Photostroller

1. Design-Led Methods (and Methodology)William GaverInteraction Research StudioDepartment of DesignGoldsmiths, University of London

4. Prayer Companion Photostroller Drift Table Plane Tracker Local Barometer

5. context proposals prototypes conclusions commentators design workbooks cultural probes products Trajectory of Research refinement invention assessment

6. context proposals prototypes conclusions commentators design workbooks cultural probes products This is not science Our methods disrupt researcher / researched roles. They balance empirical grounding with uncertainty, ambiguity and openness. This compels mutual and reflexive interpretation. Insight comes come through story-telling, and is highly provisional. Analysis, replicability and generalisability are not the primary values here. These methods may produce unexpected new hypotheses. Trajectory of Research refinement invention assessment

7. context proposals prototypes conclusions Trajectory of Research refinement invention assessment

8. Cultural Probes

9. Cultural Probes • collections of evocative tasks designed to elicit inspiring responses.

10. Probes are given to people in their everyday settings.

11. Probes set up open-ended, constrained or absurd tasks

12. Probes set up open-ended, constrained or absurd tasks

13. Probes set up open-ended, constrained or absurd tasks

14. Probes set up open-ended, constrained or absurd tasks

15. The returns create a rich texture • We collect the returns after about a month. • There are usually hundreds of photos, masses of writing, diagrams, dreams, images...

16. Working with returns • Organising, not analysing

17. Working with returns • Organising, not analysing • Textures

18. Working with returns • Organising, not analysing • Textures • Landmarks

19. Working with returns • Organising, not analysing • Textures • Landmarks

20. Working with returns • Organising, not analysing • Textures • Landmarks • Narratives

21. Fragmentary insights Probes afford intimate glimpses & feelings of familiarity and A sense of provisionality and uncertainty simultaneously.

22. Probes as Approach Probes can take many different forms: • Energy Probes

23. Probes as Approach Probes can take many different forms: • Energy Probes

24. Probes as Approach Probes can take many different forms: • Energy Probes • Storybook Probes

25. Probes as Approach Probes can take many different forms: • Energy Probes • Storybook Probes • Workshops

26. context proposals prototypes conclusions Trajectory of Research refinement invention assessment

27. Workbooks are sets of design proposals arranged by theme

28. A workbook page might mix an informant’s comment, found images and a title to suggest a direction for design.

29. A diagram of a design proposal in which a gas meter box conceals a radio with a transition activist broadcast.

30. Proposals can approach serious issues in a playful manner.

31. Some proposals are obliquely indicative...

32. Some proposals are much closer to actual system specifications...

33. Design workbooks can be resources for revealing discussions with people.

34. Products as probes

35. Prayer Companion Photostroller Drift Table Plane Tracker Local Barometer Our field trials teach us as much about people as they do about the designs.

36. video documentaries photography ethnographies What do you think of the snow? commentaries We collect various accounts of peoples’ experience with the products we make.

37. context proposals prototypes conclusions FORMATIVE SUMMATIVE commentators ethnography products cultural probes design workbooks Trajectory of Research refinement invention assessment

38. context proposals prototypes conclusions commentators ethnography products cultural probes design workbooks Trajectory of Research STILL FORMATIVE FORMATIVE refinement invention assessment

39. Issues and orientations emerge in using and discussing our devices.

40. The Plane Tracker elicited ambivalence around flying, but also a deep desire to travel.

41. The Energy Babble shed light on people’s orientations, priorities and values around environmental action.

42. Ludic designs may provide a resource for enquiring about possible futures.

43. Remarks

44. context proposals prototypes conclusions commentators design workbooks cultural probes products This is not science Our methods disrupt researcher / researched roles. They balance empirical grounding with uncertainty, ambiguity and openness. This compels mutual and reflexive interpretation. Insight comes come through story-telling, and is highly provisional. Analysis, replicability and generalisability are not the primary values here. These methods may produce unexpected new hypotheses. Trajectory of Research refinement invention assessment

45. Overall, we want to disrupt the performativity of methods, and of products.

46. Overall, we want to disrupt the performativity of methods, and of products.