Explore the transformative power of collaborative design in our latest event, Designing With, Not For, which took place on June 27, 2024 at MIT. This discussion emphasizes the importance of involving users, communities, and stakeholders as equals in the design process, moving beyond traditional expert-driven responses.
Designing With, Not For went beyond providing expert responses to user needs, directly involving users as equals in the design process. This session, organized by MIT MAD at MIT, was part of the Design Research Society 2024 Conference (DRS 24) hosted in Boston at Northeastern University, shows various collaborative design methodologies with a special focus on the African context.
Speakers
- Richard Perez: Founding Director of the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking at the University of Cape Town
- Amy Smith: Founding Director of the MIT D-Lab and Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at MIT
- Surbhi Agrawal: 2022 MAD Design Fellow, Urban Planner, and Data Scientist at Sasaki
- Aditya Mehrotra: Instructor of MIT D-Lab's Mobiles for Development and Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student
- John Ochsendorf (moderator): Class of 1942 Professor; Professor of Architecture; Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; MacVicar Faculty Fellow; Founding Director, Morningside Academy for Design
Gain perspectives from these experts as they share their experiences and insights into human-centered design, digital equity, and the impact of inclusive design processes.
Key topics
- Collaborative design methodologies
- Human-centered design beyond expert responses
- User involvement in the design process
- Digital equity in informal settlements
- Case studies from Africa
More information
Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking, Cape Town