Presenting UseWell mapping icons
Today we presented the UseWell mapping icons to our social spaces colleagues in order to get feedback. We received useful comments on our current mapping icons and strategy.
The icon set we designed for UseWell is inspired on the mapping kit created in the research project Interface-Our-Space. Interface-Our-Space made this kit to create an overview of creative processes. This enables critical reflection and transparency regarding artistic and research projects which are often quite complex. This kit contains icons for persons, tasks, activities, communication tools, lines and arrow to indicate directions, etc..
The icons designed for UseWell will help in our mapping exercises to gather user-centered design methods and tools. Icons are for example persons to define roles of project participants, problem and opportunity which will tell us if a specific method was used to conquer a problem or work out an opportunity, documentation of the project, achievement to clarify what was achieved by using a specific method or tool, etc.
For example icons to display emotional collaboration, whether you agree or disagree or even stand neutral towards a situation, were not clear enough. We will redesign these, as well for the tiny detail of the gender specified icons of persons. We made a female and male icons, this difference should be visualised more clearly.
Another concern was that we are going to receive to few methods and tools with using only the mapping exercise. However, our desk research creates an inventory of existing methods and tools. The goal of UseWell is to gather methods and tools, which are the most used and innovative.
Furthermore, we were asked how we start a mapping session. We will use the ‘personal inventory’ method (IDEO cards) as an icebreaker to create a casual atmosphere and to open up the discussion. Additionally, a mapping session will always be led by two researchers (Andrea & Priscilla); one will instruct the participants and facilitate the mapping process of writing down and gluing to the sheets of paper, the other will take notes and ask critical questions about the ongoing discussion.
CALL: SEARCH FOR MAPPING PRACTICES
The research project Interface-Our-Space (research group Social Spaces, Media & Design Academy Genk) develops a mapping tool to create an overview of creative processes. Within this research we are looking for examples of mapping practices (use of post-its/icons/collages/…) as part of a creative proces (i.e. in brainstorm sessions).
If you would like to collaborate in this research, send an image, text (50 – 500 words) and contact information that illustrates your mapping practice before Monday April 19th to priscilla.machils@khlim.be.
We will contact you regarding a future publication.
Contact: priscilla.machils@khlim.be or +32 (0)89 300 850
Report PuntKom #4
On Thursday 11th of March, right after the ‘Stof tot Zorg’-workshop, the fourth edition of PuntKom (“Your textile or mine? A workshop on smart, interactive & social textiles”) took place. This edition of puntKom was on smart, intelligent and social textiles. In two parallel workshops, Wendy van Wynsberghe (BE – Constant vzw – http://bit.ly/csKrsc) and Berit Greinke (GE – http://textileandsound.com/ & http://www.beritgreinke.com/) showed how in their work they each play with smart textiles. Wendy and Berit also allowed the participants to stand in their shoes for a little while by letting them experiment with different tools and materials they use in their own artistic work.
Report workshop ‘Stof tot Zorg’
On Thursday 11th of March the workshop ‘Stof tot Zorg’, organized by the research groups Social Spaces (Media & Design Academy), IMEC and IBBT-SMIT (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), took place. Together with several representatives of the caretakers sector (e.g. In-HAM, Wit-Gele Kruis, Thuiszorgwinkel Limburg, Arion ) and the artist collective Constant vzw, we engaged in a brainstorm, mainly discussing the possibilities of technological integration in textile and the significance of these technologies for the care sector. Important questions that were asked that day concerned the future of medical tools, the development of new technologies for patients with special and specific needs and the role that aesthetics (can and should) play in such medical technologies.
picture report kick off usewell
The pictures of the UseWell kick off meeting are online –> http://www.flickr.com/photos/socialspaces/sets/72157623466641363/
