what exactly our product/ project is. We are doing ethnographic research on meditation and how people deal with their stress, to come to…