Design Sensing

Design Open workshop — Spread Design Innovation (2018) Preface

Spread Design Barn is India’s pioneering independent design center, offering a unique space for training, learning, incubation, and creative co-working. It hosts monthly design immersion events for enthusiasts and features a diverse calendar of activities for children, professionals, entrepreneurs, and CEOs.

The aim was to bring together a diverse group of experts to address complex issues such as sanitation, waste, and water management through innovative design approaches. Participants were encouraged to deeply understand, observe, and empathize with the challenges faced by residents in the peri-urban area of Hennur, Bangalore. I was part of the water management cluster and conducted a survey near a nearby lake.

Image source: Design Sense — Spread Design and Innovation

Establishing the connect

We began with a field survey combined with immersive interactions to gain a thorough understanding of the community's lifestyle and choices. Using critical thinking and analytical reasoning was essential to develop an effective approach and ensure smooth design processes. Identifying the intersections between local issues was the first step in understanding both individual and group behaviors. We established a connection with the community by reassuring them that our solutions would address their concerns and drive meaningful change.

Image source : graphic-drawing-empathy-illustration

Digging further

We aimed to engage with a wide range of individuals in the area to gather diverse perspectives and comprehensive information. Here’s what we discovered:

• Water Quality: Residents avoided the lake due to foul-smelling, turbid water, and the presence of aquatic weeds and algae. Accumulated rainwater exacerbated the issue.

• Administrative Delays: The BBMP was slow in addressing the lake's treatment.

• Water Scarcity: 70% of the community relied on borewells at depths of 800–900 feet, with high salinity above 500 feet, leading to a reliance on water tanks.

• Mosquito Breeding: High mosquito activity prevented children from playing outside in the evenings.

• Community Requests: Residents called for lake purification, canal excavation for water flow, sewage pipe repairs, groundwater treatment, solid waste management, and the creation of a green park.

• Garbage Dumping: Despite fences, garbage from other localities was dumped around the lake’s perimeter.

• Illegal Fishing and Sewage: Fishermen reported illegal fishing and difficulties due to sewage leaks from pipes into the lake.

• Impact on Livelihoods: Vegetable and cow farmers relied on a green vegetable growing among the weeds. They feared that lake purification might threaten their livelihood, particularly for cow farmers who struggled to find alternative grazing areas for their cows.

These insights helped us understand the varied issues faced by different community segments and the necessary interventions for effective solutions.

Culture sensing

Using the design sensing strategies provided, we started by analyzing individual and group behaviors and understanding the community culture. This cultural insight facilitated the creation of an empathy map. After gathering and analyzing data through stakeholder mapping, we discovered that some residents' demands conflicted with the needs of farmers who relied on the lake for their livelihood. Primary data alone was insufficient for a thorough understanding, so we applied the Iceberg Model to explore deeper and identify the root causes and underlying factors.

Image source : iceberg-model.jpg (seedsustainabilityconsulting.com)

Through further analysis, we realized that urban environments bring together diverse subcultures within limited spaces, creating gaps in understanding due to varying lifestyles and occupations. Social interactions in cities are often impersonal and indirect, found in marketplaces, workplaces, and other organized structures. High population density and relative isolation shape how people form their values, but this doesn’t necessarily increase social interaction.

In contrast, rural areas have a more relational and closely-knit value system, providing emotional support and security through direct, personal connections. These values are typical of peasant villages, agricultural communities, and tribal areas, where there is a balance between the larger economic and social environment and a harmonious community.

The peri-urban area we visited, known as a 'rurban' space, acts as a bridge between rural and urban environments. As the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) states, "The impacts of economic growth and physical expansion of the urban area are not confined within urban boundaries; they reach into much wider areas surrounding urban centers, creating so-called 'rurban areas,' 'urban fringe areas,' or 'peri-urban areas.'" These areas retain rural characteristics but undergo significant changes in physical layout, economic activities, and social relationships.

Residents of nearby flats had the advantage of persuading government officials to clean the lake, likely due to their social status. They also expressed a sense of cohesiveness and a desire to contribute to their community, reflecting their interpersonal connections and solidarity within the group.

Problem identification

Residents of nearby flats had greater influence on government officials, likely due to their social status. They expressed a strong sense of community and a desire to contribute to local improvements, reflecting both their interpersonal connections and their role within the larger group.

The core issue was a lack of awareness and proactive engagement. Residents could have done more than just file complaints with the government. They missed an opportunity to collaborate with local farmers and fishermen, who also faced significant challenges. This lack of integration between urban and rural communities highlighted the need for a collective effort to address shared problems more effectively.

During our visit, the Times of India reported that around 1,000 fish died in the lake due to oxygen depletion and ecosystem imbalance, exacerbated by sewage inflow and garbage dumping. Despite local complaints about inadequate action from civic agencies, there was a notable absence of individual responsibility and initiative. This scenario reflects the NIMBY ("Not In My Backyard") phenomenon, where there is a lack of social responsibility and resistance to local social-service initiatives, often based on class, race, or disability biases.

CARE: A Community-Driven Initiative for Sustainable Lake Management and Engagement

Given that our focus was on community-level issues, we proposed a service program named CARE, which translates to 'lake' (kere) in the local language. This initiative was designed to resonate with the community and address their needs effectively.

The CARE program would establish a Lake Youth Committee to oversee its implementation, bringing together funds from various community members, cultural groups, and the government. The committee would use a sustainable toolkit to guide responsible and measurable actions for maintaining the lake's ecosystem, aiming to create a positive impact.

A team of young ambassadors would be appointed to monitor the system and act as a liaison between the community and the government. The committee would also organize an annual lake festival to discuss issues and raise awareness through creative arts. Additionally, the CARE app would be launched to streamline activities, fostering a harmonious environment and enhancing the lake as a healthy outdoor space.

Conclusion

In summary, we employed the systematic methodology of Design Sensing to develop a comprehensive and original approach for our ideations. By closely observing interactions between people and their environment, we delved deeply into individual and group behaviors. This allowed us to connect complex scenarios, gaining valuable insights and fostering a profound sense of altruism.

The Design Sensing approach combines various techniques to enhance understanding across human, natural, aesthetic, cognitive, socio-economic, and evolutionary dimensions. This exercise also served to familiarize us with key design thinking concepts. The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to learn, express, and apply design solutions through a broad, open-minded perspective, integrating diverse viewpoints from multiple interdisciplinary contexts.