Critical Design
A futuring and research through design technique, that allows design to ask questions. Critical design is the one that leverages provocative designs to invoke participant’s thoughts and discussions.
“Critical designs probe our beliefs and values, challenge our assumptions and encourage us to imagine how what we call ‘reality’ could be different.”
Nature & context
Futuring, Co-Creative, Design Technique
Resources
Exemplars, materials needed to craft the design, stationery, recorder, camera, video camera (if the design is to be deployed at a participant's location for an extended period), notes.
Procedure
Before: Understand the context and idea/assumptions that need to be questioned. Conduct extensive research to support the idea and the design process. Gather exemplars to inspire design decisions. Understand target audience in order for the design to be effective and provocative enough.
During: Keeping in mind the purpose of critical design, of invoking thoughts and challenging the current practices, as well as considering the research data, create a design that is provocative enough.
After: Closely analyze the data gathered (including clips, responses from people etc.) and Use research through design technique to infer people's thought process.
Use Case
Food wastage being very close to my heart, I want to create a critical design and deploy it in locations where participants take excess food and throw it away. One of my ideas (Definitely not supported by data, I was just “speculating”) is to create a trash can that resembles a malnourished kid with his/her mouth open as the trash can’s opening. While it sounds sick, I want people to think about how many children die out of hunger and malnutrition while people are paying to waste food.
Sense Making Data
Critical design by being provocative, sparks discussion of topics sensitive which otherwise might not be spoken of. However as a result of being provocative, might psychologically disturb participants too.