Exposing the magic of design: Methods of design synthesis
Half day workshop. 24 August 2011. Morning.
Description
User-centered design research activities produce an enormous quantity of raw data, which must be systematically and rigorously analysed in order to extract meaning and insight.
This workshop will introduce various methods of Synthesis as ways to translate research into meaningful insights. During Synthesis, designers visually explore large quantities of data in an effort to find and understand hidden relationships. These visualizations can then be used to communicate to other members of a design team, or can be used as platforms for the creation of generative sketching or model making. The action of diagramming is a way to actively produce knowledge and meaning.
Workshop participants will learn about how to manage the complexity of gathered data, and through hands-on exercises, will apply various synthesis methods to elicit hidden meaning in gathered data.
Workshop structure
The workshop will cover:
- Introduction to design synthesis
- Design synthesis methods, including concept mapping, process flow diagramming, reframing, insight combination
- Design synthesis activities (this forms the bulk of the workshop)
Outcomes
Participants will:
- Understand how synthesis fits into the larger design process
- Understand the theoretical underpinnings of design synthesis as an intellectual problem solving methodology
- Be able to apply specific methods of synthesis in their projects
Target audience
Participants should be familiar with either qualitative or quantitative research activities (such as ethnography, questionnaires and surveys, contextual inquiry, etc), and will likely hold jobs relating to research, usability, design, “UX”, or marketing. No Design Synthesis experience is required.
Materials provided
Workshop workbook