Digital Learning 2020 Summer & Autumn Workshop: People Centered Research

Learn the process and methods to uncover people’s needs, opinions, and behaviors, and apply them to drive the development of successful products and services.

Workshop Dates:

• July 13–17, 2020 (2 pm–10 pm Central European Summer Time)
• October 12–16, 2020 (10 am–6 pm Central Standard Time)
• November 9–13, 2020 (10 am–6 pm Japan Standard Time)

What is People-Centred Research?

From design, architecture and arts & culture, to policy-making, academia, or software development – a wide range of disciplines now recognizes the benefit of learning from users and stakeholders in order to create more appropriate and effective solutions.

People-centered research provides the hands-on skills to help you understand people’s opinions, behaviors, expectations, and goals for using a product or service, and how to apply these skills with empathy, honesty, and pragmatism. During this workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of the research process: crafting research questions, developing methods and tools, getting inspired by people’s contexts, motivations and barriers today, understanding their emerging needs, and envisioning future users.

Take away the tools to guide the development of successful products and services: what do people need?’; how should we build it?’; is what we’ve built effective?

What will you learn?

• Learn the fundamental tools, methods, and outputs of people-centered design research
• Develop a process framework for projects
• Dive into field research techniques, team-based analysis, and storytelling of research learnings
• Understand an approach for uncovering new design directions, not just validating them
• Share, discuss and challenge the opportunities people-centered research presents

How will you learn it?

We will explore a topic related to the Sustainable Development Goals over the course of the week. The workshop includes teaching sessions, hands-on activities, and discussions to answer questions and learn from each other. There will be opportunities to grow your individual skills, and also practice team-based activities such as synthesis.

Here’s a link to a Medium article by Patricia Herrero who attended the 2018 workshop about her experience.

Please note: This workshop is currently undergoing changes in order to be held via remote learning. Please check back soon for a more up-to-date description of the workshop’s activities.

Is this for you?

Yes, if you are curious and interested in understanding the users, customers, and stakeholders you are designing for. The workshop usually attracts a diverse range of professions and industries. Together we explore how this research process translates into the different contexts.

What will you need for the workshop?

• A high level of spoken and written English
• Willingness to go out and speak to strangers
• Enthusiasm to collaborate in pairs and small groups
• Your computer, a notebook, and a pen
• Knowledge of basic design and presentation tools is a plus

Enroll now: There is a maximum number of 20 places available for each workshop, first come first served. Enrollment will be closed when the workshops are full.